Social Context of Nursing

The History and
Social Context
of Nursing
Chapter Objectives
✓ Discuss the history of nursing in ancient culture, as well as in medieval and early
modern era.
✓ Explain the foundations of modern nursing.
✓ Display the social context and public image of nursing.
✓ List factors contributing in positive public image of nursing.
Introduction
Nursing’s history provides a framework for understanding how nursing is practiced today and
the societal trends that shape the profession. The characteristics of nursing as a profession and
what nurses do today have roots in the past, not only in the history of nursing but also of health
care and society in general.
Nursing in Ancient Culture
• In ancient societies, men were designated to care for the sick, because they were
considered priests,
spiritual guides or “medicine men”.
• In some early cultures, the provision of nursing care was assigned to females, because
women provided nurturing to their infants and it was assumed that they could provide the
same type of care to the sick and injured.
Nursing in Ancient Culture (Con.)
• There was no formal education available in primitive societies, so the earliest

nurses learned the tricks of the trade via oral traditions that were passed
down from one generation to the next.
• They also learned how to nurse patients back to health through trial and error
and by observing others who cared for the sick.
• The earliest nurses used plants and herbs to heal and

believed that evil spirits and magic could affect one’s health.
• Illness was often viewed as a sign that something was done

to offend the priests or gods.
• The Egyptian healthcare system was the first to maintain medical

records starting at around 3000 B.C.
• Egyptian society was also the first to classify medications and

develop plans to maintain people’s health.
• Deaconesses had some education and were selected by the church’s

bishops to visit and care for the sick in their homes.
• The deaconess Phoebe is considered to be the first “visiting nurse” who

provided expert home nursing care.
Nursing in Medieval and Early Modern Era
Nursing in Medieval and Early Modern Era
• During the Renaissance period from 1500 to 1700, a growing interest in science and technology
led to advances in medicine and public health.
• At the time, the rich paid sick people cared at home, while the poor were cared in hospitals. By
the time many poor people arrived at hospitals (already very ill) were died.
Nursing in Medieval and Early Modern
Europe (Con.)
• Being hospitalized had negative connotations for most people, as hospitals were considered
places where people went to die.
• Although there were a few hospitals in Protestant Europe, there were no regular system of
nursing.
• Female practitioners cared for neighbors and family, but their work was unpaid and
unrecognized.
Foundations of Modern Nursing
• Modern nursing began in the 19th century in Germany and Britain. The practice had spread
worldwide by about 1900.
• Two influential women in the field of nursing during this time period were Elizabeth Fry
and Florence Nightingale.
Elizabeth Fry
• The Elizabeth Fry founded the Protestant Sisters of Charity in 1840.
• These sisters lived together as a community and participated in a two-year

long nursing education program.
• They nursed for a few hours each day and spent the rest of the time in prayer
and religious instruction.
Florence Nightingale
• She born on May, 12 1820 (International Nurses Day).
• Daughter of a wealthy landowner, William Nightingale, who later took

responsibility for her education, teaching her statistics, languages, history,
mathematics, etc.
• Her father provided her with reputable education which was uncommon for a
Victorian woman.
Florence Nightingale
• she reached her 20s, she felt an increasing desire to help others
and decided to be a nurse. Although, nurses at that time came
from the lower classes.
• Her parents refused to support her goal because women were not
free to make this decision by themselves, she was blocked.
Florence Nightingale (Con.)
• Nightingale became angry and then depressed. As the depression worsened, her
parents finally relented and allowed her to attend nurse’s training in Germany.
This was kept a secret, and people were told that she was away at a spa for 3
months’ rest.
• Nightingale was very religious—to the point
that she felt that God had called her to help others.
• At age 30 entered nurses’ training program.

• The role of women was clearly defined and controlled. These women did
not work outside the home and maintained a monitored social existence.
• In 1860 founded the first training school for nurses in London that
became the model for nursing education in the U.S.
• She carried a lamp at night while taking

rounds from room to room to look after the
patients.
Therefore, she is entitled “Th e La d y w it h

t h e La m p ” and considered as m o t h e r
o f m o d e rn n u rs in g th ro u g h o u t
t h e w o rld .
Social Context of Nursing
A s k y o u rs e lf
When you hear the word “nurse”,
➢ What images, thoughts, perceptions, and assumptions come to mind?
➢ Why did I have those perceptions and assumptions about nurses?
Your answer reveals much about the social context of nursing or how society views nurses and
the nursing profession.
Social Context of Nursing (Con.)
• Mutual beneficial relationship exists between nursing and society.

• Society provides the nursing profession with the authority to practice, grants the profession
authority over functions, and grants autonomy over professional affairs.
Public Image of Nursing
• I m a g e is the way that profession appears to other disciplines and to the general public—
consumers of health care.
• The image of nursing is formulated in many ways by the public, the media, inter-professional
colleagues, and nurses.
• Nurses are aware with the gaps in society’s knowledge of nursing. Hence, nurses should take
the lead in making sure the public has an accurate picture of the vast knowledge.
Factors Contributing in Positive Public
Image of Nursing
1) Clarifying the historical roots of nursing and identifying the professional roles of them.
2) Advocating of nursing by carrying the responsibility to educate the public about what nurses do
and the amount of education and dedication.
3) Increasing the positive visibility of nurses though newspapers, TV programs, and ads has a
powerful influence on how nurses are viewed.
(Con.)
4) Increasing the number of men in nursing that help to move away from the concept of
handmaidens for medicine.
5) Displaying two critical issues of nursing, assertiveness and advocacy that impact nursing’s
image.
6) Increasing the visibility of nursing’s contributions in quality of healthcare.

(Con.)
6) Maintain dress standards that communicate a professional image.
7) Learn communications skills to respond for negative comments in a manner that stops behaviors
that negatively impact the nursing image.
8) Post, circulate, and advertise nursing’s accomplishments.
9) Believe in yourself as a nurse, and project the image you want the public to see.

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The History and

spiritual guides or “medicine men”.

• There was no formal education available in primitive societies, so the earliest

• The earliest nurses used plants and herbs to heal and

• Illness was often viewed as a sign that something was done

• The Egyptian healthcare system was the first to maintain medical

• Egyptian society was also the first to classify medications and

• Deaconesses had some education and were selected by the church’s

• The deaconess Phoebe is considered to be the first “visiting nurse” who

• These sisters lived together as a community and participated in a two-year

• Daughter of a wealthy landowner, William Nightingale, who later took

• At age 30 entered nurses’ training program.

• She carried a lamp at night while taking

Therefore, she is entitled “Th e La d y w it h

• Mutual beneficial relationship exists between nursing and society.

6) Increasing the visibility of nursing’s contributions in quality of healthcare.

8) Post, circulate, and advertise nursing’s accomplishments.

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