Review of Literature - Essay Example

It will show that the profession has evolved, with a noted increase in demand for nurses as their roles get more specialized, sophisticated and technologically driven. According to Blanche (2010) clinical experience, education and continuing education have been the main contributing factors in the transformation of the nursing industry and keeping the nurses on top of their practice. According to Boltz (2011), the nursing industry has gone through changes in the kind of technology used, new fields have been introduced and new education curricula and levels have been developed.

He adds that, however, the primary role of nursing has been subjected to all these changes to make it remain the same; to promote health and wellness through its caring practice. The changes and developments have all served to makes today’s nurse foster a better relationship with patients, which translates into satisfaction for the patients, their families, fellow nurses and the entire industry. Boltz (2011) also points out that a significant shift in nursing approach has been that of currently viewing it as a relationship focused on a patient, rather than the task oriented approach of the 1960s.

In agreement with Boltz’s sentiments, Blanche (2010) contributes that contemporary nursing practice emphasizes on formulating a correlation between healthcare and relationship development, which results in more individualized care plans, better and optimal care results. Koloroutis et al (2004) opine that the nursing fraternity today acknowledges the need of instilling into patients the feeling that the nurse is in touch with their problem and can handle it from the patients’ point of grievances, rather than a worker who only needs to complete a task.

Sullivan-Marx et al (2010) points out that with growing specialization in medicine, physicians started collaborating with and mentoring nurses who possessed clinical experience in the early 1960s. According to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (USDHHS) (2009), as the physicians moved out of primary care to specialize in certain fields, there grew a shortage of personnel in primary care, especially in the medically underserved rural areas. Medicaid and Medicare moved in to provide health care programs and coverage for the low-income population, persons with disabilities, the elderly and children in 1965.

USDHHS (2009) further explains that with the sudden availability of the programs and coverage, there came a high and sudden demand for the expansion of primary care services and nurses. In the same year, a renowned nurse, Loretta Ford, and physician Henry Silver, developed the first nurse practitioners’ training program focusing on families and children health, disease prevention, and health promotion. Serving as a foundation, it has developed into the advanced nursing practice of today. According to Sullivan-Marx et al (2010) the opportunity, availed by the then shortage of physicians, has given birth to the current specialties of nursing.

Today’s nurses are taking on roles previously reserved for the physicians. Nurse midwives are a good example. They are presently a highly regarded group as they not only reduce infant mortality rates in underserved areas, but they are also equipped to train more practitioners in rural areas, especially in developing countries. They work with local health