QUESTION 1

Knowing these foundations of the history of nursing has refreshed my mind on current practices. Nursing has come a long way and has evolved from a trade to a profession requiring education. Nursing now has a broader meaning such that nurses take care of the whole human being no matter what specialty one is in. A Urologist having a patient with cardiac problems will consult a cardiologist, whilst a nurse will take care of this urology patient with heart attack, AMS, family issues and what have you. Describing a nurse in a few words is to say: Nursing is a “unique profession in that it is concerned with all the variables affecting the individual’s response to stress” (Neuman,1982, p.14). Based on the history of Nursing it is a building block for trusting relationships, and current practices emphasize on strong trustworthy relationships. Education and training for nurses provides qualified skillful professionals who have the ability to provide the appropriate services required of a nurse. Although technology is modifying and improving how nursing is being carried out, it cannot change the responsibilities of nurse as described in the history: The art of nursing is ability to form trusting, perform procedures skillfully, prescribe appropriate treatments and morally conduct nursing practice(Johnson,1994). There seem to be no fixed theory when you read all the theories dealt with in the nursing foundations and history, as they all make similar references to nursing in meaning. It is the patient, situation, illness, health and the goal of wellbeing with the nurse as the leader. Inquiring into a variety of nursing theories should provide nurses with fresh insight into patient care, nursing alternatives, interesting innovative solutions. However it is crucial that there be variety-for there is no global theory of nursing that fits every