Throughout nursing history, the nursing profession has evolved from familial caregiving to standardized training and beyond. Nurses have had to adapt to advancements in healthcare, new technology, and societal needs. The most recent nursing trends have embraced the need for increasing patient access, integrating new technologies, and shifting toward patient-centered care models. The transformation of the nursing role up to this point has been significant, and it will continue to adapt and innovate as the needs of healthcare change.
A Brief History of Nursing
Nurses have existed since the dawn of ancient civilizations; however, most were family members of the patients. Later in nursing history, churches and nuns implemented formal nurse training when taking over nursing the sick and injured.
Then came Florence Nightingale, the founder of modern nursing and nursing education. Nightingale worked as a nurse during the Crimean War and found the hospital conditions appalling. She and her fellow nurses prioritized hygiene, sanitation, and education to slow the spread of disease.
Within six months of her arrival at the frontlines, Florence and her fellow nurses had reduced the death rate from 40 percent to 2 percent. The processes created by Nightingale would later become the foundation of modern nursing education, which greatly improved healthcare quality. After Florence Nightingale laid the groundwork, standardized nursing schools were established, allowing nurses to receive professional recognition.
The World Wars further revolutionized nursing history by highlighting nurses’ crucial role in caring for wounded soldiers. Before the wars, professionally trained nurses were often used in supervisory roles or private homes, and student nurses were utilized at the bedside. With the increasing demand for bedside nurses during the World Wars, professionally trained nurses were brought to the bedside.
At the end of the 20th century and into the 21st century, nursing roles and healthcare technology continued to evolve, which meant nurse education also had to develop. These needs introduced more specialized and advanced nursing roles, like critical care nurses, nurse anesthetists, and nurse practitioners.
Recent Advances in Nursing
Nursing is constantly changing and developing into a role that meshes well with the current healthcare landscape. Nurses have to adapt to new healthcare technology and the needs of their patients. Some of the most recent nursing advancements include the following:
- Telemedicine: Nurses and advanced practice nurses offer more virtual care, whether monitoring chronic illnesses, giving consultations, or providing patient education. This option offers better continuity of care to patients with transportation issues and limited access to healthcare.
- Health informatics: Using electronic medical records (EMRs) improves healthcare workflows. EMRs enhance communication with patients, providers, and specialists, allowing healthcare workers to accurately track preventative care measures and chronic illnesses.
- Simulation in education: Using simulation and virtual reality in nursing education allows students to become more comfortable with their skills in a realistic yet controlled environment before hitting the clinical floor.
- Advanced nursing roles: Nurses now have the option to take on more responsibility by continuing their education into an advanced practice role, such as nurse practitioner, nurse midwife, or nurse anesthetist.
The Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic
COVID-19 and nursing are terms often paired when discussing the pandemic that reshaped healthcare. The impact felt by the pandemic did not spare anyone in the healthcare field. Still, frontline nurses and healthcare workers had to continuously adapt to the best of their abilities with limited resources, continuous exposure, and ever-changing policies and procedures.
For decades, nurses have battled against increased workloads and higher stress levels, among other challenges. The pandemic indeed exacerbated these struggles and pushed nurses to the edge. Nurses began leaving the bedside at an alarming rate, further increasing the nursing shortage. These dangerous working conditions demand a call to action to improve the healthcare culture.
Upcoming Trends in Nursing
Nursing has transformed tremendously since its inception, and you can expect it to continue to change with future nursing trends. You should expect to see new healthcare technology emerge, specifically with telehealth and EMRs, as they continue improving healthcare delivery.
The use of artificial intelligence (AI) will continue to grow as this technology allows nurses to focus on patient care instead of administrative duties. Additionally, nurses can use AI to interpret data and predict patient outcomes. These new updates require nurses to understand the tools fluently as they incorporate them into their daily workflows.
You should expect a shift in the importance of preventive and holistic healthcare versus tertiary care. Nurses will focus more on wellness, health promotion, injury prevention, and their patients as a whole. This shift aims to get to the root of medical problems, shorten hospital stays, and reduce healthcare costs for patients and insurance companies.
Finally, nursing trends will continue to focus on improving patient access to healthcare and mental healthcare resources. With the evolution of telehealth, patients will have access to care regardless of their geographical location. This increased equity will create many opportunities for patients to seek healthcare they may have avoided previously due to transportation constraints or travel times.
Preparing for the Future
Nurses and nursing students need to be prepared for future changes. Focusing on nurse education is the key to staying ahead of future nursing trends. Using up-to-date educational tools that model the newest healthcare technology will prepare nursing students for their future in the workforce. In addition to understanding treatment for current illnesses, education about wellness, health promotion, and injury prevention can help you transition to a primary and preventative care focus. Current nurses must focus on continuing education to ensure they’re well versed on up-and-coming trends and technology.
As nursing trends embrace technology and address patients holistically, you’ll continue to see the nursing profession evolve. If you want to join this fast-paced and ever-changing career field, Health eCareers is your resource for your next career move!
Author Bio
Andrea Mosher, MS, APRN, CPNP, PMHS, is a suburban emergency room RN turned primary care pediatric NP. With this drastic evolution in practice, there was a steep learning curve. Now, her daily role is based significantly on educating patients and families, so writing freelance health content is the perfect fit to share her knowledge with patients and other healthcare workers.
