“The systematic accumulation of knowledge is essential to progress in any profession. However, theory and practice must be constantly interactive. Theory without practice is empty and practice without theory is blind.”(Cross, 1981, p. 110) With any profession one must have a basis of knowledge to define its goals and standards, in nursing we define our practice by many theories that have been developed overtime. Starting with the beginning of nursing theory is the theorist Florence Nightingale. Although she did not present herself as a theorist she created a journal, Notes on Nursing developed in 1859 in which she theorized that if the patient’s environment was accommodating the patient would work towards healing themselves. Her theories of a supportive environment and continuity of care have directed nursing practice for over 150 years. (George, 2011) The mid 1950s posed another big change in nursing development and theory. Columbia University began to recognize the need for higher education for nursing in the teaching of nursing students. In recognizing this need Columbi...
Nightingale, F. (1898). Notes on nursing: what it is and what it is not. New York, NY:
During the mid-twentieth century American’s view of nurses was drastically changing according to Judd & Sitzman the authors of “A History of American Nursing: Trends and Eras.” Prior to this time period the job of a nurse was not something that was very valued. The women who chose this work were not looked upon as highly as they are today. Judd & Sitzman write that during this time “nurses were respected, revered, and deemed professionals; they were portrayed in recruitment posters.” Nursing was now a profession women could actually seek to do outside of the home that was not frowned upon. Nursing was now being viewed as a valued profession. The mere fact that there were recruitment posters being created and displayed proves this point.
Nurse Practitioning is a very important job in the field of medicine. In the nursing field the highest degree attainable while holding the status of “Nurse” is Nurse Practitioner (NP). This career has influenced the nursing world in several ways throughout the years. A few key things that set Nurse Practitioning apart from other medical professionals are the history and background of the job, the quality care provided by the nurse practitioner, and the different responsibilities help by an NP as opposed to those of an RN. These are important because nurse practitioners can be compared to other physicians, the history changed how people looked at and thought of nurses, and NPs can perform different and possibly more advanced activities than other level nurses. The history of nurse practitioning is more detailed and complex than one would think. Throughout the history of the profession, small detail have been refined such as the education, training, and responsibilities required to be effective in the career and the job prospect that come from being trained and certified. There are several things that go into the finely tuned care provided by nurse
Registered nurses provide care and medical information to patients. Registered nurses are considered the backbone of the healthcare system. There is plenty of history, requirements, and outlooks on Registered nurses.
Thorne, S. (2010). Theoretical Foundation of Nursing Practice. In P.A, Potter, A.G. Perry, J.C, Ross-Kerr, & M.J. Wood (Eds.). Canadian fundamentals of nursing (Revised 4th ed.). (pp.63-73). Toronto, ON: Elsevier.
Incorporating these theories into the everyday practice of nurses has developed a stronger and more advanced nursing discipline. The knowledge that the theorists shared strengthens the fundamentals of nursing concepts, values and beliefs that is being taught to each and every nursing generation to come. As a nurse, and someone who has sustained sleepless nights providing bedside care to the weak, frail and dying, practicing nursing through the components of nursing models in order reach an over all goal has been my struggle. Without theories, nursing would not be as advanced as it is scientifically, which would not benefit the
Nursing is a growing and constantly changing profession, making a bigger impact in healthcare with every turn. In fact, it was not so long ago that nursing was not even thought of as a profession and we have come a long way since the pioneer days of Florence Nightingale. Nursing is steadily evolving in terms of opportunities, educational requirements, professional recognition, and the advancement of nursing theories. These theories influence the environment, the patient, health, and overall nursing. Nursing theories will continue to evolve and guide as we continue to explore and learn new ways to improve overall nursing practice not only for the sake of the patients, but also for the future of nursing as a whole. However, when one looks to the future of nursing, they must also remember where it started; the basics of Florence Nightingale and that “Were there none who were discontented with what they have, the world would never reach anything better” (Nightingale, 1859).
