Nursing is a profession that focuses on patients. When a patient
enters a doctor’s office, hospital, or operating room, they expect the
best care. While doctors perform a bulk of the service, they need
assistance from qualified nurses. Most people are familiar with modern
day nurses that perform lab work and other preliminary medical steps.
Yet, many are unfamiliar with the history of nursing. Nursing has been
around in one form or another for centurise. While earlier nurses went
by many different names, they held the same responsibility – to care
for the patient. In many instances, a doctor wasn’t even present,
wherein a nurse was solely responsible for a sick or injured person.
The
history of nursing points to the 14th century as the start of modern
day nurses. Although various forms of nurses existed prior to this
time, these weren’t traditional nurses. In the 14th century, the
primary role of a nurse was to care for a newborn or child. These
nurses were referred to as wet nurses and dry nurses. Over time, these
nurses began to expand their realm, and offered their services to
various sick persons. This type of nursing was not organized or offered
in an actual medical facility. Rather, the history of nursing shows
that individuals who provided healthcare services would go to the sick
person’s home and remain until their health improved.
Nuns
and the military introduced modern day nursing services. Nuns would
care for the elderly and orphans, and provide bedside service.
Additionally, the military employed qualified women to care for injured
soldiers. Health care services were offered in a designated facility,
and each nurse had a specific role. As the profession expanded, nurses
were able to specialize in a medical field, and choose from an array of
occupations. The history of nursing proves that this profession has
been around for many years. Moreover, the development of various health
care facilities and nursing degrees is a testament to the need for
qualified nursing professionals.