Evolution Of Nursing Paper

The Evolution of Nursing

The nursing profession has changed drastically over the past two hundred years and there are a variety of factors that have contributed to its change. Socially, the public image of nursing and the gender makeup of the profession has changed. Nursing is seen as a more respected profession and there is a rise of males in the profession. There are also more government regulations involved in the profession then there was in Florence Nightingale’s time, including mandatory licensing in order to practice. The funding of programs such as Medicare and Medicaid, along with federal funding of hospitals has an impact on nursing. The education of nurses today is also vastly different from the 1800s, and nursing faces the issue

In the past, nursing comprised of only women and was not seen as a serious and respectful profession. Nursing had a negative connotation and when Florence Nightingale first declared that she would study nursing, her sister believed that the family name would forever be disgraced due to her decision (Cook, 1913). Today, however, the public image of nursing has changed and the profession is well respected. The gallup poll in 2014 declared that nurses obtained the highest ranking for honesty and ethical standards (Riffkin, 2014). While the profession is still predominantly comprised of women, there has been a rise in the number of men in nursing. In 2008, 6.6% of the RN population was male and the percentage continues to rise (USDHHS,

Nurses have evolved to be a coordinator and provider of care for patients as well has a educator and advocate. Nursing has a more respected public image and the gender makeup is changing as more men enter the profession. New licensing mandates and federal funded programs such as medicaid allow for easier access to care for the poor, which has shaped the healthcare profession. The education is also significantly different from the past, as aspiring nurses need a college degree and to pass standardized exam. However, there are some economic factors that are evolving nursing in a negative way, such as the recent federal funding cuts to hospitals resulting in many closures. With these closures, patients experience a decreased access to care and many nurses and other health care professionals lose jobs. The profession is also experiencing a nurse shortage along with an education gap. Striving to increase the nursing graduates with a BSN by 2020 and decreasing the high nurse shortage are issues the profession is experiencing in today’s society. The nursing profession has evolved since Florence Nightingale’s time and will continue to evolve in the future to meet the changing demands of the healthcare