INTERNATIONAL HISTORY OF

NURSING

Presented By:
Sirapa Maharjan
 INTRODUCTION OF NURSING
• The word nurse came from the latin word “Nutritious” which
means nourish, foster and care.

• In the old days, a nurse was a person who look after sick,
injured and dying person without any formal knowledge.
Contd..

Nursing is a profession within health care sector focused on

care of individual, families, communities so they may attain,
maintain or recover optimal health and quality of life.
INTERNATIONAL HISTORY OF NURSING
• Nursing as a profession has existed throughout history.
Nursing comes in various forms in every culture, although
the definition of term and the practice of nursing have
changed greatly over time.
• In former times, a nurse is called as a woman employed to
suckle (wet nurse) and generally care for a younger child (dry
nurse).
Contd..
• In early period, female are assigned as a nurse to provide care to the
sick and injured. Earliest nurse learned through oral tradition. They
also learned how to nurse patient through trial. Earliest nurses used
plants/ herbs to heal and believed in early spirit.

• In 3000BC, Egyptian health care system maintain medical record for

the first time in order to develop plans to maintain peoples health.
Contd..
• In ancient Rome, during early Christian era, deaconesses were
selected by church to provide care for sick.

• During the period of 1500 AD to 1700 AD, there were few hospital in
Europe but there was no regular system of nursing. Female
practitioners cared for neighbors and family but their work was
unpaid. At the time, rich paid for their sick to be cared at home, while
poor were cared for free.
 Foundation of Modern Nursing
• Modern nursing began in the 19th century from Germany and
Britain. The two influential women in field of nursing were
Elizabeth Fry and Florence Nightingale.

• Florence Nightingale, founder of modern nursing studied

nursing under the direction of Pastor Fliedner in Germany.
Contd..
• Nightingale with a group of women travelled to Crimea in
1854 when the Crimea War broke out to care for sick and
injured.
• She discovered the mortality rate of British troops was 41%
and after her intervention it was decreased to 2%.
• This work is the foundation for todays evidence based
nursing practice.
Contd..
• The civil war laid the foundation for professional nursing,
there were no nursing school or trained nurse but thousands
of women left their families to serve as nurse.

• In late 19th century, nursing professionalized rapidly. Women

who had served as nurse during the Civil War realized
importance of formal nursing education and played vital role
in establishing the first nurse training school.
Contd..
• In 1873, Bellevue Hospital School of Nursing, first school of
nursing was founded on principle of nursing established by
Florence Nightingale.

• In 1881, Clara Barton founded organization now known as

American Red Cross.
Contd..
• Linda Richard was first trained nurse in US graduated in
early 1870s. She organized school of nursing at
Massachussetts General Hospital.
• From Florence Nightingale in Crimea war to the wars of 21 st
century, nurses have always played vital role.
• In 1886, first regular training school in India was established
in Bombay.
Contd..
• In 1897, American Nurse Association holds its first meeting in
February as Association Alumnae of Trained Nurses of US and
Canada.
• In 1899, International Council of Nurses was formed .
• Army school of Nursing was established as World War I broke out and
marked first emergency training for nurses. World War II marked for
second time that men as well as women were recruited into nursing.
Contd..
• In 1990, Florence Nightingale’s birthday (May 12) was declared
official Nursing Day in Japan.

• Coming to 20th century, there was huge fluctuation in supply and

demand of nurse. Nursing schools opened in Europe, Australia,
Canada and US.
Contd..
• Having trained nurse to care for sick, hospitals became necessity and
many women entered schools and became nurses with intent of
acquiring and holding skills for survival.
References:
• Pathak, S., Devkota R., (2019) A textbook of fundamentals of
Nursing, 1st ed. (246-275.), Bhotahity, Kathmandu.
Vidyarthi Pustak Bhandar.
• Singh, A., Shrestha, K., (2017), A textbook of fundamentals
of Nursing, 1st ed. (68-71), Kathmandu. National center for
Health Professions & education
• https://www.news-medical.net/health/History-of-
Nursing.aspx