Exploring Nursing Identity

Week 3: Nursing 285

Catherine Fox MN, RN, CON(C)
 Class Objectives
By the end of this class, you will be able to:
1. Understand the importance of the history of nursing and how it has
shaped contemporary practice.
2. Explore the social image of the profession of nursing.
3. Identify strategies that one can personally implement to promote a
positive image of nursing.
 Discussion:
History of Nursing Why is the history of nursing relevant to
us today?
 History of Nursing:
Ancient Times
Key Points:
• The history of nursing is closely
intertwined with medicine and the
evolution of hospitals.
• Earliest accounts of nursing date more
than 5000 years ago in ancient Egypt.
• Nursing activities were aimed at mainly
caring for the wealthy.
Image Copyright Unknown
 History of Nursing:
First Century to Early Middle Ages

Key Points:
• Nurses received no formal training during
this time
• Many were poor and received minimum
wages
• The religious crusades during the middle
ages resulted in more hospitals and nurses
to care for the injured.
 History of Nursing:
Renaissance to the 18th Century

Key Points:
• Communicable diseases increased the need
for hospitals in the Middle Ages.
• The 17th to 19th centuries are considered the
darkest periods of the nursing profession.
• Epidemics
• Early 1700s: Smallpox, Diphtheria
• Late 1700s: Yellow fever, Cholera
 History of Nursing:
Founder of Modern-Day Nursing
Key Points:
• Crimean War was a pivotal point in nursing history
• Florence Nightingale: The lady with the lamp
(1820 -1910)
• Florence Nightingale influenced the course of nursing
and is often called the founder of modern-day nursing.
• First schools of nursing (Nightingale Principles of
Nursing Education)
• Health and wellness promotion
Photograph by Henry Hering
 History of Nursing:
The Nursing Profession in the 20th Century

Key Points:
• Continuous development of formalized
training programs and a push to regulate the
nursing profession.
• In Canada:
• The first nursing training school was
established in 1874.
• Most provinces in Canada implemented
registration between 1910 - 1922
• Influence of World Wars I and II on the Jean Cuthand Goodwill
nursing profession. Provincial Archives of Saskatchewan/R-B6085
 History of Nursing:
The Nursing Profession in the 21st
Century
Person
Key Points:
• Continuing to shape modern nursing
as a profession.
• Emerging nursing theorists and Health Nursing
leaders.
• Metaparadigm of Nursing: the
patient, the nurse, health, and the
Environment
environment.
 Contemporary Nursing:
Definition and Themes

Art Science
Nursing encompasses
autonomous and
collaborative care of Client centered Caring
individuals of all ages,
families, groups and Health
Holistic
communities, sick or well promotion
and in all settings (ICN, Health
Adaptive
2015). restoration
Helping Health
profession maintenance
 Contemporary Nursing:
Profession Roles and Practice in Canada

Four regulated nursing groups in Canada:

• Registered nurses (RNs)
• Nurse practitioners (NPs)
• Licensed practical nurses (LPNs)
• Registered psychiatric nurses (RPNs)
Self-Regulation
Title Protection
 Contemporary Nursing:
Nursing Organizations in Canada

For example: College For example:

For example: For example: United
of Registered Nurses Canadian
Canadian Nurses Nurses of Alberta
of Alberta (CRNA) Association of
Association (CNA) (UNA)
Schools of Nursing
(CASN)
 Contemporary Nursing
Code of Ethics

CNA Code of Ethics for Registered Nurses

Seven Primary Values central to RN practice:
• Providing safe, compassionate, competent and ethical
care
• Promoting health and well-being
• Promoting and respecting informed decision-making
• Preserving dignity
• Maintaining privacy and confidentiality
• Promoting justice
• Being accountable Credit: Colourbox
 Contemporary Nursing
Scope of Practice and Continuing Competence

Health professions or nursing legislation • Continuing competence is

necessary for the strengthening
Registered nurse profession regulation of quality nursing practice.
• Regulatory bodies have
Professional guidelines, standards, and
continuing competence
position statements programs to help RNs
demonstrate how they have
Employer policies maintained their competence in
order to be eligible to renew
Individual RN licensure.
competence
Cli
ent Scope of
nee
ds
practice
 Contemporary Nursing:
Practice Settings
RN Practice Settings:
•Hospitals
•Outpatient care facilities
•Community health centers
•Clinics
•Residential care facilities
•Schools
•Colleges and Universities
•Home care RN practice consists of interrelated
domains of activity including:
•Street nursing
Clinical practice
•Correctional facilities Education
•Research institutes Administration
•Professional nursing and healthcare organizations Research
•Government agencies and departments Policy
 Contemporary Nursing
Roles and Functions

Caregiver Communicator Educator

Client Advocate Counsellor Change Agent

Leader Manager Researcher

Credit: Colourbox
 Image of the
Nursing
Profession

Discussion
Why is it important? How
has history influenced it?
 Nursing Image:
Stereotypes

Angel Handmaiden

Battle-axe Unskilled

Naughty nurse Wannabe physician

Credit: Colourbox
 Nursing Image

Discussion
Do you have a favourite healthcare-related television show or movie?
How are nurses portrayed?
 Nursing Image
COVID-19: Healthcare Heroes

Credit: Colourbox
Promoting a Positive
Image of Nursing

Source: Colourbox
 References
Bennett, C. L., James, A. H., & Kelly, D. (2020). Beyond tropes: Towards a new image of nursing in
the wake of COVID-19. Journal of clinical nursing, 29(15-16), 2753–2755.
https://doi.org/10.1111/jocn.15346
Canadian Nurses Association (2015). Framework for the practice of registered nurses in Canada.
https://www.cna-aiic.ca/~/media/cna/page-content/pdf-en/framework-for-the-pracice-of-registered-nurs
es-in-canada.pdf?la=en
Cox C.L. (2020). Healthcare Heroes: Problems with media focus on heroism from healthcare workers
during the COVID-19 pandemic. Journal of Medical Ethics, 46, p. 510-513.
Hunt, D.D. (2017). Fast facts about the nursing profession: Historical perspectives in a nutshell.
Springer.
Stamler, L.L. (2018). Chapter 1: Historical and contemporary nursing practice. In B. Kozier, G. Erb, A.
Berman, S.J. Snyder, G. Frandsen, G.M. Buck, L. Ferguson, L. Ferguson, L. Yiu, & L.L. Stamler
(Eds.), Fundamentals of Canadian nursing: Concepts, process, and practice (4th ed.; pp. 1-22).
Pearson.