Evolution of Nursing Practice: Changes, Scope, Education, and Collaboration

NURSING PRACTICE 1
NURSING PRACTICE EVOLUTION
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NURSING PRACTICE 2
INTRODUCTION
Nursing is a noble career and is among the jobs where serving humanity is done
passionately. Nursing plays an important role in the medical sector as the nurses provide primary
care to the patients and act as their advocates. Nurses are involved in the assessment of the
patients, diagnosis, administering medications, dressing wounds and evaluating if nursing care is
producing positive outcomes. Nurses are also involved in managerial roles, research and
education.Nursing has evolved in various ways and provides opportunites to specialize in
different cadres and specilaities.
CHANGES IN NURSING PRACTICE
According to Cherry and Jacob,(2016) nursing has evolved with time in America.
Florence Nightingale commonly referred to as the mother of nursing was a trainer of nurses
during the Crimean war to care for wounded soldiers. She founded her own nursing school at St
Thomas Hospital in London in 1860. She wrote books defining what nursing is and what it is
not(Nightingale,2010).In the United States, the nursing care in the 18th century was mainly done
by the relatives while in the 19th-century hospitals began to grow while there was increased
nursing care demand which differed in various hospitals. Dr. Joseph Warrington trained women
on care during childbirth. The civil war led to of nurses taking care of wounded and nursing
program in Hospital of Philadelphia.
Nursing programs began in three schools providing diplomas. The field was dominant
with women. The nursing legislative acts led to the title of registered nurses. The world war led
to a change in nursing practice and more nurses employed as staff nurses. In 1960 programs
offered Bachelor in Nursing degrees known as Baccalaureate. There was a change in more males
in the nursing sector, specialized nurses and advanced practice nurses such as nurse practitioner

NURSING PRACTICE 3
and clinical nurse specialists. The doors also opened for nurses to participate in research
practices.
CHANGE IN SCOPE OF PRACTICE
Newhouse et.al(2011) states that the availability of advanced practice nurse such as nurse
practitioner has led to improved patient outcomes. These nurses whoa re highly trained in a
specific area have the expertise for example geriatrics, oncology, pediatrics, and intensive care.
The approach towards treating the individual is client-centered and more focused on the specific
pathophysiologic changes rather than general care of the patient. Specialized nurses work in their
specialties which leads to increased efficiency.
ASSOCIATE AND BACCALAUREATE NURSING
The associate and baccalaureate education in nursing provides the opportunities for one
to become a registered nurse in the United States. Both equip the students with skills of history
taking, observing signs, and symptoms, triaging, health promotion collaboration with other
healthcare workers. According to Davis Martin (2012), baccalaureate nursing differs from
associate nursing in that it offers research and public health competencies.
BSN NURSE VS ADN NURSE IN CLINICAL SETTING
According to Primm(2012), BSN-prepared nurse has been associated with lower patient
mortality and morbidity. The BSN prepared nurse has skills in public health, health promotion
and increased knowledge of disease types and occurrences. The ADN prepared nurse, on the
other hand, is involved in patient care but on monitoring vital signs and working with medical
equipment. The BSN has participated in hospital rotations hence rich nursing skills in patient
care.