The History of Nursing - Research Paper Example

In earliest times, nursing was associated with motherly care of infants and was termed as wet nurse. By the 16th century the meaning of nursing meant to attend and care for the sick. (Donahue, pp.4,6) Early myth and beliefs In early times it was believed that nurses required no formal education or training. They were unlicensed doctors, abortionists, midwives and counselors in the western history. For centuries, the nurses passed on their experiences to their neighbors or daughters. They were termed as “wise women” by the people.

One early myth was that women were so trapped by their menstruation and reproduction cycles that they were not independent outside their homes. Another myth was that male professionals had superior technology. These myths were false since women were inherently healers for the poor. It was also found that male professionals depended more on ritualistic practices while women represented more humane approach to healing. (“Witches, Midwives, and Nurses:A History of Women Healers”) Early sickness and disease and that change nursing care In early ages medicine and nursing were considered as one.

In those times as medicine men developed, they were always associated with an inferior class of practitioners who applied the treatment, judged the quality of drugs and also dressed wounds. These were women nurses who carried practical knowledge of healing. Nurses were those women who received orders from the medicine men to treat patients. (“A History of Nursing:The Evolution of Nursing Systems from the earliest times”). In the middle ages nursing became important in religious life. The spread of plagues in various times gave rise to demand of nursing.

Such women were called “sisters”. (“Nursing:Yesterday & Today”) Evolution of Nursing Nurses and Hospitals In Early ages hospitals were built in the heart of cities to serve the poor and isolate patients of contagious diseases like cholera and typhus. Hospitals had poor sanitary system and as a result infections led to high mortality rates among patients. With the development of skilled nursing care along with effective sterilization techniques, hospitals managed to reduce the mortality rate in the last nineteenth century.

(Parker, Kreimer & Munasinghe, p.177) Women that Influenced Nursing Jensey Snow was an African American nurse who opened a hospital in Petersburg Virginia in 1820. She provided health care services to the community for the next thirty years (“History of African American Nurses”). Dorothea Dix was born in the town of Hampden in Maine. She was a teacher. She was also a reformer who brought many changes in the treatment of the mentally ill in the United States. By the age of 54 she inspected many institutions both in the US and in Europe for mistreatments (“Dorothea Dix”).

Clara Burton was an American nurse born in Massachusetts in 1821. From young age, she helped the wounded who needed medical care. In 1862, she distributed supplied to the wounded soldiers of Battle of Bull Run. She even used to be present behind the lines during battles and for that reason she was known as “Angel of the Battefield”. She also founded the American Red Cross (“Spotlight on Clara Burton, Famous Nurse & American Red Cross Founder”). Lilian Wald who was born in 1867 was a nurse and social worker.

She was the founder of American community nursing. She wanted that everyone would recognise