Explore the history of nursing and choose two events
Explore the history of nursing and choose two events/topics from history related to nursing (ie education, practices, important people, etc.) and explain each one in detail and why they are important to the nursing profession.
Research two professional nursing organizations and discuss the following for each organization chosen:
- The name of the organization and why this organization is important to nursing
- What resources they provide to members
- Cost of membership and how many members are part of the organization
- Current issues the organization is working on
- Finally, after researching this question answer in detail: Why are Professional Organizations in general important to nursing as a profession?
Events in Nursing History
A positive impact has been made in the nursing profession through history, events and by some influential people. Understanding the history of nursing, allows nurses to gain an appreciation of the role the profession has played in the United States health care system and worldwide. Throughout this paper, we will explore the history of nursing with emphasis on the contributions of two influential leaders and two nursing organizations. Florence Nightingale laid the foundation for nursing profession. After the Crimea war in 1845, Nightingale formed nursing schools in British hospitals. The main idea of the school was for the nurses to acquire more knowledge through an advance structure which will improve patients care. This was known as “Nightingale Principles” (upenn.edu). The importance of education, led Valentin Seaman, a New York physician to organized courses for nurses who cared for maternity patients in 1798. There were no nursing schools or no trained nurses with credentials. During the civil war, volunteer nurses went to the war with only basic knowledge of nursing care derived from the personal experiences caring for the love ones.
The volunteer nurses also realized the value of formal education in taking care of the sick. A six months nursing program was established in Pennsylvania at women’s hospital of Philadelphia with its first graduating class in 1869(upenn.edu). Subsequent schools began based on the principles of Nightingale. About 400 to 800 nursing schools were opened in United States in 1900. The schools provided clinical experience deemed appropriate for nursing education. Nurses were trained for two to three years to graduate with a diploma. Nursing schools began to accelerate at faster pace. The increase in nursing profession led to the formation of nursing organizations the 1890’s such as American society of Superintendents. The organization provided licensing to system for nurses. Historically, nursing profession and education have changed tremendously to adapt new specialty and advance programs like nurse practitioner and doctoral degree to deliver excellent health care to patients in the country.
Mary Adelaide Nutting was born in Canada on November 1858. She had great impact in the history of American nursing. She spent most of her time in Canada and later in the United States for her nursing. Nursing was not her field of study but she was influenced by the works of Florence Nightingale. John Hopkins University was influenced by the Nightingale principles which led to the opening of its first nursing program. (Spring, 2017). In 1889, Nutting enrolled in the nursing program at John Hopkins. She became the head nurse after graduating from the school and held other top rank positions. Nutting formulated the nursing program, created positive and formalized standards for nursing education at John Hopkins. (Spring, 2017). She dispersed the information of nursing practices. She was the co-founder of American Journal of nursing in 1900. Nutting assisted Columbia University to open its nursing program. It was the first university in the United States to create a position in the field of nursing. In 1910, it established the department of nursing which was named after Nutting. (Spring, 2017). She was awarded the honorary president of the Florence Nightingale’s international foundation in 1934. She was called to glory in 1948 but, her work continues to influence nursing profession and education.
Academy of Medical-Surgical Nurses
Academy of Medical -Surgical Nurses is the only specialty organization committed to promote excellence in medical-surgical nursing. It was established in 1990 by the approval of the America Nurses association. Their main objectives were to improve the image of the medical-surgical nursing, develop standard of practice for medical-surgical nurses etc. AMSN provides resources such as online learning resources on latest trends, conventions to share new ideas and career guidance. They provide moral support on issues and challenges faced by medical surgical nurses. AMSN provides for Covid support for nurses working in this pandemic and financial discount to members interested in writing the medical-surgical nursing certification and offers grants, awards and scholarships to members. AMSN currently has 13,000 plus strong members. The membership fees range from $75 to $101 annually depending on your degree. AMSM is important to medical-surgical nurses because it enables nurses in the country to come together to provide quality of care to patients. Educate members on trends and innovations in medical-surgical field.
American Nurses Association
American Nurses Association is a nursing professional organization where nurses are able to collaborate and engage with other nurses in America. The ANA has 4 million members. ANA provides resources to their members such as working through networking to enhance each other, forums, online discussion, conventions etc. ANA also advocate for nurse in congress and working on issues such as appropriate nurse staffing ratios. ANA is important because, as nurses are going through a pandemic, ANA is playing a major role in proving support and outreach programs to help nurses through this difficult time. Online support groups both locally and nationally are made available to assist nurses and their families. The cost of membership fee is $134 to $174 per year depending on employment status. ANA represents many specialties and allow nurse to stay informed about many policies of healthcare in order to properly advocate for their patients.
In conclusion, nursing history continues to inspire nurses by the compassionate and selfless works of the pioneers. Their principles, achievements and philosophies will become immortal from generations to come. Each nurse has the ability to make a positive impact, through education, practices, organizations or individually.
American Nurses Association. (2016). Mission statement, Retrieved from:
Academy of Medical-Surgical Nurses. (2019). Mission statement, Retrieved from:
http:// A. K. (2017) Mary Adelaide Nutting, Retrieved from
of Pennsylvania School of Nursing. (n. d.). American nursing: An introduction to the past. Retrieved from:
https:// the Profession of Nursing