As I made my way through the nursing program, I witnessed my ideas and perceptions of the nursing practice and what nursing means to me change over time. By examining my Philosophy of Nursing assignment from first year, I can see that my current perspective on the nursing practice is similar to what it was yet has expanded as a result of being able to work alongside various Registered Nurses over the past four years. My philosophy of nursing has also slightly changed. Although my philosophy is still based on the nursing metaparadigm, that is nursing, health, the person, and the environment, I believe that my understanding of each one has evolved. Therefore, I believe it is crucial for me to further explore my current perspective on the nursing
The nursing profession is considered both an art and a science. An example of the science of nursing is the theory and evidence based practice guidelines (EBP), which influence a nurses practice. The art of nursing is fluid of bringing science and patient care into nursing practice. Nurses in all levels of nursing educational programs should study nursing theory. According to Eun-Ok (2015) theory evaluation has declined and it is essential to developing nursing knowledge; which, leads to the development of nursing discipline. Nursing theory should be continually evolving as current health care trends evolve. The best way to accomplish this is through incorporating theory in academia and nursing
These views imply that real life experiences test theoretical foundation, allowing for an individual to gain what is referred to as practical knowledge. This knowledge consists of a combination between theory and practice, allowing for a more holistic approach to patient care. Benner credits her differentiation of “knowing how” and “knowing that” to the ideals of philosophers Kuhn and Polyani. The premise of “knowing how” is related to nursing practice, whereas the basis for “knowing that” is associated with nursing theory. Due to the complex circumstances surrounding different clinical situations, theory alone would be inadequate for providing proficient patient care. Because of this, the importance of examining nurse practice is invaluable to further the development of nursing theory (Alligood,
Nursing theory is, “the principles that underpin practice and help to generate further nursing knowledge” (Colley, 2003, p. 33). Nursing theory is important in nursing practice. The two theorists that are relevant to my nursing practice are Florence Nightingale and Hildegard Peplau. Florence Nightingale theory was about the patient having a clean and healing environment (Smith & Park, 2015, p. 51). The theory that Hildegard Peplau created was the importance of nurse-patient relationships (Smith & Park, 2015, p. 68). Both of these theories put the patient’s safety and care first. When I am at work I try to form a healthy and healing relationship with all my patients. I also make sure the environment that they are in is conducive to healing,
Nursing is one of the oldest professions. It isn’t a static occupation, as it has changed frequently over time. Its development and evolution has changed differently depending on the historical influences. As of today the nursing profession is changing and becoming larger and greater. Nursing has gone from being a career that did not require an education, to being one that is very respected and demands a high education.
The discipline of nursing has long attempted to establish itself as a professional identity with a distinct knowledge base. In order for nursing to separate itself from other professions, it must inaugurate foundational nursing theory. Theory is an essential component to the nursing profession, because it defines and clarifies nursing concepts, and the purpose of nursing practice, which distinguishes nursing from other caring professions (McEwen, 2011). Additionally, "theory offers structure and organization to nursing knowledge and provides a systematic means of collecting data to describe, explain, and predict nursing practice" (McEwen, 2011, p. 23). Theory is the foundational component to the complex, continuously evolving nursing profession, as it enhances nursing knowledge, guides nursing practice and research, and helps in establishing and advancing the identity of the profession of nursing.
Regardless of the title used, nurses have been an integral part of caring for other people as far back as history goes, although it was not until the 20th century that nursing was recognized as a profession (Wikipedia). Nursing becoming a profession of its own was due largely in part to the work done by Florence Nightingale, often referred to as the mother of modern nursing. Nightingale's vision was the inspiration for opening of both hospitals and nursing education programs throughout the world, including the United States, upholding Nightingale's vision and principles (Villanova). Through the emergence of nursing throughout history, education through clinical experience as well as book studies has been at the forefront, particularly beginning in the late 1800s as nursing theories began to emerge. Nursing theories are defined as "an organized framework of concepts and purposes designed to guide the practice of nursing" (Nursing Theory). Nurses use these models to guide patient care and critical thinking skills while providing an overall foundation for the profession of nursing. Many of the nursing theories from the mid 1900s can be grouped into subcategories, one of which is need based, referencing Abraham Maslow's hierarchy of needs. The needs theories were established on the premise of individuals being able to
The nursing field has experienced plenty of advancements both in technology and medicine since the twentieth century. Not only have these advancements changed the face of nursing but have also become an intricate part of the field. Technology has the capacity to improve patient care and outcomes and is therefore of great importance to nursing. How nurses manage clinical workflows and how they deliver patient care have been completely changed by various innovations in software. The rationale used in selecting the topic of advances in nursing is that the world is fast evolving and so is the healthcare sector. Extensive analysis and synthesizing of knowledge, interpretation of information, research and innovations in nursing has been done over the years. It is interesting to have an in-depth look at what has been done by various influencers in the profession. Purpose of this paper is to demonstrate both technological and medical advancements in the nursing field.