DNP-815A Identify a historical change or event that had significant impact on the development of nursing theory
Read the “Discussion Forum Philosophy” to acquaint yourself with the expectations of doctoral learners posting in the discussion forum. Define the process of theory building. Identify a historical change or event that had significant impact on the development of nursing theory. Discuss the effect of the change/event on nursing from that point forward, the contribution(s) to nursing that resulted, and how it relates now to successfully preparing the DNP for practice. Provide examples and literature support.
As with other practice professions, nursing requires a knowledge foundation that is based on theory and derived from systematic research. The first nursing theorist, Florence Nightingale, cre
ated detailed reports of both medical and nursing matters as chief nurse for the British in the Crimean War in the mid-1850s. (Stolley, et al 2000) Nightingale noted that apprehension, uncertainty, waiting, expectation, fear of surprise, do a patient more harm than any exertion”. As a result, Nightingale’s conceptualization of nursing included the need to have an understanding of the laws of nature, the prevention of disease, and the use of personal power. She viewed persons as both physical and spiritual beings, emphasizing the importance of the environment and the need to care for the patient, not the disease. With her emphasis on the environment, changes in nutrition, hydration, and sanitation resulted, and mortality rates dropped drastically during the Crimean War.
Modernity has brought significant advances, which have strained the qualification of nurses’ being and doing; the
insertion of new care and teaching technologies has been widely implemented. In this direction, Florence’s teachings have left their mark, influencing the nursing routine, as it has always emphasized the importance of nurses’ commitment to care, as well as learning based on practice (Reigel, et al ,2021). Currently, nurses are being challenged to boost Florence’s ideals through critical thinking, aiming to provide humane and competent care based on the best scientific evidence against the backdrop of unprecedented changes. Like Florence, it is worth highlighting other nursing theorists, such as Watson, Horta, King and Leninger, who impacted society by considering not only the physical aspects of a human being, but also the interconnection between each individual’s body, mind and spirit.
As a DNP learner this impacts and shapes how, we can interact with our patients. ,it prepares us to be able to use critical thinking and holistic thinking in clinical settings and decision making in diverse ,complex patient situations .
References
Riegel, F., Crossetti, M., Martini, J. G., & Nes, A. (2021). Florence Nightingale’s theory and her contributions to holistic critical thinking in nursing. Revista brasileira de enfermagem, 74(2), e20200139. https://doi.org/10.1590/0034-7167-2020-0139
Stolley, J. M., Buckwalter, K. C., & Garand, L. (2000). The Evolution of Nursing Research. Journal of the neuromusculoskeletal system: JNMS : a journal of the American Chiropractic Association, Inc, 8(1), 10–15.
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