As discussed by Mr. Karl Michael Wong, R.N. of the PPRE Review Specialists.
Definitions of Nursing
Etymology of Nursing
The word “Nursing” is theorized to derive from one of two latin words: “Nutrix”, meaning “to nourish”, and “Nutire”, meaning “to suck” rooted in an anarchic responsibility of nurses to breastfeed the children whose mothers are unable to breastfeed or who have been abandoned, or even for convenience of the upper class. This is known as wet nursing.
The Profession of Nursing has been established by three organizations: the American Nursing Association (ANA), International Council of Nurses (ICN), and the Philippine Nurses Act of 2002 (R.A. 9173).
- American Nurses Association: “Nursing as the protection, promotion and optimization of health and abilities, prevention of illness and injury, alleviation of suffering through diagnosis and treatment of human response, and advocacy in the care of individuals, families, communities, and populations.” Importantly, this focuses on five key aspects: promotion of health, alleviation of suffering, prevention of illness, advocacy, and protection 🌚(mn. PAPA Pascual)🌚
- International Council of Nurses: “Nursing encompasses autonomous and collaborative care of individuals of all ages, families, groups, and communities, sick or well and in all settings. Nursing includes the promotion of health, prevention of illness, and the care of the ill, disabled and dying people. Advocacy, promotion of a safe environment, research, participation in shaping health policy and in patient and health systems management, and education are also key nursing roles.” Importantly, this focuses on ten key aspects: promotion of health, prevention of illness, the provision of care to the disabled, dying and ill, involvement in education, health policy, advocacy, research, and the promotion of a safe environment. 🌚(mn. P.P. DIEHARDS)🌚
- Philippine Nursing Act of 2002 (R.A. 9173): “…as independent practitioners, nurses are primarily responsible for the promotion of health and prevention of illness. As members of the health team, nurses shall collaborate with other health care providers for the curative, preventive, and rehabilitative aspects of care, restoration of health, alleviation of suffering, and when recovery is not possible, towards a peaceful death” Importantly, this focuses on seven key aspects: promotion of health, prevention of illness (as usual) and the curative, rehabilitative, restorative, alleviation, and palliation. 🌚(mn. P.P. CRRAP) “Sarap”🌚
- The Philippine Nursing Act of 2022 is an update to R.A. 9173 and is currently a bill (HB 1447) undergoing scrutiny.
History of Nursing
According to Buenavista, there are four periods in the history of nursing:
- Intuitive (Medieval) Period (Pre-17th century): nursing was based on experience and intuition. No formal training, mentorship systems, or exhaustive scientific bases were in place. Compassion and instinct were the core of nursing acts, mainly performed by women.
- The first surgery was performed in this period, known as Trephination. It was meant to allow evil spirits to leave the body by producing a stoma on the head.
- Apprentice (Middle-Age, Dark) Period (17th to 19th century): mentorship took hold, with new nurses being taught by experienced nurses, often on-the-job. Nursing was done out of advocacy. Many beggars, slaves, and prostitutes were trained as nurses during periods of war for low-cost manpower, leading to a poor social perspective on nurses.
- It was in this period that the Kaiserwerth Institute was founded, the first training ground for nurses in Germany.
- It was also in this period that Florence Nightingale, the “mother of modern nursing” performed her contributions to the nursing profession.
- Educative (Nightingale) Period (19th to 20th century): the period in which nursing education took hold, allowing the profession to become standardized and scientific.
- In the Crimean war, Nightingale employed and shared her environmental and sanitary theories in giving care to wounded soldiers, with mortality rates being drastically reduced. Her rounds at the infirmary at night gave her the iconic “Lady with the Lamp” title.
- Nightingale founded her own institution for training nurses, naming it the Nightingale Training School in 1860, coining the phrase that nursing is an art and a science.
- Contemporary (Modern) Period (20th Century to Present): nursing has become a well-established profession. Licensure became the standard for being recognized and practicing as a nurse, spanning from a Bachelor’s (BSN) to a Master’s degree in Nursing (MAN, MSN), and a PhD/Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP).
According to Tomey and Alligood, there are five eras in the history of contemporary nursing:
- Curriculum Era:
- Research Era:
- Graduate Education Era:
- Theory Era:
- Theory Utilization Era:
Early Hospitals in the Philippines
(mn. Ms. Ida San Juan)
| Year | Hospital |
|---|---|
| 1577 | Hospital Real de Manila |
| 1578 | San Lazaro Hospital |
| 1586 | Hospital de Indios |
| 1590 | Hospital de Aguas Santas |
| 1596 | San Juan de Dios Hospital |
Early Nursing Colleges in the Philippines
| Year | College | Notable Achievements |
|---|---|---|
| 1879 | University of Santo Tomas College of Nursing | First to offer the three-year nursing program |
| 1947 | Manila Central University College of Nursing | First to offer four-year nursing program |
| 1948 | University of the Philippines College of Nursing | First state university offering a nursing program |
| 1955 | Far Eastern University Institute of Nursing | First virtual laboratory |
| 1958 | University of the East |
Ethical Approaches in Nursing
- Teleological Approach: “telos” meaning the “end” or “outcome”. A consequentialist approach; this focuses on the outcome of the action, reducing emphasis on the immediate effects of the means employed. This follows the motif of “The End Justifies The Means”.
- Joseph Fletcher established this ethical approach.
- Deontological Approach: “deon” meaning “duty”. It dictates that being good means following one’s duties.
- Emmanuel Kant established this ethical approach.
- Virtue Ethics: virtue refers to one’s character traits. These traits are deemed “good”, and must be followed to be ethical. Values are personal beliefs of which virtues are held by an individual. One’s values must be in line with the good virtues in order to be good, and that goodness is used to reach a state of eudaimonia, a sense of well-being and happiness likened to enlightenment.
- The four cardinal traits requisite for eudaimonia are: humility, love, courage, and honesty.
- Divine Command Ethics: ethical guidelines are based on supreme beings. These are rules and are absolutist in nature. If the rules are followed, an individual is good, otherwise an individual is bad.