Nursing Theories and clinical

application
Lecture 2
Historical Perspectives of Nursing
 Historical Perspectives of Nursing

-Nursing has undergone dramatic change in

response to societal needs and
influences. A look at nursing’s beginning
reveals its continuing struggle for autonomy
and professionalization.

-In recent decades, a renewed interest in

nursing history has produced a growing
amount of related literature.
Aspects of events that have influenced nursing
practice
1- women's Role
2- Men’s Role
3- Religion
4- war
5- societal Attitudes
Aspects influenced nursing practice,,,,cont.

1- women’s Role:
-Traditionally female role 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 of infants and children; thus, nursing
could be said have its root in “ the home”
-Women who in general occupied a subservient‫ ثانوي‬and dependent role, were called on to
care for others in community who were ill.
- traditional‫ تقليدي‬nursing role has always entailed humanistic caring , nurturing , comforting
, and supporting.
Aspects influenced nursing practice,,,,cont.

• 2- Men’s role
• Men have worked as nurses as far back as before the Crusades.
Although the history of nursing primarily focuses on the female
figures in nursing, schools of nursing for men existed in the United
States from the late 1880s until 1969.
• Male nurses were denied admission to the Military Nurse Corps
during World War II based on gender. It was believed at that time that
nursing was women’s work and combat was men’s work. During the
20th century, men were denied admission to most nursing programs.

• In 1971, registered nurse Steve Miller formed an organization called

Men in Nursing, and in 1974, Luther Christman organized a group of
male nurses. The two groups reorganized into the National Male
Nurses Association with the primary focus of recruiting more men
into nursing
• Men do experience barriers to becoming nurses. For example, the
nursing image is one of femininity, and nursing has been slow to
adopt a gender-neutral image
• Other barriers and challenges for male nursing students include the
lack of male role models in nursing, stereotyping, and differences in
caring styles between men and women
Aspects influenced nursing practice,,,,cont.

3- Religion
A-Islam religion
Rufaidah bint Sa'ad -the first professional nurse in Islamic history. She
lived at the time of the Prophet Muhammad at time 8 AH.
Her history illustrates all the attributes expected of a good nurse. She
was kind and empathetic. She had clinical skills that she shared with the
other nurses whom she trained and worked with
Aspects influenced nursing practice,,,,cont.
-She went out to the community and tried to solve the social problems that lead
to disease.
-She was a public health nurse and a social worker. Rufaidah is an inspiration for
the nursing profession in the Muslim world.
-In peace time she set up a tent outside the Prophet's mosque in Madina where
she nursed the sick. During war she led groups of volunteer nurses who went to
the battle-field and treated the casualties ‫المصابين‬.
-She participated in the battles of Badr, Uhud, Khandaq, Khaibar, and others.
Rufaidah's field hospital tent became very famous during the battles and the
Prophet used to direct that the casualties be carried to her.
Aspects influenced nursing practice,,,,cont.
B- Christian
At time of Roman empire,, Fabiola was a saint, provide her wealth to
provide houses of care and healing for poor, the sick, and homeless.
The Crusades formed several orders of knights, ( Knights of John of
Jerusalem, Tueutonic Knights, and Knights of Saints Lazrus) these brothers of
arm provided nursing care to their sick and injures comrades.
- these orders built hospitals , and organization and management of which
set standards for administration of hospitals.
- 1836, Theodor Fliedner reinstituted the “ the Order of Deaconesses” and
opened a small hospital and training school in Kaiserwerth, Geramany, the
same school were Florence Nightingale received her training in nursing
 Aspects influenced nursing practice,,,,cont.

4- War
A-Crimean War- led the urge to recruit females to care of sick and injured people
in Crimea
- Florence nightingale and her nurses transformed the military hospitals by
setting up sanitation practices, such as hand washing and washing clothing
regularly.
Nightingale’s Accomplishments
-Demonstrated the value of nursing care in reducing morbidity
rates in the Crimean War
Established the Nightingale School for Nurses at St. Thomas’
Hospital in London
Advocated the principles of cleanliness and nutrition in promoting
health
Developed public awareness of the need for nurses.
The Civil War & Nursing

America’s tragic conflict underscored‫ اكدت‬the need for nursing.

Clara Barton (1821-1912) volunteered her nursing skills and

organized the Red Cross in the United States after the war.
Aspects influenced nursing practice,,,,cont.

B- American Civil War :

Nurses provided care to injured and dying soldiers
C- World war I
- women were rushing to volunteer their nursing services
- progress in health care occurred during this war, particularly in
surgery( anesthetic agent use, infection control, blood typing , and
prosthetics)
Aspects influenced nursing practice,,,,cont.

D- World War II
-Auxiliary health care workers became prominent.
Practical nurses, aids, and technicians provided much of actual nursing care under
instructions of better prepared nurses.
- medical specialties also arose at the time to meet the needs of hospitalized
clients.
Aspects influenced nursing practice,,,,cont.

5- societal Attitudes
-before 1800s nursing were without organization, education, or social status.
-the role of women were only wife or mothers
-In hospitals they were poorly educated
-At time of Nightingale she brought respect to nursing profession( they were
seen them as noble, religious, and self sacrificing).
-Later on the image of nursing change positively