During the first half of the nineteenth century, nursing conditions were in a deplorable state. Nursing had become a profession associated with societal outcasts, such as the immoral, alcoholic, and illiterate. The pay for nursing care was meager, leading many nurses to find additional sources of income. There was little organization in the field of nursing, and it lacked social standing. Individuals would only enter nursing as a last resort, choosing it only if they had no other means of making a living. However, through the efforts of early nursing pioneers, nursing started to gain recognition from the military and government, leading to the emergence of what is now known as modern nursing (Nursing Timeline).
One of the most prominent figures in the history of nursing is Florence Nightingale. Born in 1820 and passing away in 1910, Nightingale is widely regarded as the founding mother of modern nursing. Her work was instrumental in the reform of sanitary conditions in military hospitals. She emphasized the importance of proper ventilation in hospital rooms to reduce the risk of infections and improve patient outcomes. Nightingale also played a pivotal role in the organization and advancement of nursing education and the development of statistical methods to analyze disease and mortality rates. Her observations and writings contributed to the development of an applied theory of communicable disease. Her book, “Notes on Nursing: What it is and What it is Not,” has long been considered the defining work that distinguishes nursing as a distinct profession separate from medicine and the social sciences (Nursing Timeline).
As nursing began to gain recognition, the profession was strengthened by the establishment of nursing training and degree programs. Nursing associations and nurse licensure bodies developed standards of care and regulations to ensure quality and professionalism within the field. The Nurses Associated Alumnae of the United States and Canada, which later became the American Nurses Association, held its first convention in 1896 with fewer than twenty attendees. This marked a starting point for the formal development and organization of nursing as a profession (Nursing Timeline).
With the growth of nursing as a profession, hospitals started to establish their own nursing schools to produce more qualified and educated nurses. Previously, the majority of nursing care was provided by lay people without proper education or knowledge in the field. The introduction of nursing education drastically transformed the profession, bringing in new ways of thinking and specialized knowledge specific to nursing. Nursing theory emerged as an essential component in the continuing evolution of the discipline. The use of nursing theory in research became crucial, allowing nurses to expand their knowledge and contribute to other disciplines (Marlaine.S & Marilyn.P, 2010).
In conclusion, the first half of the nineteenth century witnessed the dismal state of nursing conditions. Nursing was considered a job for societal outcasts, with poor pay and little organization. However, through the efforts of influential figures like Florence Nightingale, nursing began to gain recognition, leading to reforms in sanitary conditions and the establishment of nursing education programs. These developments strengthened the profession and set it on a path toward becoming the modern nursing we know today. The use of nursing theory has allowed nurses to further advance their knowledge and contribute to other disciplines, elevating the profession to new heights.
