Knowledge of the foundation and history of nursing provides a context in which to understand current practice by providing insight into the challenges faced in the past, the obstacles overcome and an understanding of the progression of the profession. If unknown, history tends to repeat itself. Learning from past mistakes and successes, such as Florence Nightingale’s revolutionary work on improving sanitary conditions, we are able to use the knowledge to further improve the profession of nursing. The understanding of current practices is directly related to the understanding and advancement of past practices.
Based on the Nursing Timeline of Historical Events (n.a, n.d), the first trend that has influence my perception of nursing is the progression of a male dominated, religious calling to a women dominated profession with or without religious affiliations. While the act of nursing seems to have always been a calling to heal the sick and wounded, today it is not necessarily a religious calling but more of a calling of healing and compassion towards those in need , although many hospitals and foundations have religious roots . I believe the trend toward the women dominated profession is also shifting slightly as more males are seeking admittance into the profession. Nursing is now becoming a bi-gender profession as it is overcoming the past prejudices of society.
A second important trend from this timeline is of nurses transitioning from that of uneducated, low class individuals providing basic rudimentary care simply because there was no other work option to highly respected professionals providing skilled, technologically advanced care with care and compassion. This change in thought is partly due to the severity of illness and skilled care required among the military during, and immediately following, the wars at the turn of the century. The development of