Nature and History of Nursing

Study Notes

Nursing is defined as the diagnosis and treatment of human response to actual and potential health problems (ANA definition).
Nursing is caring, science, art, holistic, adaptive, and client-centered.
Nurses provide care for individuals, families, and communities.
Nursing practice involves four key areas: promoting health and wellness, preventing illness, restoring health, and caring for the dying.

Hospital schools were organized.
Female nurses were under control of male hospital administrators and physicians.
Male control of healthcare was prevalent.
Nursing became a more respected occupation.
Modern methods in nursing education started to be established.

Florence Nightingale (1820-1910): Identified nursing as a separate discipline from medicine, emphasizing nutrition's role in health, occupational/recreational therapy, and continuing education. She also maintained accurate patient records, which contributed to the beginning of nursing research.
Clara Barton (1812-1956): A school teacher who volunteered as a nurse during the American Civil War, noted for her role in establishing the American Red Cross.
Others identified in the slides, but no specific details were provided.

Consumer/User: Individuals, groups, or communities utilizing a service.
Patient: A person awaiting or undergoing medical treatment and care.
Client: A person seeking the advice or services of a qualified professional.

Nurses care for individuals, families, and communities.
Nursing encompasses promoting health and wellness, preventing illness, restoring health, and caring for the dying.

Aims to increase people's well-being and potential.
Influencing factors on health and illness include genetics, educational level, and developmental stage.
Examples of health promotion activities include reducing overweight, stopping smoking, improving nutrition/physical fitness, and preventing drug misuse.

Maintaining optimal health by preventing disease.
Examples include educational programs (e.g., smoking cessation, prenatal care) and immunizations.

Focuses on individuals with illnesses, from early detection through rehabilitation and teaching during recovery.
Activities include direct care (treatment, medications), performing diagnostic measurements (e.g., blood pressure, blood glucose).