The Youngest Profession

The Youngest Profession, the Oldest Art.

Nursing has its roots in the simple care of infants and children. Eventually nursing was comprised of a dedicated group of individuals who practiced the Art of Nursing. Initially, there was no training, just care for the person and the desire to help others.

Circa 1860 Florence Nightingale suggested that the Art of Nursing could be improved with the Science of Nursing. Now, we celebrate Florence as the first nurse theorist. The idea to change the environment to best support the patients' needs came from under the direction of Ms. Nightingale (Nightingale, 1863).

It was not until circa 1950 that the idea to create a place just for the patient – to support the healing process - had returned. It was at this point that the professional theorists explored Florence's writings and expanded on her ideas. In general, it was obvious in her writing that, Florence thought that Nurses and women in general, did not hold a high enough station in life. Through her writings, some thought that she wanted to bring the science and art of nursing together with religion - this would bring a higher meaning to the profession. She thought that doing this would show there was a significant purpose that nurses hold in society – above that of a sitter (Potter, 1992).

In 1952, Hildegard Paplau developed the Interpersonal Relations Theory. Paplau had credibility as a nursing instructor. In his psychological teaching described an "interpersonal process of therapeutic interaction between an individual who has fallen ill and a nurse educated specially to see the need but also to respond to the need for help." This would have made Ms. Nightingale quite happy; as it recognized the need for the nurse in society and that were recognized as specially trained. This added to the nurse developing a better defined station (Nursing Theories, 2011).

In or around 1955 Virginia Henderson suggested that we do more than cater to the patient lying in bed, and get the patient up – caring more for themselves. In this regard, the patient would be more apt to heal at home – having lost not as much of their independence as they did when wasting in bed for weeks on end (Reed, 2006).

Throughout history nurses thank the theorists who opened our eyes to the care that we deliver today. From the care delivered from maternal instinct to the interaction of psychosocial human with the environment that surrounds – we, as a profession have many professionals to thank for our place in history – as nurses.

In 1960, Ida Orlando professed that there were still the needs of the individual not being addressed. Orlando's theory supported the client as the individual and a need for well-being. If this state of well-being is not met, stress levels