University of Tabuk

Faculty of Applied Medical Sciences

Department of Nursing
Fundamentals of Nursing Theory
Level 5, Academic Year (AY) 1443 H-1444H

HISTORY of
NURSING
Department of Nursing 1
 Outline
1. The historical and contemporary Nursing
Practice
2. Discuss the Evolution of Nursing Practice
3. Discuss the development of modern Nursing
4. Identify challenges in the future of nursing
profession

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 Learning Objectives
At the end of the lecture, the student will be able to:
1. Aware about historical and contemporary Nursing
Practice
2. Discuss the Evolution of Nursing Practice
3. Discuss the development of modern Nursing
4. Identify challenges in the future of nursing
profession

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Historical and Contemporary Nursing Practice

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 Historical Perspectives
• Nursing has undergone dramatic change in
response to societal needs and influences.
• A look at nursing’s beginnings reveals its
continuing struggle for autonomy and
professionalization.
• Many factors have affected nursing practice in
the past and still exert their influence today.
➢ women’s roles and status, religious (Christian)
values, war, societal attitudes, and visionary
nursing leadership.
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 Evolution of Nursing Practice
1. Women's Roles
• Traditional female roles of wife, mother, daughter,
and sister have always included the care and
nurturing of other family members.
• Nursing could be said to have its roots in “the home.”
women have cared for infants and children; were
called on to care for others in the community who
were ill.
• Generally, the care provided was related to physical
maintenance and comfort.
• The traditional nursing role has always entailed
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humanistic caring, nurturing, comforting, and
 Evolution of Nursing Practice
2. Religion
● Religion has played a significant role in the development of
nursing.
● The value of “Love thy neighbor as thy self” had a significant
impact on the development of nursing.
● During the third and fourth centuries, several wealthy matrons of
the Roman Empire, such as Fabiola, used their wealth to provide
houses of care and healing (the forerunner of hospitals) for the
poor, the sick, and the homeless.
● in 1836, Theodor Fliedner opened a small hospital and training
school in Kaiserswerth, Germany. Florence Nightingale received
her “training” in nursing at the Kaiserswerth School.
 Evolution of Nursing Practice
3. War
• Throughout history, wars have accentuated the need
for nurses.
• During the Crimean War (1854–1856), the
inadequacy of care given to soldiers led to a public
outcry in Great Britain.
• Florence Nightingale was asked by Sir Sidney
Herbert of the British War Department to recruit a
contingent of female nurses to provide care to the
sick and injured in the Crimea.
• Nightingale and her nurses transformed the military
hospitals by setting up sanitation practices, such as
hand washing and washing clothing regularly.
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 Evolution of Nursing Practice

• 3. War… cont
• During the American Civil War (1861–1865),
several nurses emerged who were notable for
their contributions to a country torn by internal
strife. They volunteered as nurses to give care
to injured soldiers in military hospitals.
• The arrival of World War I resulted in
American, British, and French women rushing
to volunteer their nursing services, who
endured harsh environments and treated
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injuries not seen before.

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 Evolution of Nursing Practice
4. Societal Attitudes
● Society’s attitudes about nurses and nursing
have significantly influenced professional
nursing.
● Before the mid 1800s, nursing was without
organizations, education, or social status; the
prevailing status was that a woman’s place was
in the home and that no respectable woman
should have a career .
Society’s attitudes about nursing during this
period are reflected in the writings of Charles
Dickens. In his book Martin Chuzzlewit
(1896), Dickens reflected his attitude toward
nurses through his character Sairy Gamp. “She
“cared” for the sick by neglecting them,
stealing from them, and physically abusing
them”.
This literary portrayal of nurses greatly
influenced the negative image and attitude
toward nurses up to contemporary times.
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In contrast, the guardian angel or angel of
mercy image arose in the latter part of the
19th century, largely because of the work of
Florence Nightingale during the Crimean War.
After Nightingale brought respectability to the
nursing profession, nurses were viewed as
noble, compassionate, moral, religious,
dedicated, and self-sacrificing.

