Question

The mid- to late 20th century was filled with amazing changes and events in professional nursing. Select one of these changes or events, describe it, and explain how that change or event has impacted quality of nursing practice today.

Answer 1

Nursing continued to evolve from the old days. More remarkable was the 20th century changes, with the addition of new programs and professional organizations designed to specifically address some of the challenges of the nursing profession. Among the changes was the emergence of publishing firms to help share knowledge and experience for research and developments in the sector. The American Nurses Association began publishing the American Journal of Nursing, which continuously provides new information about research and trends in current practice. Nursing programs changed to offer students new courses to become licensed practical nurses and to require certification and testing to become registered nurses. Nursing schools began to evolve from traditional hospital-based programs to university-level curricula. Nurses began to gain further education in the form of advanced research, reading and training (The History of Nursing, 2017).

As a result of publishing and material sharing, nursing skills developed during the 20th century as nurses filled greater roles with more critical functions. The History of Nursing (2017) argues that there was also rise of new departments to offer specialized services such as intensive care units hence specialty areas which saw the expansion of many areas of expertise in nursing. Nurses began to work in more specialized care settings and studied care of patients in their respective fields. Nursing schools taught skills in areas such as orthopedics, pediatrics and critical care among many other specialties, all of which became identifiable concentrations in which to work and the scope of nursing practice expanded in many specialties.

Nowadays nurses perform many procedures and lifesaving measures that were once restricted only to the practice of medical doctors. Nursing diagnoses guide the care of patients depending on their needs during hospitalization or supervision. The role of the nurse practitioner as a type of advanced specialty nursing brought nurses up to a level in which they could prescribe medication, perform procedures, and follow the course of clinical patient care. Nurses play an essential role in not just the physical or emotional care of patients, but in the management of social issues, prevention of disease, and monitoring of trends. Nursing continues to expand into a distinct element of the health care team, providing caring and service to those in need worldwide (The History of Nursing, 2017).

Reference: The History of Nursing. (2017). Nursing Schools Path. Retrieved 27 November 2017, from httplAvww.nursingschoolspath.com/the-history-of-nursing/