Changes in Nursing Practice over the Last Two Centuries - Essay Example

? Nursing Practice over the Last Two Century Changes in Nursing Practice The nursing practice has undergone great changes in the last in the last two centuries. The 18th century revolutionary war introduced new practices in nursing. Initially, nursing the wounded could take place in the war field, with little care to the sick. Hospital environment was full of filth and women who aspired to become nurses were subjected to societal prejudices. In 19th century, Florence Nightingale introduced modern trend of nursing (Mosse & Harayama, 2011). She combined spiritual and medical care in attending to patients. In addition, nurses stated getting profession training in nursing schools. Nurses acquired their skills through apprenticeship. While the practice enabled the nurses to handle their patients because of the knowledge they had acquired, they did not have the theoretical comparisons that they could make. In the twentieth century, nursing practice registered more changes where nurses acquired professional training as well as joining professional bodies. The setting of more nursing school has promoted standardization of the nursing practice (Mosse & Harayama, 2011). In nursing school nurses do not only learn how to handle their patients, but also how to handle social and administrative issues. Initially, nurses took a diploma or an advance diploma. The introduction of bachelor degree and masters degree programs enables nurses to embrace the most modern trend of disease analysis and patient care. The mode of practice also registered changes with many nurses combining spiritual and medical practice while attending to the patients. Other changes include information management in the nursing practice. Although the nursing practice has relied on patient information since the olden days, in twentieth century, record management was critical in nursing practice (City TownInfo. Com, 2010). Administration as well as working codes for nurses has also faced numerous changes. Some of these changes include practice methods and social approval of the practice among others. My views on BSN v ADN My views have greatly changed following the BSN course. With the advanced diploma course, I was only able to handle specific cases in nursing whereas the BSN prepared me to handle complex exercises, which nurses with advanced diploma in nursing cannot handle. For example, delivery health care may pose challenges to nurses with advance diploma. The content of information and research conducted in this area at BSN level is instrumental in handling these cases. Largely, the training covers the biological, physical, and behavioral sciences, which are critical in handling patients. While advance diploma covers most of the aforementioned areas, it tends to specialize of a given area. For instance, ADN in perioperative cases exposes the nurse to handle issues within his specialization as opposed to other areas. It is evident that specialization limits the ability of a professional to handle multitask. I believe BSN offers in depth coverage on administrative skills that are critical to nurses. The skills acquired enable a nurse to work in various organizations, which handle health issues. Presently, nurses with the BSN qualification have high advantage over the ADN holders when they wish to start nursing entrepreneurship. Nurses learn administration content at BSN as opposed to ADN level. This attribute is critical because it would define the ability of the business as well as the choice that the nurse would make. The elaborate training, coupled with research better places a bachelor degree holder. The future of nursing The future of nursing practice is set to register numerous changes ranging from training to scope of practice. Presently, many nurses have demonstrated interest in taking higher training in various areas. It is arguable that the training that they acquire would set a new trend into the market. For instance, BSN equips nurses with administrative skills that they may use in starting their own businesses. I believe in the coming years, many nurses will venture in self-practice. Currently many people demand nursing services in their respective homes a trend that is likely to change service delivery to the public (City TownInfo. Com, 2010). Apart from its convenience to the public, self-practice increases visibility of the nurses. In the coming ten years, nurses will be taking continuous professional training. The changing technological applications demand similar changes in practice and training. This trend will force nurses to take continuous training on the emerging issues. I also think that in the next ten years, many nurses will be holding advance degrees in their respective areas of interest. This will enable them to get the opportunity to lead various public and private organizations that offer healthcare services. Research on future practice in nursing had indicated nurses should get the opportunity to be full partners with other healthcare professions (FCN, 2010). I believe in the next ten years nurses will have the opportunity to exercise their services effectively. The proponent for change in nursing usually urges the government to allow nurses to practice without limiting their ability. It appears that the society would ascend to this call in the next fear years. The society is becoming dynamic thereby calling for dynamic practices in almost every sector. Analyze what your role will be in influencing the future of nursing on a local, national, and international scale I believe I have made incredible contribution in encouraging associate nurses to acquire BSN. The change that I aspire to see in the nursing profession cannot come if I am not part of it. In this sense, my encouragement to associate nurses would influence them to take the BSN. I have been participating in advocacies, which seek opinion from nurses. These opinions are critical in influencing change in the nursing. For instance, the call for nurses to take continuous training is important for the future of the society. However, the society may not realize its importance when nurses do not take a bold step to drum against themselves. It is also evident that changes that I have been calling for would not only benefit the immediate society, but also the national and international community. I believe many international nurses who receive the information about furthering their training do take steps towards embracing the same. At the local scene, my contributing in hospital is critical to the future because nurses, who work under supervision, get to learn new tactics about our practice. I believe the experience they earn while working under my supervision is helpful to the local community in the future. I know that I will not be there to carry on with this work, but believe that they work would illuminate what they have gained while working with them. My advocacy for the patient’s right is a critical contribution to the nursing sector. For a long time many patients fail to recognize their rights (Mosse & Harayama, 2011). At the national scale, I believe this advocacy would influence policy makers to entrench it in the constitution. This would make all nurses and healthcare professionals to change their mode of service application. The changes that we observe in the society come because some people dedicate their lives to instigate them. For instance, Florence Nightingale instigated the spiritual practice in nursing by dedicating time and advocating for the same. At the international scale, policies, which influence nursing or healthcare provision in developed countries usually, influence the practice in other countries (Klein-Collins, 2011). Moreover, medical professionals usually borrow and compare mode of practice. I believe the international community will embrace the need the practices that I have advocated for in my country. For example, I believe that the international community would embrace some aspects of patient right as well as calling for continuous training for the nurses. In conclusion, nursing has undergone numerous changes in the last two centuries in scope of practice as well as training. The ancient trends have waned in the advent of modern trends of practice. Professional training is critical in the nursing practice with many institutions urging their nurses to embrace higher training. The future of nursing is likely to change following the call of nurse freedom of practices in response to the dynamism of the society. In addition, patients will have greater to make in relation to nursing services that they want. Ideally, the society would be admitting higher qualification in the future for nurses. References Klainberg, M. (2010). An Historical Overview of Nursing. Retrieved on 28 June 2012 http://samples.jbpub.com/9780763755966/55966_CH02_021_040.pdf FCN. (2010). Workforce Demand in Nursing-Intensive Healthcare Settings. Retrieved on 28 June 2012 http://www.flcenterfornursing.org/files/2010_Demand_Report.pdf City TownInfo. Com. (2010). Institute Of Medicine Calls For Changes To Nursing Profession. Retrieved on 28 June 2012 http://www.citytowninfo.com/career-and-education-news/articles/institute-of-medicine-calls-for-changes-to-nursing-profession-10100602 Klein-Collins, R. (2011). Strategies to Produce New Nurses for a Changing Profession. Retrieved on 28 June 2012 http://www.cael.org/pdfs/132_innovationinnursingeducation2011-1- Mosse, P. & Harayama, T. (2011). Hospitals and the nursing profession : Lessons from franco-japanese comparisons. London: John Libbey Eurotext. Read More