The History of Nursing and Nurses: Ancient to Modern

Today’s nurses play a critical role in the modern healthcare system, ensuring patients receive the quality and compassionate care they need in hospitals, long-term care facilities, physicians’ offices, and beyond. Just as with any profession, the scope of nursing has evolved significantly over time, with evidence of the first nursing services dating back as far as ancient times.

Whether you’re already practicing as a nurse in the field or have plans to become the next great nurse, having a solid understanding of the history of nursing can give you a better appreciation for your chosen profession. From ancient and medieval nursing to the modern and tech-savvy field we see in healthcare facilities today, the history of the nurse is as fascinating as it is extensive.

Why Is It Important to Study Nursing History?

Knowing the history of nurses and the nursing profession is important for many reasons. For starters, by knowing how the field developed and how methods have improved over time, nurses (and aspiring nurses) can gain a deeper understanding of (and appreciation for) the nursing profession as a whole.

Likewise, a robust knowledge of nursing history can empower current nurses to grapple with some of the challenges and controversies that have affected the field and some of the issues that persist today. With a balanced and informed understanding, these professionals can take educated stances on current and future issues, striving to make themselves part of the solution. Last but not least, studying nursing history helps nurses better understand the foundations of the evidence-based practice they apply in the field. For example, by understanding the evolution of infection control practices throughout the 1800s (including the first uses of antiseptic techniques to prevent infection), nurses can better appreciate how today’s robust infection control protocols emerged and why they matter so much to patient health and safety today.

Early History of Nursing

Ultimately, how far back the history of nursing can be traced depends on your definition of nursing as a profession. Although many would argue that the field wasn’t formalized until the 1800s, the reality is that people have been caring for the sick and injured since ancient times. Many of the care principles we associate with nursing today can be traced back just as far.

Ancient Nursing

In Ancient Egypt, Greece, and India, domestic members (including family and neighbors) often adapted caretaking roles. During this time, men and women alike cared for the sick, frequently relying on herbs to treat everyday ailments. Through hieroglyphs, it has also been discovered that the caretakers of this time performed some surgical procedures, and that the people who took on these positions were revered within their communities.

Medieval Nursing Techniques

Throughout Medieval times, caring for the sick and injured was viewed heavily as a religious responsibility, with churches and monasteries playing a significant role in medical care. Most often, nuns and monks took on these duties, as it was widely believed that injuries and ailments were punishments for sin.

Nursing in the 1800s

Medical care and practice significantly evolved throughout the Renaissance and the Industrial Revolution. By the 19th century, nursing became a recognized profession with its own educational standards and regulations in the United States. During this period, the profession saw incredible growth and innovation, which led to improved patient care.

The First Nurse: Florence Nightingale

You can’t delve into the history of nursing without learning about Florence Nightingale and her role in the profession’s formalization. Known as “The Mother of Nursing,” Nightingale was an advocate for disease prevention, public health, and cleanliness standards in healthcare, taking it upon herself to establish the first formal training program for nurses in the 1850s. She was among the first nurses to use statistics and data analysis to inform and improve patient outcomes in the field.

Nursing Education: The Beginning

Florence Nightingale’s nursing school saw significant success in London, prompting others to follow suit with the establishment of their own nursing schools across other parts of the world. In 1873, the first formal nursing schools opened in the United States. These included the New York Training School, the Connecticut Training School, and the Boston Training School. Nightingale’s own teachings and ideas influenced many of these programs.

Early Professional Nurses

Toward the end of the 19th century, some of the first professional nursing organizations were established as graduates from nursing programs began working in the field and sought to advance and advocate for changes in healthcare. Some examples of nursing organizations formed in the United States around this time include:

• The National League for Nursing (NLN)
• The American Nurses Association (ANA)

The establishment of these organizations gave the profession even more legitimacy and set standards for nursing care while serving as an outlet for networking among nurses.

Nurses in the Civil War

The need for nurses in the United States became painfully clear during the American Civil War, when large numbers of wounded soldiers needed medical care. During this time, many nurses were volunteers with little formal training, and hospitals lacked the basic resources (and even sanitation) that soldiers needed for proper wound care. Still, figures like Dorothea Dix and Mary Ann Bickerdyke stepped up and cared for patients during this time, handling tasks that ranged from wound care to emotional support.

1900s Nursing Progression

By the 1900s, numerous nursing schools had been established across the United States, and ongoing research in the healthcare field contributed to evidence-based practices throughout the nursing field. This century saw many notable developments, ranging from the establishment of formal nursing degrees to technological advancements still in use today.

