The first professional many people encounter in a healthcare setting is a nurse, whether in a doctor’s office, the emergency room, on the phone, or in community outreaches. Nurses have vital roles in our healthcare system: providing care, advocating for patients’ rights, and advancing healthcare through research and education.
Being a nurse has many challenges and rewards, but did you know that their role hasn’t always been like this? The role of nursing has evolved greatly throughout history in response to changing healthcare needs, advancements in medicine, and societal shifts.
The Evolution of Nursing: A Timeline
What would a nurse from the 1800s think if they saw a nurse today? For one, they might be shocked at the sheer number of responsibilities and the amount of education required of modern nurses.
In the 19th century, nursing was mostly limited to basic caretaking and domestic chores. The typical day of a nurse in 1887 included duties like sweeping and dusting a patient ward, providing coal for heating, filling the kerosene lamps, and taking notes for the main physician (and keeping those pen tips clean!).
So, how did nursing become the profession it is today? Let’s take a closer look.
The Ancient World
Temple carvings and texts from Ancient Egypt show caretakers named swnw who cared for the sick and helped with childbirth. Similarly, nursing in Ancient Greece and Rome was linked to midwifery. Midwives aided women during labor and postpartum care and guided them through the child’s infancy.
Historically, nursing was a female occupation, and although women still dominate the nursing field, this has of course changed.
The Middle Ages
During medieval Europe, nurses transitioned from being primarily midwives to becoming assistants to monks who cared for the sick. Medical practices occurred in places of worship and were intertwined with religious customs, addressing not only physical illnesses but also emotional and spiritual well-being. Education was informal, medicine was limited, and there was no structured training. Treatments came in the form of herbal remedies, religious prayers, and superstitions.
A nurse’s daily duties included providing basic care, preparing and administering herbal remedies, assisting in surgeries, and comforting the dying. Meanwhile, midwives emerged as a separate profession: They were often older women who acquired expertise through hands-on experience and apprenticeships.
The Renaissance and Early Modern Era
The devastation caused by the Black Plague in the mid-1300s caused physicians at the time to question traditional treatments and focus more on anatomy and observation. This pandemic led to the adoption of public health measures like sanitation, isolation, and quarantine. Nurses began to specialize in certain areas of care, such as wound care, infectious disease management, and helping physicians enforce public health measures.
In the 19th century, nurses worked in hospitals and near battlefields. Florence Nightingale played a crucial role in revolutionizing healthcare by introducing scientific practices, improving hospital conditions and records, advocating for patient care, and promoting advanced nursing training. Her contributions formed the bedrock of modern nursing as a respected and vital profession. Additionally, Clara Barton founded the American Red Cross, further shaping the nurse’s role in advocacy and emergency services.
The 20th Century
In the First and Second World War, nurses—especially those working near battlefields—were revered. However, their roles remained limited, their schedules remained demanding, and their compensation remained low. Nurses were expected to behave demurely and respectfully, especially toward their male patients.
Following the war, there was a shortage of nurses in many countries. This led to increased focus and support for nursing education and recruitment. In the 1950s, more nursing schools were established, which provided advanced training and education.
Nursing Today
Today, nurses require advanced clinical experience and medical knowledge and find employment in hospitals, schools, military bases, patients’ homes, telehealth services, and more. They form the backbone of the healthcare system.
Nursing is a constantly growing and evolving profession applicable to numerous industries. The pandemic pushed nurses to the forefront of the pandemic response and spurred a greater demand for nursing professionals in telehealth, remote care, and interdisciplinary collaboration: a trend that will likely continue.
Additionally, experts predict a shortage of up to 139,000 physicians by 2033, especially in non-primary care sectors, making it even more essential for nurses to assume leadership roles and fill healthcare gaps. Nurse practitioners, for example, can write prescriptions and perform doctor-like duties in communities where physicians are scarce. Their projected job growth rate is 40% by 2031, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
Join the Future Generation of Nursing Leaders
The University of Texas Permian Basin offers a CCNE-accredited, online RN to BSN program that will equip you with the skills you need to stay up to date with current and future nursing practices and techniques and promote high-quality care to patients. Our 30-credit virtual program is designed and taught by nursing leaders who have firsthand experience in the ever-evolving field of healthcare. With the exception of two clinical courses conduced in-person with a nurse preceptor near you, classes are asynchronous: study anywhere, anytime—even after a long shift at the clinic.
Registered nurses who complete our program can explore a multitude of career options, such as:
- Nurse administrator
- Nurse educator
- Clinical nurse manager
- Case manager
Become a nursing advocate and future healthcare leader. Join our online RN to BSN program today!
Sources:
https://www.healthecareers.com/career-resources/nurse-career/how-nursing-has-changed-over-time
https://advancedmedicalcertification.com/nursing-in-the-nineteenth-century/
https://www.womenshistory.org/exhibits/timeline-history-nursing
https://journalofethics.ama-assn.org/article/fourteenth-century-england-medical-ethics-and-plague/2006-04