Nursing in Various Stages of History, Essay Example

How does current professional nursing compare with nursing in various stages of history?

Current nursing science developments have gained momentum in the area of evidence-based practice. When Florence Nightingale (1820-1910) began her humble vocation  and calling towards attending slain solders, her evidence based-practice  encompassed application from inspiration, intuition, contemplation  and observation of what worked as a healthcare mechanism as against those activities, which failed. As she continued applying successful skills to her interventions and training other women to function accordingly a major change occurred in nursing.

Nightingale began recording her successes as philosophies of nursing. From those assumptions emerged the environmental healthcare concept. She recognized that exposing soldiers to fresh air greatly influenced healing. Consequently, from philosophical assumptions theories evolved whereby nurses tested statements during interactions with patients identifying distinct interactions, which were applicable to healing certain conditions and others discovered to be futile. From there, different ranges of theories come into being including the paradigms of nursing. These paradigms incorporated Nightingale’s environment concept in extending it into showing how physical, social and emotional environments affect recovery from illnesses.

While application to theory is till acknowledged the depth at which healthcare professionals function requires sound evidence for decisions taken as well as implementation of procedures. Today healthcare professionals function under a lawsuit sensitive climate whereby they are  being held accountable for their actions. If these actions are not supported by scientific evidence-based protocols accusation of malpractice is highly likely. The current evidence-based practice culture removes the ‘not knowing’ intuitive functioning of health care professionals/nurses. Essentially, levels of evidence have been established in nursing research through, which scientific evidence is gained. Nursing leaders/ managers have the responsibility of applying the highest evidence level when implementing protocols.