World War I and World War II Nurses

During World War I and World War II, the value of nurses became abundantly clear as American soldiers required care for injuries sustained in battle. During this time, nurses performed critical duties such as treating wounds, maintaining sanitary conditions, and administering medication. The American Red Cross was also formed around this time in an effort to standardize nursing practice better and recruit nurses to serve during times of war.

College Nursing Degrees

Although nursing schools and training programs had been around since the mid-1800s, the first formal nursing degree programs did not emerge in the United States until the late 1800s and early 1900s. Specifically, Johns Hopkins University was formed in Maryland in 1889, and the first bachelor’s degree in nursing was offered by the University of Minnesota in 1909. Today, nursing degree programs are offered by more than 2,600 colleges and universities across the country, including Bryant & Stratton College.

1930s Technological Advances

Following the Great Depression in the United States, the healthcare field saw a number of significant advancements that transformed the nursing field. During this period, for example, the defibrillator was invented by an electrical engineer named William Kouwenhoven, saving lives by making it possible to treat cardiac arrest patients swiftly. It was also during the 1930s that tools like thermometers and stethoscopes became readily available and were widely used by nurses to better assess patients and provide a higher standard of care.

Hospitals in the 1950s

Throughout the mid-20th century, the role of the nurse continued to evolve, particularly in hospital settings, where nurses were most often employed. In this post-war era, nurses began to develop some semblance of autonomy in the workplace, drawing on their own experiences and education to make decisions in their patients’ best interests.

Late 20th-Century Nursing

It wasn’t until later in the 1900s that some of the first specialized areas of nursing began to emerge. During the late 1900s, nursing schools across the country began to offer more degree and diploma programs to suit the needs and interests of those entering the field. For the first time, nursing students could choose to specialize in such areas as oncology and pediatrics, opening up new doors of opportunity for aspiring nurses to pursue their unique interests.

Research and the application of evidence-based practices were also a major focus during this period, which led to long-term improvements in nursing practice and patient care that we can still see today.

Modern Nursing in the 21st Century

As the nursing and medical professions entered the 21st century, new developments were on the horizon. Although we’re only about a quarter of the way into the 21st century, the field has already seen numerous advancements and changes, with the future of nursing looking more promising than ever.

Information Technology in Nursing

Today, information technology plays a critical role in nursing, allowing nurses and other healthcare professionals to make the most informed decisions based on available patient data. Today, information technology and data analytics can be used to pinpoint trends in patient outcomes and contribute to healthcare research, all of which can lead to improvements in patient care. Automated tools and even artificial intelligence (AI) can streamline data analysis and extract valuable insights while saving nurses’ valuable time.

OSHA Nurse Safety Guidelines

Throughout the 21st century, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has also implemented and enforced critical safety measures to protect nurses and patients in the field. Some examples have included:

• Safe patient handling practices.
• Guidelines for safe administration of medication (and disposal of sharps).
• Mandates for the use of personal protective equipment (PPE) among nurses to protect against bloodborne pathogens.

COVID-19 and Nursing

The nursing field weathered perhaps one of its biggest storms during the peak of the COVID-19 pandemic, which technically lasted from 2020 through 2023 in the United States. According to one publication, nurses during this time experienced “high workloads and unprecedented levels of stress and burnout” as they cared for sick patients.

Today, the profession continues to feel the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, as large numbers of burnt-out nurses left the profession. Today, it is estimated that 42 out of 50 states in the United States will experience nursing shortages by 2030.

The Future of Nursing Report

Despite some notable challenges faced in the wake of COVID-19, the future of nursing as a profession looks promising. Many lessons were learned from the pandemic that have led to better working conditions and renewed focus on the need for work-life balance among nurses. Similarly, a “Future of Nursing 2020-2030” report issued by the Institute of Medicine professes that “the nursing profession [will] contribute meaningfully to achieving health equity” in the years to come, and that “it is essential to address the systems, structures, and policies that create workplace hazards and stresses that lead to burnout, fatigue, and poor physical and mental health among the nursing workforce.”

Start Your Nursing Journey Today

Although nurses’ tools and techniques have varied throughout their history, one aspect of the profession has remained the same. Nurses are some of the most compassionate workers, giving their all to care for the patients who need them most.

Eager to make your own contributions to the nursing field? Wherever you may be in your professional journey, a degree from Bryant & Stratton College could help you take the next step. We offer a wide selection of nursing programs, ranging from our Practical Nursing Diploma to our Associate Degree in Nursing (ADN) and numerous Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) options. If you’re interested in a BSN and already have your RN license, we even have a dedicated RN-to-BSN program to streamline your coursework.

Get in touch to learn more about any of our nursing programs at Bryant & Stratton College. We’d be happy to help you find one that suits your career goals and interests!