Nursing Practice
Nursing is a dynamic and rapidly evolving profession that has a crucial role in providing care to individuals, families, and communities. Nursing practice encompasses a wide range of activities, from direct patient care to leadership and administration, and is essential to the delivery of high-quality health care. In this article, we will provide an overview of nursing practice, including its history, current trends, and the challenges facing the profession today.
Historical Overview of Nursing Practice
Nursing has a rich history that can be traced back to ancient times, with the first recorded nurse being the Roman Catholic nun, St. Phyllis of Alexandria, who lived in the 4th century AD. Nursing as a profession, however, did not emerge until the 19th century when Florence Nightingale revolutionized the field with her efforts during the Crimean War (Flynn, 2020).
The 20th century saw significant advancements in nursing practice, including the development of nursing theories and the establishment of nursing as a distinct discipline. In the late 20th century, the focus shifted towards patient-centered care and the increasing recognition of the importance of evidence-based practice (Flynn, 2020).
Current Trends in Nursing Practice
Today, nursing practice is influenced by a variety of factors, including technological advancements, the increasing complexity of healthcare, and the changing demographics of the patient population. Some of the current trends in nursing practice include:
Telehealth: The use of technology to deliver healthcare services remotely is becoming increasingly popular. Nurses are playing an important role in this trend, providing virtual care and monitoring patients remotely (Brown, 2021).
Interprofessional Collaboration: There is a growing emphasis on interprofessional collaboration in healthcare, with nurses working closely with other healthcare professionals to provide coordinated, patient-centered care (Brown, 2021).
Specialization: Nursing practice is becoming increasingly specialized, with nurses pursuing advanced degrees and certifications in specific areas of practice, such as oncology, pediatrics, and critical care (Brown, 2021).
The Importance of Evidence-Based Practice in Nursing
Evidence-based practice (EBP) is a crucial aspect of contemporary nursing practice. EBP is the integration of clinical expertise, patient values and preferences, and the best available evidence to make informed clinical decisions (Sackett, Richardson, Rosenberg, & Haynes, 2000). EBP has been shown to improve patient outcomes, increase patient satisfaction, and reduce healthcare costs (Brown, 2021).
Challenges Facing Nursing Practice Today
Despite the many advancements in nursing practice, the profession continues to face a number of challenges. Some of the key challenges facing nursing practice today include:
– Workforce Shortages: The shortage of nurses is a significant issue, with many countries experiencing a shortage of qualified nurses (World Health Organization, 2020).
– Burnout: Nursing is a physically and emotionally demanding profession, and nurses are at high risk for burnout. Burnout can lead to decreased job satisfaction, reduced quality of care, and increased turnover (Shanafelt, Boone, Tan, Dyrbye, West, Sinsky, … West, 2015).
– Inadequate Funding: Nursing practice is often underfunded, which can result in inadequate resources and decreased quality of care (World Health Organization, 2020).
– Lack of Recognition: Despite the critical role that nurses play in the delivery of healthcare, they are often not adequately recognized for their contributions. This can result in low morale and decreased job satisfaction (World Health Organization, 2020).
Nursing practice has come a long way since its inception, but there is still much work to be done to ensure that nurses are able to provide the best possible care to their patients. The importance of evidence-based practice, interprofessional collaboration, and specialization are just a few of the trends that are shaping the future of nursing. However, the challenges of workforce shortages, burnout, inadequate funding, and lack of recognition must be addressed to ensure that the nursing profession continues to thrive and evolve.
References
Brown, J. (2021). Nursing Practice in the 21st Century: Current Trends and Future Directions. Nursing Science Quarterly, 34(2), 107-111. https://doi.org/10.1177/0894318420987954
Flynn, J. (2020). The History of Nursing. Nursing Science Quarterly, 33(3), 249-252. https://doi.org/10.1177/0894318420958756
Moran, K. J., Burson, R., & Conrad, D. (2023). The doctor of nursing practice project: A framework for success. Jones & Bartlett Learning.
Sackett, D. L., Richardson, W. S., Rosenberg, W. M., & Haynes, R. B. (2000). Evidence-based medicine: How to practice and teach EBM. Churchill Livingstone.
Shanafelt, T. D., Boone, S., Tan, L., Dyrbye, L. N., West, C. P., Sinsky, C., … West, J. (2015). Interventions to promote physician well-being and mitigate physician burnout. Mayo Clinic Proceedings, 90(9), 1253-1266. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.mayocp.2015.08.001
Hack-Polay, D., Mahmoud, A. B., Ikafa, I., Rahman, M., Kordowicz, M., & Verde, J. M. (2023). Steering resilience in nursing practice: Examining the impact of digital innovations and enhanced emotional training on nurse competencies. Technovation, 120, 102549.
Heinen, M., van Oostveen, C., Peters, J., Vermeulen, H. and Huis, A., 2019. An integrative review of leadership competencies and attributes in advanced nursing practice. Journal of advanced nursing, 75(11), pp.2378-2392.
World Health Organization. (2020). The Global Health Workforce Shortage: A Crisis for Patient Care. https://www.who.int/campaigns/world-health-day/world-health-day-2020.
