NCMA 113 FUNDAMENTALS OF NURSING PRACTICE
ORIENTATION TO NURSING AS A PROFESSION
Nursing
– “The act of utilizing the environment of the patient to
assist him in his recovery”- as nursing defined nearly 150
years ago (Nightingale, 1860/1969).
- “The unique function of the nurse is to assist the
individual, sick or well, in the performance of those
activities contributing to health or its recovery (or to
peaceful death) that he would perform unaided if he had
the necessary strength, will, or knowledge, and to do this in
such a way as to help him gain independence as rapidly
possible” (Henderson, 1966).
Profession – an occupation that requires extensive
education or a calling that requires special knowledge, skill,
and preparation. A profession is generally distinguished
from other kinds of occupations by (a) its requirement of
prolonged, specialized training to acquire a body of
knowledge pertinent to the role to be performed;; (b) an
orientation of the individual toward service, either to a
community or to an organization;; (c)ongoing research;; (d)
a code of ethics;; (e) autonomy;; and (f) professional
organization.
Professionalism – refers to professional character, spirit, or
methods. It is a set of attributes, a way of life that implies
responsibility and commitment.
Professionalization – is the process of becoming
professional, that is, of acquiring characteristics considered
to be professional.
Introduction
- Nursing today is far different from nursing as it was
practiced years ago, and it is expected to continue changing
during the 21st century. To comprehend present-day
nursing and at the same time prepare for the future, one
must understand not only past events nut also
contemporary nursing practice and the sociologic and
historical factors that affect it.
The Caduceus Symbol alluded directly to the myth of
Hermes, who saw two snakes fighting and touched them
with his rod so that the two animals would stop fighting
The Cough Syrup from 100 years ago could knock a horse
on its ass!
HISTORICAL PERSPECTIVES
- A look at nursing’s beginnings reveals its continuing
struggle for autonomy and professionalization.
• WOMEN’S ROLES
Traditional female roles of wife, mother, daughter, and
sister have always included the care and nurturing of other
family members. From the beginning of time, women have
cared for infants and children;; thus nursing could be said
to have its roots in “the home”.
WHO IS THE FIRST EVER MALE NURSE?
- In 1955, 2nd Lt. Edward T. Lyon became the very first
male nurse to be commissioned in the Army Nurse Corps in
the US as a reserve officer.
• RELIGION
- Although many of the world’s religions encourage
benevolence;; it was the Christian value of “love thy
neighbor as thyself” and Christ’s parable of the Good
Samaritan that had the significant impact on the
development on the development of Western_nursing.
- The Knights of Saint Lazarus dedicated themselves to the
care of people with leprosy, syphilis, and chronic skin
conditions.
- The Alexian Brothers organized care for victims of the
Black Plague in the 14th century in Germany.
• WAR
- During the Crimean War (1854-1856), the inadequacy of
care given to soldiers led to a public outcry in Great Britain.
The role of Florence Nightingale played in addressing this
problem is well-known. She was asked by Sir Sidney Herbert
of the British War Department to recruit a contingent of
female nurses to provide care to the sick and injured in the
Crimea.
• Florence Nightingale’s Environmental Theory defined
Nursing as “the act of utilizing the patient’s environment
to assist him in his recovery.”
- During the American Civil War (1861-1865), several
nurses emerged who were notable for their contributions
to a country torn by internal strife. Harriet Tubman and
Sojourner Truth provided care and safety to slaves fleeing
to the North on the Underground Railroad.
• SOCIETAL ATTITUDES
Before the mid-1800s, nursing was without organization,
education, or social status;; the prevailing attitude was that
a woman’s place was in the home and that no respectable
woman should have a career. Nurses in hospitals during this
period were poorly educated;; some were even
incarcerated criminals.
Nursing Education
- The practice of nursing is controlled from within the
profession through the state boards of nursing and
professional nursing organizations. These groups also
determine the content and type of education that is
required for different levels or scopes of nursing practice.
