Nature and History of Nursing

Nature of Nursing

• 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.

Historical Perspective (18th-19th Century)

• 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.

Historical Perspective (World War II)

• Significant expansion of knowledge in medicine and technology.
• Efforts to improve nursing education emerged.
• Women's roles in nursing became more assertive and independent.

Historical Perspective (1950s to Present)

• Diverse healthcare settings developed.
• Nursing expanded its scope to various areas.
• Nursing's growth as a profession continued.

Nursing Leaders

• 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.

Recipients of Nursing

• 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.

Scope of Nursing

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

Health Promotion

• 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.

Preventing Illness

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

Restoring Health

• 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).

Nursing Organizations

• American Nurses Association (ANA)
• Canadian Nurses Association (CAN)
• National League for Nursing (NLN)
• International Council of Nurses (ICN)

Types of Nursing Educational Programs

• Diploma programs
• Community College/Associate Degree programs
• Baccalaureate Degree programs
• Graduate Nursing Education (Master's and Doctoral programs)