History of Women in Nursing Timeline: Nursing Education

By: Samantha LeitzellNURS 320.50B Basis of Professional

Practice

Beginnings of Nursing Education: 1798

In 1798, a New York physician by the name of Valentine Seaman, organized some of the first courses and which were lectures for nurses who cared for maternity patients. (American Nursing n.d.)

1839-1850• By the early nineteenth century, a program called the Nurse Society of

Philadelphia came into existence. This program trained women in caring for mothers during childbirth and the postpartum period. The Nurse Society employed about fifty nurses, establishing an early practice of engaging nurses for care of patients in the home. (American Nursing n.d.)

1854

A few years later, during the Crimea War, Florence Nightingale, a woman of upper-class, provided nursing services to the British Soldiers. After her service, she established many nursing education programs in the British hospitals. (American Nursing n.d.)

1861

In 1861, The Women’s Hospital of Philadelphia was established by Ann Preston, M.D., and offered a six months nurse training course, which graduated its first class in 1869. (Landis 2013)

1873Three nurse educational programs based on the ideas of Florence Nightingale began operations in 1873, these schools are:

– New York Training School at Bellevue Hospital, – Connecticut Training School at the State Hospital (later renamed New Haven Hospital) – Boston Training School at Massachusetts General Hospital (Evolution of Modern Nursing

n.d.)

1873 (continued)• The New England Hospital for Women and Children

generated two important women in history. Linda Richards, who was the first graduate from the program, and Mary Eliza Mahoney, who was the first African American professional nurse, who graduated in 1879. (Evolution of Modern Nursing n.d.)

1900By 1900, there were between 400 to 800 schools of nursing in operation in the country. These programs followed a fairly typical pattern:• The school was either affiliated with or owned by a hospital that provided

the students with the clinical experience considered necessary for the education of a nurse.

• Students received two to three years of training. • At the end of the educational program, students received a diploma and

were eligible to seek work as a trained nurse. (American Nursing n.d.)

1907• In 1907, the first professor of nursing joined the faculty of

Teachers College at Columbia University, Mary Adelaide Nutting. Mary Nutting led the Department of Nursing and Health at Teachers College from 1910 until her retirement in 1925. (Resuggan 2010)

1950sIn the 1950s, the Associate Degree in Nursing (ADN) was established. The ADN program is a 2 year program where graduates receive Associate Degree in Nursing (ADN), and not a diploma. • The first seven experimental ADN programs in the US, were funded by the

Kellogg Foundation. The ADN programs took place in community and junior colleges. The Kellogg experiment was deemed a success and the number of ADN programs in the US increased from seven in 1958 to 130 in 1965 to 1,000 in 2007 (Haase, 1990).

1960

An emphasis on Baccalaureate Degree programs came about and approximately 172 college-based nursing education programs awarded Bachelors of Science in Nursing degrees, by 1960. (American Nursing n.d.)

• Baccalaureate Degree Programs:– 4 years in length, offered through college and universities– Emphasizes advanced knowledge and assessment, broader

scientific content, and systematic problem-solving tools– Higher prepared nurses for all types of nursing including non-

hospital setting

2010• As of 2010, there were 1,937 nursing programs in the Unites States.

(Nursing Schools n.d.)• Nursing in the 21st century has begun to move toward the higher educated

nurses. Research has shown that the Bachelor prepared nurses leads to better patient outcomes and is now becoming the requirement for most nursing education today.

Conclusion

The nursing profession is still going strong. If it wasn’t for the women who put themselves out there to develop this profession, nursing would not be where it is today.

References• American Nursing: An Introduction to the Past . (n.d.) [PDF document]. Retrieved from Course

Notes Online Web Site: http://www.nursing.upenn.edu/nhhc/Welcome%20Page%20Content/American%20Nursing.pdf

• Evolution of Modern Nursing: A Historical Perspective . (n.d.)[ PowerPoint slides]. Retrieved from Course Notes Online Web Site: https://millersville.desire2learn.com/content/enforced1/2011152-20162015214/01%20Module%20Files/Readings/Nursing%20History%20-Original%20PPT.pdf?_&d2lSessionVal=7MSN8lyyhGW2mwJCuCkOzIJVN&ou=2011152

• Haase, Patricia T. (1990). The Origins and Rise of Associate Degree Nursing Education. Durham and London: Duke University Press.

• Landis, C. (2013). The Woman’s Hospital of Philadelphia Records. (pp. 4) WM.002. Retrieved from http://dla.library.upenn.edu/dla/pacscl/detail.html?id=PACSCL_DUCOM_DUCOMWM002

• Nursing Schools. (n.d.) Retrieved March 16, 2016 from http://www.educationnews.org/career-index/nursing-schools/

• Resuggan, R. (2010). Mary Adelaide Nutting. Retrieved from http://www.nurses.info/personalities_adelaide_nutting.htm