The largest portion of all healthcare professionals are nurses, with RN’s, and LPN’s numbering about 42 million in the United States alone. Even so, there is currently a shortage of these talented professional nurses, particularly in the hospital setting. Additionally, there are over three hundred thousand nurse practitioners practicing in the United States. this blog page will take a look at nurses and their roles in health care.
In the Beginning, the Evolution of Nurses
Nurses were first recognized a professional healthcare workers beginning in the mid 19th century. Many historians credit Florence Nightingale as the founder of modern nursing. In the past, there were objections to the concept of women caring for unfamiliar individuals. The current thinking at the time was that it wasn’t proper for women to care for someone that they did not know. However, Nightingale viewed nursing as an exceptional opportunity for women. She believed that they could apply their education and scientific expertise to enhance patient care while attaining personal autonomy. And she was right.
It was during the American Civil War that women, many of whom were the wives or mistresses of soldiers provided nursing care to sick troops as they followed the armies. Pneumonia, typhoid, dysentery and malaria were the most common illnesses. The soldiers were prone to illnesses due to a poor diet and less that ideal hygiene among the troops. These impromptu nurses provided care to those soldiers with whatever skills and supplies they were able to bring to the table, with many using herbal medicines and treatments.
Current Roles and Responsibilities
Nursing has come a long way since the 1800’s, with technology leading the way into the future. Listed below are just a few of the roles and responsibilities of the modern nurse.
- Caregiver: The role of the care provider is to support a patients’ physical, emotional, intellectual, and spiritual needs. This involves preventing illness, promoting independence, and encouraging well-being.
- Medication Administration: Nurses must have a comprehensive knowledge about different medications, their side effects, and dosage calculations. Additionally, they need to monitor patients for any adverse reactions. Communication skills with the healthcare team are vital here.
- Building Trust and Establishing Positive Relationships: It is crucial to understand their patients’ needs and emotions in order to provide a higher quality of care.
- Diagnosis and Monitoring: Nurses rely on practical nursing theory to effectively diagnose and monitor patients, understanding health experiences from the patient’s perspective. RN’s and LPN’s must have a basic understanding of the underlying diagnosis to effectively care and advocate for a patient.
- Collaboration: By collaborating with other professionals, nurses aim to improve patient comfort and help families understand and adapt. It’s no fun to be sick and nurses are often the central figure in coordinating patient care, making a patients health care journey a little easier.
- Research: Nurses can also lead research projects that result in clinical changes and better patient outcomes.
Impact on Healthcare
The role of nurses is crucial in determining positive patient outcomes. They have the ability to impact a patient’s sense of being respected and well-cared for during their treatment. Nurses are also adept at showing empathy towards patients and addressing their physical needs while providing emotional support.
A nurse is able to offer comfort and assistance to patients and their families during their recovery from illness or injury. They are also able to help a patient manage chronic illnesses and disabilities. Nursing enables you to make a positive difference in people’s lives by helping them feel better about themselves, which is an immensely rewarding aspect of this profession
Challenges Faced by Nurses
- Heavy Workloads and Stress: Long shifts with few breaks take a heavy toll. High stress with emotional and physical demands play a key role burnout. Particularly with the current shortage of nursing professionals.
- Workplace Hazards: Chronic exposure to illnesses, infectious diseases and injuries on the job. The nurse is also frequently exposed to difficult patients and families, requiring good communication skills.
- Underappreciation and Misconceptions: Nurses are often not appreciated for their hard work and dedication
Innovations and Future Trends in Nursing
- Technological Advances: Technology is advancing almost faster than healthcare can keep up. There are constantly new digital tools developed with the aim at improving patient care. Telehealth has also come a long way, enabling patients in rural areas access to nursing care.
- Policy and Advocacy: Nursing policies are under constant review with the safety of patients a priority. Nurses are also an advocate for their patient, keeping the patients’ best interest in the forefront.
- Future Outlook: One of the impacts of covid 19 was the realization of the importance of nurses in today’s healthcare. More colleges and universities are opening nursing programs in an effort to ease the current shortage. As our population ages, more nurse practitioners are needed as well to provide care along side of physicians.
I am a retired nurse practitioner. I moved to Tennessee in 1989 from Washington State after a divorce with my two young children. Once in Tennessee, I had no idea how I was going to be able to support myself. I had been in the food industry in Washington, but was not able to find work in Tennessee. One of my uncles suggested that I go to college to become a nurse. I remember thinking that I could never do that, it seemed too big of a leap for me.
But after looking into it, I took a leap of faith and enrolled in Nursing School. It took me four and one half years to earn my Bachelor of Science in Nursing. I was sure proud of that degree. After working on a busy medical surgical floor for several years, I realized that I wanted a more pro active role as a nurse. And so I went back to school again and earned my masters degree in nursing. I love the nurse practitioner role, figuring out and writing the plan of care rather than following it as a floor nurse. I love the relationship that I developed with my patients. Unfortunately I had to retire early due to an illness, but I will always treasure the stories that I have of some of my more memorable patients.
I have written a book The Heart of Nursing. It is a compilation of stories of some of the patients that I will never forget. If you would like to read it you can get your copy HERE.