Nursing is one of those careers that’s often thought of as a calling rather than just a job. It is true that nurses handle life and death situations on a daily basis and that they have to care about people if they wish to succeed, but that doesn’t mean that someone entering this profession is content to do the same thing day after day. There are different ways to care for patients —some more hands on than others— and many nurses crave the opportunity to advance and assume more responsibility in their daily roles. With an upgraded education such as a Bachelor of Science in Nursing, a registered nurse can progress further, leading and supervising a team of RNs, working more closely with doctors in the treatment of patients and liaising with patients’ families.
Today, nurses are highly valued professionals, respected by society for their educational achievements and their commitment to helping others. But it hasn’t always been that way. The nursing profession has developed over hundreds of years and there have been many milestones during that time that have all contributed to the profession as it exists today.
* 1645, the first hospital in North America is founded.
* 1860, Florence Nightingale (perhaps the most widely recognized name in nursing) publishes the highly influential "Note on Nursing: What it is and What it is Not."
* 1861, a hospital for Confederate Civil War soldiers is opened by Sally Louisa Tompkins, who becomes the only female officer in the Confederate army.
* 1873, Bellevue Hospital in New York City opens the first nursing school in the US, with a curriculum based on the teachings of Florence Nightingale.
* 1881, nurse Clara Barton (founder of the American Red Cross) becomes the organization’s first President.
* 1886, the first US nursing journal —the Nightingale— is first published.
* 1897, the first meeting of the American Nurses Association.
* 1902, a New Zealand woman is the world’s first Registered Nurse.
* 1909, the first Bachelor’s Degree in Nursing degree is awarded through the University of Minnesota.
* 1916, the Royal College of Nursing is founded in the UK.
* 1954, the University of Pittsburgh begins offering a PhD in Nursing program.
* 1965, the Nurse Practitioner role is first introduced at the University of Colorado.
* 2009, Carnegie Foundation releases "Educating Nurses: A Call for Radical Transformation."
There are three major takeaways that are immediately obvious when reading through this list of milestones in nursing.
One: The profession of nursing has steadily progressed through the years, gaining professional recognition and assuming increased responsibility in patient care.
Two: Education has been a large part of the radical transformation of nursing as a career with some of the country’s leading universities and colleges offering programs in support of the field.
Three: While some nurses have the opportunity to advance into leadership roles or to assume much more direct responsibility in patient care, access to higher level positions has been increasingly tied to more advanced educational requirements.
In other words, a RN is unlikely to be supervising a nursing team at a hospital unless they earn an advanced degree such as a Bachelor of Science in Nursing.
Nurses who go beyond their RN certification to advance their education with a Bachelor of Science in Nursing will find the doors open for advancement, including leadership and management positions, as well as access to roles such as nurse practitioner. They will also increase their earning power since nurses who have earned a Bachelor of Science in Nursing can expect above average earnings and increased demand for their services.
Going back to school to further your education and earn an advanced degree is no small proposition, but it is much easier than it used to be. Thanks to advances in web technology and the embracing of distance education by leading US colleges and universities, it’s possible to earn a RN to BSN online degrees, without having to take a leave of absence or dealing with scheduling conflicts over part time courses. The ability to take a web-based BSN through a leading college in your spare time —wherever web access is available— means that it is now possible to upgrade your education and earn the advanced nursing degree that will provide the credentials needed to advance into a leadership role. A nursing career has always been rewarding, but one with the opportunity to have a greater direct influence over the treatment of patients, the ability to help lead a team of RNs and to have greater earning power makes it even better.
Source : http://online-education.ezinemark.com/milestones-in-nursing-7d3515d2022f.html