BACHELOR  OF  SCIENCE  IN  NURSING:  

FUNDAMENTALS  OF  NURSING  
COURSE  MODULE   COURSE  UNIT   WEEK  
1   1   1  

Orientation  to  Nursing  as  a  Profession    

 
Read  course  and  
unit  objectives

ü   Read  course  and  unit  objectives  

ü   Read  study  guide  prior  to  class  attendance  
ü   Read  required  learning  resources;;  refer  to  unit    
terminologies  for  jargons  
ü   Proactively  participate  in  classroom  discussions  
ü   Participate  in  weekly  discussion  board  (Canvas)  
ü   Answer  and  submit  course  unit  tasks  
 

 
At  the  end  of  this  unit,  the  students  are  expected  to:  
 
Cognitive:  
1.   Discuss  the  historical  factors  and  nursing  leaders  who  influenced  the  development  of  
nursing.  
2.   Discuss  the  evolution  of  nursing  education  and  entry  into  professional  nursing  practice.  
3.   Describe  the  different  types  of  educational  programs  for  nurses.  
4.   Explain  the  importance  of  continuing  nursing  education.  
5.   Describe  how  the  definition  of  nursing  has  evolved  since  Florence  Nightingale.  
6.   Identify  the  four  major  areas  of  the  nursing  practice.  
7.   Identify  the  purposes  of  nurse  practice  acts  and  standards  of  professional  nursing  practice.  

 
 8.   Describe  the  role  of  nurses.  
9.   Describe  the  expanded  career  roles  of  nurses  and  their  functions.  
10.   Discuss  the  criteria  of  a  profession  and  the  professionalization  of  nursing.  
11.   Describe  factors  influencing  contemporary  nursing  practice.  
12.   Explain  the  functions  of  national  and  international  nurses’  associations.  
 
Affective:  
1.   Inculcate  the  importance  of  the  history  of  nursing  profession  to  our  modern  practice.  
2.   Listen  attentively  during  class  discussions.  
3.   Demonstrate  tact  and  respect  when  challenging  other  people’s  opinions  and  ideas  
4.   Accept  comments  and  reactions  of  the  peers  with  their  opinions,  openly  and  graciously.  
 
Psychomotor:  
1.   Actively  participate  during  class  discussions  
2.   Confidently  express  personal  opinion  and  thoughts  in  front  of  the  class  
 
 

 
Berman,   A.,   Snyder,   S.,   and   Frandsen,   G.   (2018)   Kozier   and   Erb’s   Fundamentals   of   Nursing:  
Concepts,  Process,  and  Practice,  Global  Edition,  10th  edition,  Historical  and  Contemporary  Nursing  
Practice  (pp.28-­49).  Singapore:  Pearson  Education  Limited  
 
 

 
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.  
 
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”.  
 

 
 •   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.  
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     Lillian  Wald    
  (1820-­1910)     (1867-­1940)  
     
 
 
  Clara  Barton     Lavinia  Dock    
  (1821-­1912)     (1858-­1956)  
     
 
 
  Linda  Richards     Margaret  Higgins  Sanger    
  (1841-­1930)     (1879-­1966)  
   

 
  Mary  Mahoney       Mary  Breckinridge    
  (1845-­1926)   (1881-­1965)    
     
 
 
 
 
 
Definitions  of  Nursing  
Nursing  is  caring.   Nursing  is  adaptive.  
Nursing  is  an  art  
Nursing  is  concerned  with  health  promotion,  
Nursing  is  a  science.  
health  maintenance,  and  health  restoration.  
Nursing  is  client  centered.  
Nursing  is  holistic.   Nursing  is  a  helping  profession.  
 
 
Contemporary  Nursing  Practice  
 
•   Recipients  of  Nursing  
 
1.   Patient   –   A   Latin   word   meaning   “to   suffer”   or   “to   bear”;;   person   who   is   waiting   for   or  
undergoing  medical  treatment  and  care.  Usually,  people  become  patients  when  they  seek  
assistance  because  of  illness  or  for  surgery.  
 
2.   Client   –   a   person   who   engages   the   advice   or   services   of   another   who   is   qualified   to  
provide  this  service.  The  term  client  presents  the  receivers  of  health  care  as  collaborators  
in  the  care,  that  is,  as  people  who  are  also  responsible  for  their  own  health.  

