Explore Nursing
Are you thinking of becoming a nurse?
Nursing is an exciting and challenging career that offers men and women a variety of career options in dynamic practice specialties and settings. Nurses care for individuals of all ages and cultural backgrounds, healthy and ill, and who have physical, emotional, psychological, and/or social needs. All nurses hold one or more credential depending on their scope of practice and education.
Nursing Over Time
The definition of the term and practice of nursing has changed greatly over time. Originally referring to a woman caring for a child, the term 'nursing' developed into the idea of looking after or advising others[1] and the definition has continued to evolve and expand over the years. For modern nursing, the definition encompasses the idea of nourishing to promote quality of life.
Prior to the foundation of modern nursing, nuns and the military often provided nursing-type services. A significant development in nursing history arose when Florence Nightingale, working to improve conditions of wounded soldiers in the Crimean War, laid the foundation of professional nursing with the principles outlined in her book Notes on Nursing: What is it and What it is Not. Based on her observations while working in the field, she noticed that "bad sanitary, bad architectural, and bad administrative arrangements often make it impossible to nurse."[2] This book was not intended to be a comprehensive guide on how to be a nurse, but rather to help in the practice of treating others. Nightingale believed that nursing should include more than just "the administration of medicines and the application of poultices" and should "signify the proper use of fresh air, light, warmth, cleanliness, quiet, and…selection and administration of diet—all at the least expense of vital power to the patient."[3] The field of nursing was lacking and Nightingale believed improvements in the above areas, to start, would significantly improve patient conditions and survival rate. Nightingale continues to be seen as a founder of what nursing has become today.
Nursing is a distinct scientific field and an autonomous profession which requires professionals whose skills save lives and improve patient outcomes every day. The modern era has seen the development of nursing focused research, advanced degrees and journal publications, which help to continually broaden the knowledge base of the profession. Today's nurses are often seen not only in the traditional hospital setting, or clinical arena, but also in key management roles within health services, government agencies and private practice. Many of today's nurses also hold research and educational posts at universities.
[1] Simpson, J. & Weiver, E. (Eds.). (1989). "Nurse:" The Oxford English Dictionary 2nd Edition. 10. Oxford, UK: Oxford University Press. pp. 603-604.
[2] Nightingale, F. (1860). Notes on Nursing: What it is and What it is Not. London, UK: Harrison and sons. p 8.
[3] Nightingale, F. (1860). Notes on Nursing: What it is and What it is Not. London, UK: Harrison and sons. p 8-9.
