 History and Evolution of Nursing

E a r l y   A g e  of   N u r s i n g

Nursing has been a job since early times, so it has a long and intriguing past. Over the years, a
nurse's career has changed, representing changes in health care systems, medical knowledge, and
how people feel about health care.

The past of nursing is long and diverse, going back to the beginning. Nursing was mainly a female-
dominated profession in many mediaeval cultures, with women from lower socioeconomic classes
or prisoners working as nurses.

Temples and institutions were devoted to nursing education in ancient Egypt, where nursing was a
significant aspect of society. Egyptian nurses were regarded highly as professionals and some of
the most accomplished doctors of their time. Egyptian nurses were known to the world for handling
a range of diseases and wounds with a variety of methods, including massage, bandaging, and plant
medicines.

Like today, women predominated in the nursing field in ancient Greece, working as nurses in
sanctuaries and the houses of affluent families. Greek nurses were renowned for their proficiency
with natural medicines and ability to treat patients kindly.

Women predominated in nursing in ancient Rome, working as nurses in both military and private
contexts. Roman nurses were responsible for various duties, including eating, cleaning, and caring
for patients' wounds.

These cultures regarded nursing as a household task, with nurses caring for ill family members and
maintaining a tidy and healthful home. In contrast to being viewed as an official career or calling,
nursing was more commonly seen as a chore carried out as part of household responsibilities.

The function of nurses in society has changed considerably over time, despite their modest origins.
The nursing field now requires a high level of ability and respect, and nurses are essential to
providing healthcare services globally.

Christian sacred orders like the Knights of St. John and the Knights Templar significantly elevated
nursing to a respected vocation in the Middle Ages.
These organisations spread across Europe to set up medical centres where priests and nuns could
tend to the ill and wounded. Religious organisations typically ran these institutions, and their
proximity to churches and temples reflects the importance of nursing as a ministry.

A higher focus on sanitation and using plant medicines and other medicinal therapies characterise
mediaeval nursing. Certified nurses were responsible for administering these therapies to patients
during their training.

The Knights of St. John were well-respected in the medical and nursing fields. They set up clinics
and medical academies in Europe where future doctors and nurses could learn cutting-edge
practices. The most seriously sick patients have prioritised treatment thanks to the triage method
they established.

The Knights of St. John and other Catholic organisations contributed significantly to developing
nursing ethics, morals, and medical skills. Core principles of nursing have remained the same since
their time, including kindness, care, and regard for patients' humanity.

The Middle Ages contributed significantly to the development of the nursing vocation we know
today. Modern nursing is shaped by its historical commitments to etiquette, cleanliness, medical
knowledge, and kindness and care for patients

T h e   M o d e r n   A g e   of   N u r s i n g 

Florence Nightingale's work in the 1800s started the modern nursing age. Nightingale is thought to
be the person who began modern nursing. Her work during the Crimean War helped to make nursing
a valued job. Nightingale stressed the value of cleanliness, ease, and health for patients, and her
nursing model is still used today.

The development of medical technology, the expansion of healthcare institutions, and the
acknowledgement of nursing as a career have all significantly changed nursing schooling and
practice over the past century. Early nursing education relied heavily on on-the-job instruction and
internships, with little official training or licensure.

But as medical requirements increased, so did the need for skilled nurses. The first university-based
nursing programme was created in 1909 by the University of Minnesota, which signalled the start of
more organised and official nursing instruction. Nursing schools, which provide students with
various academic classes and practical encounters, have become popular at institutions and
colleges.
Nursing started to specialise in specific fields as medicine progressed, including critical care,
children, and cancer. These specialisations necessitated additional education and training, which
prompted the creation of more sophisticated nursing programmes and credentials. Nurses
developed into vital members of healthcare teams to provide expert treatment, keep track of
patients' health, and work with doctors and other healthcare workers

Today, nursing courses are offered in various healthcare facilities, including clinics, nursing schools,
community health centres, and hospitals. Additionally, study and data analysis has taken a more
prominent role in nursing practice, enabling nurses to make well-informed choices about patient
treatment and playing their part in working with the proper knowledge about healthcare.

Despite advancements in nursing education and practice, the profession is evolving to satisfy the
healthcare system's and patients' demands. To deliver high-quality care, nurses must stay current on
emerging medical techniques and tools and collaborate with other medical specialists.

The growing importance of interdisciplinary cooperation and coordination in nursing education and
practice over the past century is another significant development. Nurses have had to collaborate
closely with doctors, therapists, social workers, and other healthcare experts to provide organised
and complete treatment as healthcare has become more complicated and interdisciplinary.

New educational methods encouraging cooperation and coordination have resulted, including
simulation-based training, interdisciplinary education, and clinical internships. To prepare them for
the complex and dynamic healthcare teams they will encounter in practice, these programmes offer
students the chance to collaborate with other healthcare workers in a secure and regulated setting.

The growing focus on patient-centred care has been a major shift in nursing education and practice
over the past century. Individual patients' requirements and desires are now given top priority by
nurses, who also consider their ethnic heritage, values, and beliefs. To create care plans that suit
each patient's unique requirements, nurses must be attentive to the differences between each
patient's needs according to their culture and work closely with patients and their families.

Over the past century, there have been substantial changes to nursing schooling and practice,
mirroring the evolution toward a patient-centred healthcare system. As healthcare continues to
change and new tools and therapies are developed, nursing education and practice will likely
continue to grow.
In judgment, the past and development of nursing show how important nurses have always been to
health care. Nursing will continue to change and adapt to meet the needs of patients and
communities as health care changes.

History and Development of Nursing in Ghana

Roles and Responsibilities of a Nurse

Patient Care: A nurse's main responsibility is to care for their patients. Patient evaluation, drug
administration, vital sign tracking, wound care, and other therapy and assistance are all part of this.
Additionally, nurses offer patients and their families mental support and solace while assisting with
everyday tasks like feeding, clothing, and washing.

Promoting Health and Disease Prevention: Nurses are crucial in encouraging health and avoiding
disease. Patients and their loved ones benefit from their knowledge and guidance as they make
informed decisions about their health and learn to participate actively in their treatment.
Vaccinations, health exams, and education about potential dangers and preventive measures are all
used by nurses to advance disease prevention.

Teamwork: Nurses, like doctors, therapists, social workers, and other nurses, often work together to
provide the best treatment for their patients. They create treatment plans, share information about
patients' health and track their progress, and organise care for optimal results.
Care Documentation: Nurses must keep detailed patient notes. Information about patients, their
vital signs, medications are given, and therapy plans are all part of what needs to be recorded.
Nurses are responsible for maintaining patient confidentiality while allowing other medical staff to
view their patients' data.

Medication Administration: Nurses are often in charge of handling and giving medicines, checking
on patients for bad responses and making sure they receive the right doses at the right times.
Treatment coordination with other medical staff, maintaining patient records, and ensuring patients
receive necessary treatment are all tasks that nurses are responsible for handling.

Advocacy: Nurses assist their patients by protecting their rights, empowering them with knowledge,
and supporting them as they make healthcare choices. In addition to advocating high-quality care,
furthering nursing education and research, and backing nursing policy and law, nurses also
advocate for the nursing field.

Rles and Responsibilities of a Nurse