• Trent University

• NURS 1001

The Concept of the Modern Nurse: An Analysis Through a Nursing Student
Lens
 
Department of Nursing, Trent University
NURSE 1001: Nursing as a Profession
 
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The Concept of the Modern Nurse: An Analysis Through a Nursing Student
Lens
The year of 2020 marks Florence Nightingale’s 200th birthday anniversary,
and coincidentally – a year where nurses have received recognition and respect for
their role in healthcare, especially during the global pandemic that has swept the
world. Modern nurses have demonstrated their ability to undertake incredible
challenges, by managing and treating coronavirus patients in overcrowded,
understaffed hospitals – all while remaining professional and providing safe and
competent care. Fortunately, the nursing profession has evolved to meet the everchanging needs of society, even in times of crisis as we see today. Modern nurses
are individuals who have completed regulated training at accredited institutions,
who can perform a large scope of practice, to care for the physically and mentally
ill, community, and promote health and wellness on a micro and macro level, in
varying settings while continuously learning and using available research to
optimize patient care.
This paper will define, then analyse the concept of modern nurses. The
appendix will include a concept map to show the interrelated and contributing
concepts involved with modern nurses (See Appendix). Scholarly literature will be
used to highlight the characteristics pertaining to modern nurses. To illustrate the
meaning of a modern nurse through various lenses, societal and personal
conceptions of modern nurses will be used. Finally, my own motivations and
perceptions for nursing will be stated to conclusively analyse modern nurses and
their perceived significance.
The Founder of Modern Nursing
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It would be impossible to analyse the concept of modern nursing without
taking into account Florence Nightingale’s significant contribution that led to how
nurses are viewed today. Nightingale is thought of as the founder of modern
nursing as she has completely changed the role of nurses and women, in
healthcare. She was a nurse who worked during the Crimean War, who pointed out
inadequate hospital conditions, and later set the standards for cleanliness and
sanitization throughout medical institutions. Nightingale incorporated holistic
approaches to her clinical practice, which later served as a foundation for modern
nursing practice. In addition, she helped nursing become a professional, regulated
practice. She highlighted the importance of healthcare for improving the health of
the people, health care reform, and of educational standards. All in all, her
contributions significantly improved quality of care and helped revolutionize
nursing practice. (Karimi & Alavi, 2015)
Characteristics of a Modern Nurse
Pre-Nightingale, sixteenth century nurses were mainly young, unmarried,
white, Christian women who worked in hospitals and had training that was
unregulated. The primary role of nurses was to tend to sick or injured individuals
and fight infectious diseases that ravaged the communities. Similarly to the
present time, nurses worked in the frontlines when infectious diseases emerged.
(McKay & Narasimhan, 2012)