When nursing schools were first founded in the United States in the early 20th century, the nurse educator position began to take on a lengthy history. The responsibility of nurse educators at the time was to instruct and educate future nurses. The function of a nurse educator has expanded throughout time to include a wider variety of duties, including curriculum creation, program assessment, and research. Today, nurse educators must also ensure that nursing students are ready to tackle the challenges of a healthcare environment undergoing fast change.
The nurse educator’s job will continue to be crucial to advancing nursing as we look to the future. Nurse educators must change and adopt new pedagogical strategies as the healthcare sector grows more complicated and technology develops. Incorporating cutting-edge technology like virtual reality and other ones into nursing courses is one way to do this. Another is to introduce new subjects like genomics and customized medicine. To ensure that nursing education programs align with the healthcare system’s demands, nurse educators must also engage closely with healthcare providers and policymakers (Duncan et al., 2020).
Several notable historical impacts on nursing and nursing education have shaped the field into what it is now. Florence Nightingale, primarily regarded as the father of modern nursing, was one of the key influencers. Nursing was mainly uncontrolled and untrained until Nightingale’s efforts during the Crimean War in the middle of the 19th century. It converted it into a respectable profession with a solid scientific foundation. Her work inspired contemporary nursing education since it stressed the need for cleanliness and hygiene to halt the spread of illness (Alligood, 2021).
Mary Eliza Mahoney, the first African American registered nurse in the United States, had a significant historical impact on nursing. Racial barriers in the nursing field were reduced because of Mahoney’s efforts. She opened the way for subsequent generations of minority nurses by fighting for equitable access to school and career opportunities (Houlahan et al., 2022).
Another crucial historical development that affected nursing education was the founding of the American Nurses Association (ANA) in 1911. The ANA played a significant role in creating standards for nursing education and practice, and its efforts enhanced the quality of care nurses offer nationwide. The ANA is still a considerable influence in the nursing profession today, fighting for the rights of nurses and their patients (Houlahan et al., 2022).
The development of contemporary medical technologies has significantly impacted nursing and nursing education. Nurses now interact with patients and other healthcare professionals differently because of developments in medical technology like electronic health records and telemedicine. Today’s nurses must be adept at using current technologies and adjusting to new ones as they are developed (Maibaum et al., 2021).
Lastly, nursing and nursing education has been significantly impacted by the COVID-19 epidemic. Because of the pandemic, nursing education programs that adequately equip nurses to react to public health crises are more critical than ever. The epidemic has also emphasized nurses’ crucial role in the healthcare system. New technology and care delivery methods have also been adopted more quickly due to the epidemic, which is expected to have a lasting effect on nursing (Bolina et al., 2020).
Importance of Influences
These historical factors have significantly impacted nursing and nursing education, helping mold the field into what it is today. Florence Nightingale, for instance, contributed to the development of nursing as a field with a strong emphasis on evidence-based practice and a scientific foundation. With a focus on critical thinking, research, and the advancement of clinical skills, this legacy has continued to impact nursing education. Racial barriers in nursing were reduced because of Mary Eliza Mahoney’s achievements, which paved the path for a more inclusive and varied industry.
The creation of the American Nurses Association and its efforts to create norms for nursing practice and education have contributed to raising the level of nursing care and guaranteeing that patients get safe and effective care. The way nurses provide care has changed due to advancements in medical technology, making them more successful at what they do. The COVID-19 pandemic has also spurred the introduction of new technology and care delivery models and shown the value of nursing education in training nurses to handle public health crises. These historical fact
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