 
 •   Settings  for  Nursing  –  In  the  past,  the  acute  care  hospital  was  the  main  practice  setting  open  
to  most  nurses.  Today  many  nurses  work  in  hospitals,  but  increasingly  they  work  in  clients’  
homes,   community   agencies,   ambulatory   clinics,   long-­term   care   facilities,   health  
maintenance,  organizations  (HMOs),  and  nursing  practice  centers.  
 
•   Nurse   Practice   Acts   –   or   legal   acts   for   professional   nursing   practice,   differ   in   various  
jurisdictions,  they  all  have  a  common  purpose:  to  protect  the  public.  Nurses  are  responsible  
for  knowing  their  state’s  nurse  practice  act  as  it  governs  their  practice.  
 
•   Standards   of   Nursing   Practice   –   the   purpose   is   to   describe   the   responsibilities   for   which  
nurses   are   accountable.   Establishing   and   implementing   standards   of   practice   are   major  
functions  of  a  professional  organization.  
Standards   of   Professional   Performance   describe   behaviors   expected   in   he   professional  
nursing  role.  
 
 
 
Promoting  health and  wellness Preventing  illness
 
 
  SCOPE OF  NURSING
 
 
  Restoring  health Caring  for  dying
 
 
 
CRITERIA  OF  A  PROFESSION   Ongoing  Research  
Specialized  Education   Code  of  Ethics  
Body  of  Knowledge   Autonomy  
Service  Orientation   Professional  Organization  
 
 
Factors  Influencing  Contemporary  Nursing  Practice  
 
  Quality  and  Safety  in  
Health  Care  Reform Consumer  Demands
  Health  Care
 
 
Information,  Telehealth,  
  Family Structure Science  and  Technology
and  Telenursing
 
 
  The  Current  Nursing  
Legislation Demography
Shortage

 
Roles  and  Functions  of  the  Nurse  
 
 
  Research  
Consumer Counselor
 
 
  Client  
Caregiver
Advocate
 
 
  Teacher
 
 
Communicator Manager
 
 
  Change  Agent Leader
 
 
 
 
 
 
EXPANDED  CAREER  ROLES   Nurse  Researcher  
Nurse  Practitioner   Nurse  Administrator  
Clinical  Nurse  Specialist   Nurse  Educator  
Nurse  Anesthetist   Nurse  Entrepreneur  
Nurse  Midwife   Forensic  Nurse  
 
 
Nursing  Organizations    
As   nursing   has   developed,   an   increasing   number   of   nursing   organizations   have   formed.   These  
organizations  are  at  the  local,  state,  national,  and  international  levels.  Participation  in  the  activities  
of  nursing  associations  enhances  the  growth  of  involved  individuals  and  helps  nurses  collectively  
influence  policies  affecting  nursing  practice.  
 
 
 
 
 
  ANA  (1896) NLN  (1952) ICN (1899) NSNA  (1953)   Sigma  Theta  
  National   Tau
American National International  
 
Nurses   League  for   Council   of   Student     (1922)
  Association Nursing Nurses Nurses
  Association

 
  

 
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.  
 
 
 

 
 
D'Antonio,  P,  and  Buhler-­Wilkerson,  K.  (2019)  Nursing  Medical  Profession.  Retrieved  April  26,  2020  
from  Encyclopaedia  Britannica,  Website:  https://www.britannica.com/science/nursing  
 
 
Jean   C.   Whelan,   J.C.,   (1949   -­   2017),   and   Buhler-­Wilkerson,   K.(1944   -­   2010),   (2011)   American  
Nursing:  An  Introduction  to  the  Past.  Retrieved  April  25,  2020  from  University  of  Pennsylvania  School  
of  Nursing,  Website:  https://www.nursing.upenn.edu/nhhc/american-­nursing-­an-­introduction-­to-­the-­
past/  
 
 
     

 
  
Study  Questions  
 
•   What  is  the  most  significant  change  in  the  nursing  history  that  greatly  affected  our  profession  to  
present?  Provide  examples  and  present  the  timeline.  
 
•   Discuss  the  importance  and  mention  the  different  nursing  organizations  related  to  expanded  
career  roles  of  nurses.    
 
•   How  do  the  nursing  education  programs  be  beneficial  in  improving  the  factors  that  influence  the  
contemporary  nursing  practice?  
 
   
 

 
Berman,  
  A.,  Snyder,  S.,  and  Frandsen,  G.  (2018)  Kozier  
and  
  E rb’s  Fundamentals  of  Nursing:  Concepts,  Process,  
and  Practice,  Global  Edition,  10th  edition,  Historical  and  
Contemporary   Nursing  Practice  (pp.28-­49).   Singapore:  
Pearson  Education  Limited