Mary Breckinridge As A Pioneer Nurse

Shortly after beginning my nursing career at one of the most prestigious public nursing schools in Georgia, I recognized the significance of being a well-rounded student to become an individual who cares for the public. I wanted to embody a person who has the brains, the heart, the passion, and love for nursing. I had the privilege to work alongside fellow nursing students,

The experience of meeting in person and connecting with each other gave the assurance that we are all in this together. We are the future of midwifery and family nursing. It is up to us to make a difference. Faculty is here to support and guide you on your journey. If we support one another and stay committed to our dream the only outcome is success. I am still nervous and extremely excited but I know that I have faculty and my peers that I can reach out to when there are difficult times or I have questions. I was right; my life is forever changed. If Mary Breckenridge can make a difference in rural Kentucky, I can certainly make a difference in the lives of many mothers and families in my community and

Time spent at my mother’s bedside in the intensive care unit changed my perception of the nursing profession. I realized what unique value was integrated in comprehensive nursing care, which was built on excellence, compassion, and respect. I knew right then and there that nursing was a professional path which I would like to take. Changing my college major to nursing was not a difficult decision – I wanted to repay for all that courteous care my family received in the most vulnerable time of our lives.

As a little girl growing up, I watched my mother as she cared for nuclear and extended family members, people in the community and at church; it seemed like she was always taking care of people with a smile and a look of contentment. In the more than 30 years that she worked as a pediatric nurse, I looked forward to the one time in the year she was allowed to take me to work. Without realizing it, my admiration for my mother developed into a desire to help people and this influenced my dream to become a nurse. The final factor that defined my aspiration was the 14-year Liberian civil war; during this time I saw firsthand how much suffering people were going through with shortage in hospitals, doctors and nurses. A lot of people died because of poor health care and lack of qualified health care professionals.

Clarissa Harlowe Barton was known as Clara Barton. Clara Barton was born on December 25th 1821 in Oxford, Massachusetts. The story teller, Tim Lowery, talks about Clara’s bravery and determination for her nursing profession. Clara was a nurse in the Civil War during the years 1861 through 1865. The Civil War began in Charleston, South Carolina on April 12,1861. Clara Barton’s determination and hard work provided a great impact for nurses around the world.

In the corner of the small hospital room stood a shy little girl. “You shouldn't be in here, honey”, my mother said as she nudged me out of the room where my grandfather lay dying. At the time, I couldn't understand the enormity of the situation. Ignorant to what was happening around me, my innocent mind fled with curiosity. The beeping of the machines and the soft quick steps of nurses captivated my attention. I was fascinated with this strange new world. This is the moment that sparked my desire to become someone great; a nurse.

Mary Jane Safford stood in the midst of battle tending to the wounded while waving her white flag, her handkerchief tied to a pole, as a flag of truce. She was known as the “Cairo Angel” as her face would brighten wounded soldier’s days. As stated in the article “Mary Jane Safford” by Maggie Maclean, “Safford’s sweet, young face, full of benevolence, pleasant voice and winning manner that instate her in everyone's heart. Every sick and wounded soldier in Cairo knows and loves her, and as she enters the ward, every pale face brightens at her approach. She is performing a noble work... in the quietest and most unconscious manner.” Mary Jane Safford was a heroic nurse who saved many lives during the Civil War.

Nursing is defined in journal articles as protection, promotion, and optimization of health, prevention of illness, and advocacy in the care of individuals, families, communities, and populations. Nurses save lives daily and are important members of health care system. They monitor patients, determine what patients need, and provide care. The nursing profession is rich with various contributors in the areas of research, education, and practice, as well as roles. In her book “Ordered to Care” (1987) , Susan Reverby describes nursing as the order in a society that refuses to value caring. However, with the obligation to care, nurses have tried to determine how they would provide care, be it at bedside or at legislative laws, Clara Barton was

Mary spent the next 30 years working as a private nurse and still managed to have time

Nursing is a profession that has been around in one form or another since the beginning of civilizations. It has moved from an art that was handed down from generation to generation to the formal education and training programs of today. During this evolution, nursing has been influenced by four main themes: the folk, religious, military and servant images (Ellis, 2012, pp. 3-45, 71).

Throughout history, society has considered women to be the natural caregivers of children, family, and community. Women were naturally thought of as nurses because the act was said to be an extension of their role in the home. They were called in to homes to help deliver babies or as wet nurses to breastfeed. In the 1800’s, women began taking care of soldiers. It was then that Florence Nightingale cared for soldiers in the Crimean War. During this time she revolutionized the role by setting standards of cleanliness and reducing infection. The legacy of nursing continues to be enriched by those who continue to follow the example of nursing pioneers. They refuse to be bound by others’ views

The profession of nursing has matured from the time of Florence Nightingale. Nursing has gone from just treating dying soldiers on the battlefield to helping guide people through their entire lives from birth to death. The maturation of nursing has led to changes in nursing philosophy and allowed for practitioners of Nursing to meld these philosophies together to form their own philosophy. In this paper I will explain my philosophy of nursing and compare it to Virginia Henderson 's definition of nursing along with discussing some of the changes to Nurse philosophy I will also discuss some of the difficulties to being a patient advocate.

Throughout the history of nursing, nursing has evolved over time due to the impact of many women. These women have made a path that has both encouraged generations to follow in their footsteps, but also allow the best outcomes for them. Sister M. Berenice Beck’s greatest contributions to nursing were the development of the Code of Ethics and becoming the first female PhD and dean of nursing.

Like any scientific discipline, the nursing profession has evolved over time. Nurses, once regarded as housemaids and lower class citizens, now hold positions of authority and stature in our modern society. These changes in the profession are attributed to the many nurse theorists who devoted their lives to the improvement of patient care. Through their theoretical advancements, the public perception of nursing has gone from dismissive to reverential. Today, our culture considers the nursing profession to be one of the most rewarding and respected career paths an individual can pursue. Through a review of one such patient theorist, Dorothea Orem, one can witness this change in the perception of the nursing profession. As a first semester student in a professional nursing course of study, Orem has already influenced my personal nursing philosophy.

The roles and functions of nurses have a very fascinating history and have evolved since the 19th century. Landale (1895), in her letter to the editor of the Nursing Record and Hospital World gave us a glimpse of what a nurse should be during that period. Referring to a nurse as a woman in uniform, it gave us an idea that nursing was a female dominated vocation and not to be treated as an economical occupation for financial gain. Landale (1895) placed an emphasis on the characteristic of being a servant and being devoted to service in order to be a nurse who was worthy of the uniform.