Essay About Early 20Th Century And First Nurse Theorist

The Historical Development of Nursing Science
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Historical development of Nursing began in the middle Ages. Before the late 19th
century and into the early 20th century, religious organizations were the primary care providers.
Nurses before were considered domestic servants, with the same lowly social status, caring for
the sick in their homes or in charity hospitals. Because of Nightingales great contribution on
health care, she tremendously changed the way the world looked at nursing. (Craven, 2003).This
paper will discuss the historical development of Nursing Science from Florence Nightingales
time to the present, theorist with their theories and major events in the history of Nursing. The
relationship between Nursing Science to nursing as a profession will be explained and their
influence in religion.
Historical Development
Florence Nightingale is recognized as the first nurse theorist, her works were first
revised in the 50s. She said that adjusting the environment improves ones health. Her
foundational work is what nursing theorists expanded upon. On that decade, Columbia
Universitys Teachers College developed a graduate education program where the first
theoretical conceptualizations of nursing science came about (George, 2011).
In the 60s , Travelbee presented her Human-to-Human Relationship theory in her book
Interpersonal Aspects of Nursing (1966).She emphasized caring, empathy, sympathy, and the
emotional aspects of nursing (George,2011). Also, in that decade when the American Nurses Association
required nursing education to have a baccalaureate degree for professionals and associate degree for
technical nurses (George, 2011).
In the 70s, many nursing theories were formed. Watson, a significant theorist said that
caring can be effectively demonstrated and practiced through interpersonal relationship. He said
that caring for a person not only with their present condition but with what they may become.
(Watson, 2012). The significant event that happened on that decade is when the
National League for Nursing (NLN) required the school of Nursing to implement a conceptual
framework for the curricula as an accreditation standard (George, 2011).
In 1980s many theories were revised based on research findings. Leiningers theory
(1985) was one of the few that were added to the body of nursing theories. His theory
Transcultural Care Diversity and Universalitys purpose is to provide a cultural equality, safe
and meaningful care to clients of diverse or similar culture (Leininger, 2002).
In the 90s, the middle range theories that deals with a portion of nursings total
concern but not the totality of the discipline, were used to guide nursing practice. The milestone
of this decade is the internationalization of the nursing theory movement, evidence by
international conferences and theoretical publication (George, 2011). Among the numerous
theorist at this time were Juliet Corbin and Anselm Strauss