Essay Example on Nursing history impacts today's nursing Practice

Abstract Nursing history impacts today's nursing practice every day in almost in a variety of different ways Florence Nightingale s work on sanitation patient safety and nursing education Linda Richards s innovations with patient medical records Lillian Wald s contributions to public health nursing now known as the Red Cross and Isabel Hampton Robb s passion for what is now known as the American Nurses Association have all influenced today's nursing practice in enormous ways Historical Perspective Paper The five historical events or role models related to nursing that I will discuss in this paper are Florence Nightingale Linda Richards Lillian Wald Clara Barton and then finally the formation of the Association of American Nurses I will also analyze the history of nursing and how it impacts today's nursing practice reflecting Mount Mercy University s mission Florence Nightingale It would be difficult to write a paper on the history of nursing and not include Florence Nightingale s seminal work in the Crimean War Her groundbreaking statistical analyses connected poor sanitation with cholera and dysentery She volunteered during the Crimean War in 1853 and traveled the battlefield hospitals and night carrying her lamp thus she was known as the lady with the lamp Potter Perry Stockert Hall 2015 p 3 To say that Florence Nightingale had a positive influence on the nursing profession would be an understatement Florence Nightingale s work from the Crimean War to the establishment of formal nursing education programs was a catapult for the reorganization and advancement of professional nursing Cherry Jacob 2014 p 8 

The last role model and historical event was the formation of the American Nurses Association ANA Isabel Hampton Robb helped found the Nurses Associated Alumnae of the United States and Canada in 1896 This organization became the ANA in 1911 Potter Perry Stockert Hall 2015 p 2 This had a positive influence on the nursing profession by constantly striving to improve the nursing profession and gaining recognition of nursing as a respected profession and essential partner in every aspect of wellness and health care History The history of nursing has been filled with struggles and accomplishments The brave men and women who have dared to become nurses have faced many challenges but they have saved countless lives and changed the face of healthcare forever Throughout the pages of recorded history nursing has been integrated into every facet of life A legacy of human caring was initiated when according to the book of Exodus two midwives Shiphrah and Puah rescued the baby Moses and hid him to save his life This legacy of caring has progressed throughout the years responding to physiologic social environmental and physiologic needs of society Cherry Jacob 2014 p 3 Nursing History Perspective In conclusion nursing history impacts current nursing practice in every way and it is important to recognize the individuals who transformed nursing into the respected and influential profession that it is today Every time nurses wash their hands to prevent the spread of disease or read a patient's medical record it is because of Florence Nightingale and Linda Richards Anytime people seek help from public health nurses or occupational nurses it's because of Clara Barton s sacrifices and determination The five historical events or role models related to nursing that were discussed in this paper were Florence Nightingale Linda Richards Lillian Wald Clara Barton and then finally the formation of the Association of American Nurses The history of nursing and how it impacts today s nursing practice were also analyzed