Fast Facts About the Nursing Profession

This book is designed to introduce the historical, global, societal, and scientific events that have patterned and influenced today's health care system. It helps us to understand the significance of the transformation in nursing and the profound influences these changes have had on our approach to nursing practice today. The book showcases the role of nursing and its key place within the development of medicine from ancient and medieval times to the present. It delves into the unique role of the nurse in the care of the injured during wartime; traces the impact of key events, such as Florence Nightingale's effect on the care of soldiers during the Crimean War and nursing's role in subsequent wars, on today's practice of nursing; and describes the future of health care and its direct influence on the nursing profession. The history of the nursing profession is closely intertwined with that of health care, medicine, society, and public policy. This book helps nurses understand the important events and influential nurses that shaped nursing as a professional practice discipline. It provides key information in an easy-to-read format, with "Fast Facts in a Nutshell" identifying key points throughout every chapter. The book includes an interview with a nurse historian, Dr. Jean Whelan. It provides a brief historical overview of the origins of nursing and the profession. The book next focuses on Florence Nightingale and her significant contributions to nursing, nursing in early 1900s and new developments in nursing, such as public health nursing, and the impact of both world wars. It provides a more in-depth account that focuses on the tremendous growth and professional development over the past 100 years. Finally, the book looks closely at nursing theorists and leaders, nursing education, nursing research, professional organizations, and the future of nursing.