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Historical Development of Nursing

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Historical Development of Nursing Timeline
International Council of Nurses (ICN) definition of nursing is - “collaborative care of individuals of all ages, families, groups and communities, sick or well and in all settings. Nursing includes the promotion of health, prevention of disease, and the care of ill, disabled and dying people. Advocacy, promotion of a safe environment, research, participation in shaping health policy and in patient and health systems management, and education are also key nursing roles” (International Council of Nurses, 2014).
Florence Nightingale is considered to be the most influential person in nursing. Not only did Nightingale played an essential role in reforming nursing at the time but also laid the foundation for nursing as a profession. Prior to F. Nightingale in development of mankind, nursing has been linked to traditions of caring (Egenes, 2009). Nursing originated from intuitive approach to treat the sick and it was based on instinctive actions rather than formal education. The role of caregivers was typically assigned to women for their nurturing and caring ways to take care of their children, and was believed that they could be nurturing to others (Potter, 2013).
Early development of medicine and nursing as we know started in pre-biblical times with Egyptians who have mastered the art of embalming the bodies dating as far as 4000 B.C., to Indians who were able to describe disease types and developed a process of disease diagnosis about 1000 B.C.. Ancient Greece around 400 B.C. is believed the father of medicine was born, Hippocrates. He is credited with being the first person that argued disease is a cause of the natural environment, life habits and diet, and not afflictions of gods (Adams, 1849). Post birth of Christ in A.D. era, organized religion brought the establishment of monasteries where clergy provided

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