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 Evolution of Nursing Practice
5. Nursing Leaders
Nightingale (1820 – 1910),
• was born to a wealthy and intellectual family.
She believed she was “called by God to help
others . . . [and] to improve the well-being of
mankind”
• was influential in developing nursing
education, practice and administration.
• Her achievements in improving the standards
for the care of war casualties in the Crimea
earned her the title “Lady with the Lamp.”
 Florence Nightingale
• When she returned to England from the Crimea, a grateful
English public gave Nightingale an honorarium of £4500. She
later used this money to develop the Nightingale Training
School for Nurses, which opened in 1860. The school served
as a model for other training schools. Its graduates traveled to
other countries to manage hospitals and institute nurse-training
programs.
• Despite poor health that left her an invalid, Florence
Nightingale worked tirelessly until her death at age 90. As a
passionate statistician, she conducted extensive research and
analysis.
• Nightingale’s vision of nursing changed society’s view of
nursing. She believed in personalized
Department of Nursing and holistic client care. 16

Her vision also included public health and health promotion

 Florence Nightingale

Considered the founder of modern nursing, Florence

Nightingale (1820–1910) was influential in developing
nursing education, practice, and administration

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 Nursing Leaders
Clara Barton (1812-1956)
• She was school teacher who volunteered as
nurse during American Civil War. Her
responsibility was to organize the nursing
services.
• Barton is noted for her role in establishing the
American Red Cross, which linked with the
International Red Cross when the U.S.
 Nursing Leaders
• Richards (1841–1930)
• Linda Richards was America’s first trained
nurse.
• She graduated from the New England Hospital
for Women and Children in 1873.
• Richards is known for introducing nurse’s
notes and doctor’s orders.
• She also initiated the practice of nurses
wearing uniforms.
• She is credited for her pioneer work in
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 Nursing Leaders
Lillian Wald (1867-1940):
• Is considered the founder of public health nursing.
• She offer trained nursing services to the poor.
 Nursing Leaders
Liviana Dock (1858-1956)
• Her campaigned for legislation to allow nurses rather
than physicians to control their profession.

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History of Islamic
Nursing
 History of Islamic Nursing
Rufaidah bint Sa'ad
• The first known Muslim nurse and the founder of the
nursing profession in the Arabic and Islamic history.
• Rufaidah received her training and knowledge from her
father, a physician (a salient healer in Al-Medina),
whom she assisted regularly.
• Rufaidah is described as a woman possessing the
qualities of an ideal nurse: compassionate, empathetic,
a good leader and a great teacher.
• She was praised for spending her life taking care of the
sick and dying and providing the people of her city
with health education.
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 History of Islamic Nursing
Rufaidah bint Sa'ad
• At the time when Prophet Mohammed (PBUH), early
followers were engaged in war, she led a group of
volunteer nurses to the battlefield to treat and care for
the injured and dying. Prophet Muhammad (PBUH),
used to order that casualties be carried to her tent so
that she can treat them with her medical expertise.
• After the Muslim state was established in Medina, she
was given permission by Prophet Mohammed (PBUH),
to set up a tent outside the mosque to treat the ill and to
train more Muslim women and girls as nurses.

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 History of Islamic Nursing
Rufaidah bint Sa'ad
• A unique contribution of Rufaidah was
acknowledging a community nursing. She did
not limit nursing practice to the clinical
situation, but went out to the community and
tried to solve the social problems that lead to
disease.
• She is said to have provided health education
to the community, helped the disadvantaged
(like orphans and the disabled), advocated for
preventative care, and even to have drafted the
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world’s first code of nursing ethics .

 History of Islamic Nursing
Rufaidah bint Sa'ad
• History has recorded names of women who
worked with Rufaidah: Om Senan Al
EslaMey (Om Ammara), Om Ayman,
Safiyat, Om Sulaim, and Hind.
• Other Muslim women who were famous as
nurses were: Nosaib Bint Kaab Al
Mazeneya, Amiinah bint Abi Qays
alGhifariyah, Om 'Atiyyah al Ansariyah,
Om Matawea Al Aslameya, and Om
Wareka Bint Hareth
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 Al-Shifa bint Abduallah
• The companion Al-Shifa bint Abduallah
al Qurashiyah al-Adawiyah was one of
the wise women of that time.
• She was involved in public administration
and skilled in medicine.
• Her real name was Laila, however “al-
Shifa” means the healing, derived from her
profession as a nurse and medical
practitioner. 42

• She used to use a preventive treatment

 Nusayba bint Harith al-Ansari

• Also called “Umm ‘Atia”, took care of the

casualties on the battlefields and provided them with
water, food and first aid.

