History of Nursing Science 1

History of Nursing Science

NUR/513

Hortincia Williams

February 13, 2011

Antonella Marchionna
History of Nursing Science 2

History of Nursing Science

Nursing has grown over the last 100 plus years. Nursing has gone from the early

beliefs that a nurse is anyone who cares for a person in health or illness and has emerged

into a science. It has been said that the desire to care for someone is an integral part of

the human make up. As early as Florence Nightingale’s research theory the beginning of

nursing science began to emerge. Care that it is provided currently is a direct reflection

of the theorist who forged before. It is also supported by nursing science that basically

break down the meaning of what nurses do and why through research.

Florence Nightingale was the person behind the first nursing theory. Her theory

has been referred also as the environmental theory. Nightingale developed her theory

during the Crimean War as she care for soldiers. Her theory is that a positive clean

environment promotes health within a person. This would be the first glimpse of nursing

science as Nightingale supported her thoughts through statistical data, charts, and graphs.

In the 1950s theorist began reviewing theories developed in psychology and later

created nursing need theories. These theories were then used to look at the needs of the

patient. Theorist like Orem emerged at this time (Kiikkala & Munnukka, 1994). Orem’s

theory is the self care theory, which states that the goal of nursing is to help a patient care

for herself and when patients are not able to there is a self care deficit and nursing is

needed. Peplau developed a developmental theory that promotes interpersonal relations

in nursing. “Peplau conceptualized nursing as an integration of art and science, evident

in her description of practicing nurses as working scientists and the nursing process as an

investigative approach” (Fitzpatrick & Whall, 2005, p. 48).

History of Nursing Science 3

Over the next decade, researchers developed interaction theories. The focus

shifted from the nurse to the interaction between nurse and patient. Theorist drew upon

other disciplines such as psychology, sociology, and phenomenology, to name a few.

Orlando explored the dynamics of the nurse-patient relationship. Identifying nursing as a

process led the theorist to use system-oriented theory to develop nursing theory (Kiikkala

& Munnukka, 1994). System-oriented theory asks questions like what is the purpose of

nursing or the goal of nursing.

Conclusion

Nursing science has evolved into a discipline on its own. Each theorist or

theory draws upon the next to further clarify the art and science of nursing. Theorist like

Florence Nightingale pioneered nursing. Theorist and researchers have provided the

information and data over the years to help to define nursing as a profession and a

science. Most theories share a common goal ultimately to promote health and healing.

Each theorist or theory also has its own distinctive view. From these nursing has

developed standards of care that guide nursing practice today. All of which is supported

by research and data.

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Fitzpatrick, J., & Whall, A. (2005). Conceptual Models of Nursing Analysis and

Application (4th ed.). Upper Saddle River, NJ: Pearson Prentice Hall.

Kiikkala, I., & Munnukka, T. (1994). Nursing research: on what basis?. Journal of

Advanced Nursing, 19(2), 320-327. Retrieved from EBSCOhost on February 13,

2011.