NURS FPX 6103 Assessment 1 The History of Nursing Education

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Capella university

NURS-FPX 6103 The Nurse Educator Role

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Date

The History of Nursing Education

Nursing education has undergone significant transformations over time, influenced by key historical events and emerging trends that continue to shape modern practices. Florence Nightingale’s contributions laid the foundation for professional nursing by emphasizing sanitation, patient care, and systematic data collection. The COVID-19 pandemic further underscored the adaptability of nursing, highlighting the importance of crisis management and telehealth integration. In contemporary practice, technology and mental health have become crucial aspects of nursing education, ensuring that future nurses are well-prepared for an evolving healthcare landscape.

Five Historical Influences on Nursing

Nursing and its education have been significantly shaped by historical events that highlight the profession’s evolution and areas requiring further development. Florence Nightingale’s work during the Crimean War established the foundational principles of modern nursing. By promoting sanitation, structured education, and systematic data collection, she revolutionized patient care and formalized nursing education through the establishment of her nursing school in 1860 (Turkowski & Turkowski, 2024).

The introduction of nursing licensure in the early 20th century marked another milestone by standardizing competency requirements through examinations such as the NCLEX-RN. These regulations ensured the provision of safe, high-quality patient care while mandating continuing education to maintain nursing proficiency (Egert et al., 2023).

World War II further expanded nursing roles through the U.S. Cadet Nurse Corps, which trained nurses to perform complex medical procedures in high-pressure environments. This initiative laid the groundwork for the development of Advanced Practice Nurses (APNs) and highlighted the need for flexible nursing education models capable of preparing nurses for diverse healthcare settings (US, 2024).

NURS FPX 6103 Assessment 1 The History of Nursing Education

In 2010, the Institute of Medicine (IOM) released the report The Future of Nursing, which emphasized the necessity for higher education among nurses. The report advocated for increased Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) attainment and leadership involvement, fostering a culture of lifelong learning and professional advancement (Bergren & Maughan, 2021).

The COVID-19 pandemic reinforced the critical role of nurses as frontline responders and accelerated the integration of telehealth. This crisis prompted curriculum changes to include crisis management, infection control, and mental health support, ensuring that nursing education remains responsive to global health challenges (Bolina et al., 2023).

Impact of Three Trends on Nursing

The nursing profession continues to evolve, driven by advancements in technology, the expansion of advanced practice roles, and an increased emphasis on mental health. Artificial intelligence (AI), telehealth, and electronic health records (EHRs) are transforming nursing practice by enhancing patient monitoring, improving care coordination, and streamlining decision-making processes. These innovations highlight the growing importance of technological proficiency in nursing education (Chadha & Chaudhary, 2024).

The increasing demand for Advanced Practice Nurses (APNs) reflects the profession’s shift toward expanded roles in addressing healthcare disparities. Nurse practitioners (NPs) and clinical nurse specialists are filling critical gaps in underserved areas, emphasizing the need for advanced education, leadership training, and policy advocacy to prepare nurses for these evolving responsibilities (Spies et al., 2024).

Mental health awareness has also become a central focus in nursing education. Nurses are now trained to identify, manage, and support patients experiencing mental health issues, integrating these competencies into primary healthcare settings. This trend builds upon historical advocacy for mental health reform, tracing back to figures such as Dorothea Dix, and underscores the importance of holistic patient care (Varcarolis & Fosbre, 2020).

Conclusion

Nursing education has been shaped by historical milestones and evolving trends, ensuring that the profession remains adaptable to modern healthcare demands. The integration of technology, the expansion of APN roles, and the emphasis on mental health are essential for providing high-quality patient care. Continuous education and adaptation will strengthen nursing’s role in delivering holistic and effective healthcare.

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NURS FPX 6103 Assessment 1 The History of Nursing Education

Category	Key Influences and Trends	Impact on Nursing
Historical Influences	Florence Nightingale’s reforms (1860), nursing licensure (20th century), World War II & APNs, IOM Future of Nursing report (2010), COVID-19 pandemic	Standardized nursing education, expanded roles, increased focus on leadership and crisis management
Technology in Nursing	AI, telehealth, electronic health records (EHRs)	Enhances patient monitoring, improves decision-making, integrates digital health into education
Advanced Practice Nursing	Growth of NPs and clinical nurse specialists, healthcare policy advocacy	Addresses healthcare disparities, increases autonomy in patient care, necessitates advanced education
Mental Health Focus	Increased mental health training, crisis intervention strategies	Expands nursing roles in primary care, strengthens holistic patient care, integrates mental health into curricula

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References

Bergren, M. D., & Maughan, E. D. (2021). The future of nursing 2020–2030: School nursing research. The Journal of School Nursing, 37(2), 105–110. https://doi.org/10.1177/10598405211036948

Bolina, A. F., Bomfim, E., & Júnior, L. C. L. (2020). Frontline nursing care: The COVID-19 pandemic and the Brazilian health system. SAGE Open Nursing, 6, 2377960820963771. https://doi.org/10.1177/2377960820963771

Chadha, R., & Chaudhary, A. (2024). Advancing patient care and monitoring through the fusion of artificial intelligence and the internet of things in healthcare. Lecture Notes in Networks and Systems, 472–480. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-64813-7_46

NURS FPX 6103 Assessment 1 The History of Nursing Education

Egert, A., Lee, K., & Gill, M. (2023). Nursing fundamentals. Ecampusontario.pressbooks.pub. https://ecampusontario.pressbooks.pub/mohawkcollegenursingpharmacology/chapter/nursing-fundamentals/

Spies, L. A., Miller, M. K., Chair, S. Y., & McCloy, H. F. (2024). Global advanced practice nurses’ clinical practice. Advanced Practice in Nursing, 85–103. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-39740-0_5

Turkowski, Y., & Turkowski, V. (2024). Florence Nightingale (1820–1910): The founder of modern nursing. Cureus. https://doi.org/10.7759/cureus.66192

US Cadet Nurse Corps. (2024). Rochesterregional.org. https://www.rochesterregional.org/about/history/exhibits/us-cadet-nurse-corps

Varcarolis, E. M., & Fosbre, C. D. (2020). Essentials of psychiatric mental health nursing – E-Book. Google Books. https://books.google.com/books?hl=en&lr=&id=AmjxDwAAQBAJ&oi=fnd&pg=PP1&dq=Nurses+are+being+trained+to+identify