VISIBILITY OF NURSES

BY : RATHIS.M I YEAR MSC NURSING

CHRI

HISTORICAL PERSPECTIVE OF NURSING

In ancient times there’s only little evidence of establishing a foundation of nursing.

It was not until the early Christian period that nursing took root.

Muriel Richard identifies three heritage from past that inhibit the progress of nursing…

- Folk image of the nurse - The religious image of the nurse - The servant image of nurse

THE FOLK IMAGE OF THE NURSE

Ancient times women carried major responsibility e.g: nourishing children, caring elderly.

It is assumed that in early civilization there would be people who took special interest in meeting the needs of the sick.

superstition and black magic played major role in the treatment rendered & there was a close relationship between religion & healing arts

THE RELIGEOUS IMAGE OF THE NURSE

In Christian era, groups were organized who took care for the sick, the poor, orphans, widows, slaves & prisoners in the name of charity.

Men & women got equal rank and unmarried women had opportunity for service.

Though it was a positive change as nursing developed, but they had to take orders from higher rank. This type of thinking lasted for years.

THE SERVANT IMAGE OF NURSE

Renaissance period(14th to 16th century),also known as “Age of discovery”, a new impetus was given to education. But not to medical or nursing education.

During this period nursing was considered as a domestic service. Nurse worked as a servant , where pay was poor &work was strenuous.

Thus it was called “The dark age of nursing”.

THE BEGINNING OF THE CHANGE

In 1954, first hospital was built in Mexico city, mission colleges were founded.

The first medical school was founded in America in1578.

The first Hospital was established at the urge of Benjamin Franklin.

A course in nursing was developed that included lectures by physicians.

THE NIGHTINGALE INFLUENCE

In 18th century Florence Nightingale changed the form and direction of nursing.

Basic principles on which Florence Nightingale established her school were the following:

- The nurses should be trained in reaching hospitals associated with medical schools.

- The nurses would be carefully selected & should reside in nurses houses.

CONTD…

- The school matron would have final authority over the curriculum.

- The curriculum would include both theoretical material & practical experience.

- Teachers would be paid for their instruction.- Records would be kept on the students, who

would be required to attend lectures, quizzes, write papers & keep diaries.

ANGELS WITH PRETTY FACES AND EMPTY HEADS

Nurses has a stereotype image i.e. “nurse as angel”.

Real nurses are educated, not born & the path of becoming skilled & competent is a long hard one.

Real nurses are educated in schools, through the job experience & by continuing education through out their career.

DOCTORS HANDMAIDENS

In nineteenth century, medicine insisted that nursing have no other purpose than to serve the physician, not the patient.

Nurse was viewed as some someone with no knowledge of her own, who borrows the doctor’s knowledge , skill & judgment and act as his agent.

NURSING IMAGE: BLAME THE MEDIA?

Many nurses blame the media for everything that’s wrong with the nursing image.

According to 19997 study co sponsored by the National Health Council and PBS’s Health week most American get most of the information about health car from the media.

NURSING IN THE 19TH CENTURY

Society attitude about the nurses in 19th century was of women of low moral standards providing care.

One character, Sarah Cramp in Charles Dickens novel, was a nurse who abused alcohol & treated her clients cruelly.

Such portrayals of nursing seriously damaged the profession’s image.

NURSING EDUCATION IN THE 19TH CENTURY

In 1869 the American medical association developed the committee on the training of nurses, which recommended hospital based school of nursing under medical supervision.

In 1874 Linda Richards America’s 1st graduate nurse, graduated from Boston.

In19th century, Lillian Wald &Mary Brewster established 1st public health nursing service for sick & poor in New York.

NURSING IN THE 20TH CENTURY

In early 20th century, scientific research based body of nursing knowledge practice was evolving.

In early 20th century, professional organizations such as the ANA,CAN. ICN, NLN & AACN emerged.

nursing journals were developed & research was conducted.

CONTD…

AJN was published in 1900,was the first nursing journal.

In1901,the Army nurse Corps was established, followed by Navy Nurse Corpsin1908.

In 1920, nursing specialization was developing In late 1940’s graduate nurse- midwifery programs

were initiated. In 1965 a report by National Commission on Nursing

&nursing education helped clarifying the role of professional nursing practice.

NURSING IN THE 21ST CENTURY

In 1990 the ANA established the center for ethics & human rights.

Nursing code of ethics was revised in 2001 to reflect current ethical issues affecting health care.

Today the profession is faced with multiple challenges.

Nursing practice can now be found in multiple care settings,inluding health care institution & foundations, the community & the home.

IMPROVING VISIBILITY FOR NURSES

Improving visibility by :

a) COMPUTER TCHNOLOGY

b) ELIMINATION OF INTERNAL SEXISM c) COLLECTIVE BARGAINING