• She also performed circumcisions

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Department of Nursing 29
 Top Nursing Trends That Will Shape
Healthcare beyond 2020
• Trend #1: Self-Care for Nurses: Self-care is a deliberate activity that we do
to provide for our physical, mental, and spiritual well-being. Lack of self-care
can lead to errors, fatigue, and burnout, which comes at a high cost to
patients, nurses and the healthcare organization.
• Trend #2: Increased Specialization and Career Path Options: Healthcare
needs are becoming increasingly complex. As a result, the scope of
specializations that nurses are able to practice is widening. A nurse who
specializes is in higher demand than the ones that do not. As the world
continues to grow, and more research and technological advancements come
out, nurse career path options become endless.
• Trend #3: Traveling Nurses: Last year showed us how much US needs
traveling nurses to meet shifting demands. Thousands of nurses travel into
COVID-19 hot spots to support the surging patient volumes. Nurses who
enjoy adapting to different work environments and traveling to new places
while taking care of people are on the rise
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 Top Nursing Trends That Will Shape
Healthcare beyond 2020
• Trend #4: The Rise of
Telemedicine: Telemedicine
revenue is projected to triple by
2023, this has created nurse task
automation and easier access to
patient care, new telehealth, and
chatbot technologies. This allows
patients to access their documents
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and doctors from home, giving

 Top Nursing Trends That Will Shape
Healthcare beyond 2020
• Trend #9: Salaries and benefits will need to increase:
Salaries and benefits will continue to increase in order for
employers to retain employees and attract potential
candidates.
• Trend #11: Males entering the nurse workforce will
rise: In 2011 in the U.S.,1 in 10 nurses are men. This was
a 660% increase in the total number of men since 1981.
With the global shortage of nurses, health care
organizations will continue to focus on recruiting men to
the field in 2021 and beyond.
• Trend #12: Holistic Care will become more popular:
As patients become more educated,
Department of Nursing they become more in 32
charge of their health. This has resulted in a growing
 Top Nursing Trends That Will Shape
Healthcare beyond 2020

•Trend #13: Nurses

will need to be
technology savvy:
Every day new health
care technologies enter
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the market. Nurses are

 Top Nursing Trends That Will Shape
Healthcare beyond 2020
• Trend #15: Nurses Pushing for Inclusion on Hospital
Boards: Nurses are underrepresented on hospital boards. Since a
2011 survey found that only 6% of board members in 1000 hospitals
were nurses (meanwhile 20% were physicians) there has been a
push toward including nurses in the boardroom.

• Trend # 16: Rise in Geriatric and Palliative Care: this

demands increasing number of geriatric nurses.

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 CHALLENGES IN THE FUTURE
OF NURSING PROFESSION
POSITIVE OUTCOMES NEGATIVE OUTCOMES
• A more informed healthcare • Health care cost are out of
consumers involved in control
decision-making • Inequality in healthcare access
• Nursing roles beyond direct • Staffing shortages and Ageing
patient care nursing workforce
• Autonomy in the profession • Faculty shortages
• Technological advances, • Compromised safe and quality
improved patient outcomes healthcare
• Limited ability of nursing
schools to admit students
For reading :

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 References
• Kozier B, Erb G, Berman a (2012). Fundamentals of
Nursing: Concept, Process, and practice (9th Ed.)
• Kozier B, Erb G, Berman a (2016). Kozier & Erb’s
Fundamentals of Nursing : Concept, Process, and
Practice (10th Ed.). Prentice Hall:New jersey.
• Lamadah, S., & Sayed, H. (2014). Challenges Facing
Nursing Profession in Saudi Arabia. Journal of Biology,
Agriculture and Healthcare, 4(7), 20–25.

• http://www.muslimheritage.com
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