• Types of Education Programs
1. Licensed Practical (Vocational) Nursing Programs
2. Registered Nursing Programs
2.1 Diploma Programs
2.2 Associate Degree Programs
2.3 Baccalaureate Degree Programs
3. Graduate Nursing Programs
3.1 Master’s Degree Programs
3.2 Doctoral Programs
4. Continuing Education
THE NURSING LEADERS
Florence Nightingale (1820-1910)
Clara Barton (1821-1912)
Linda Richards (1841-1930)
Mary Mahoney (1845-1926)
Lillian Wald (1867-1940)
Lavinia Dock (1858-1956)
Margaret Higgins Sanger (1879-1966)
Mary Breckinridge (1881-1965)
NCMA 113 FUNDAMENTALS OF NURSING PRACTICE
DEFINITIONS OF NURSING CRITERIA OF A PROFESSION
• Nursing is caring. • Specialized Education
• Nursing is an art • Body of Knowledge
• Nursing is a science. • Service Orientation
• Nursing is client centered. • Ongoing Research
• Nursing is holistic. • Code of Ethics
• Nursing is adaptive. • Autonomy
• Nursing is concerned with health promotion, health • Professional Organization
maintenance, and health restoration.
• Nursing is a helping profession. FACTORS INFLUENCING CONTEMPORARY NURSING
PRACTICE
Contemporary Nursing Practice • Health Care Reform
• Recipients of Nursing • Family Structure
1. Patient – A Latin word meaning “to suffer” or “to bear”;; • Legislation
person who is waiting for or undergoing medical treatment • Quality and Safety in Health Care
and care. Usually, people become patients when they seek • Science and Technology
assistance because of illness or for surgery. • Demography
Focus: Care – the practitioner is responsible for • Consumer Demands
providing care • Information, Telehealth, and Telenursing
Defining Question: What care do you need? • The Current Nursing Shortage
2. Client – a person who engages the advice or services of
another who is qualified to provide this service. The term ROLES AND FUNCTIONS OF THE NURSE
client presents the receivers of health care as collaborators • Research Consumer
in the care, that is, as people who are also responsible for • Counselor
their own health. • Caregiver
Focus: Expertise and service – the client is hiring a • Communicator
professional to do something for him or her • Client Advocate
Defining Question: What are you paying me to do? • Teacher
• Change Agent
• Settings for Nursing – In the past, the acute care hospital • Manager
was the main practice setting open to most nurses. Today • Leader
many nurses work in hospitals, but increasingly they work
in clients’ homes, community agencies, ambulatory clinics, EXPANDED CAREER ROLES
long-term care facilities, health maintenance, organizations • Nurse Practitioner
(HMOs), and nursing practice centers. The area of the • Clinical Nurse Specialist
hospital where patients receive medical care while they • Nurse Anesthetist
recover from illness or surgery. These patients are usually • Nurse Midwife
medically stable and ready to be discharged home within a • Nurse Researcher
few days. • Nurse Administrator
• Nurse Practice Acts – or legal acts for professional nursing • Nurse Educator
practice, differ in various jurisdictions, they all have a • Nurse Entrepreneur
common purpose: to protect the public. Nurses are • Forensic Nurse
responsible for knowing their state’s nurse practice act as it
governs their practice. NURSING ORGANIZATIONS
• Standards of Nursing Practice – the purpose is to describe - As nursing has developed, an increasing number of nursing
the responsibilities for which nurses are accountable. organizations have formed. These organizations are at the
Establishing and implementing standards of practice are local, state, national, and international levels. Participation
major functions of a professional organization. in the activities of nursing associations enhances the
Standards of Professional Performance describe growth of involved individuals and helps nurses collectively
behaviors expected in the professional nursing role. influence policies affecting nursing practice.
• ANA (1896) - American Nurses Association
SCOPE OF NURSING • NLN (1952) - National League for Nursing
• Promoting Health and Wellness • ICN (1899) - International Council of Nurses
• Preventing Illness • NSNA (1953) - National Student Nurses Association
• Restoring Health • Sigma Theta Tau (1922)
• Caring for Dying