History of Community Nursing Matrix 1

NUR/405 Version 3

Historical Nursing role in Major health issues Partnerships used Watson’s

time period community theory

Past Ancient Little is known about Little is documented The Babylonians

period 1 civilization nursing during this about the diseases documented the first
time because of lack that plagued this law governing the
of recorded time period. Leprosy practice of medicine.
information. It is and diphtheria is Egyptians
known that midwives recorded in the contributed the
provided care for the Bible. The earliest practice of
mother and the recordings of mummification and
infant during healing practices is the oldest medical
childbirth. It is a 4000 year old clay text. The Hebrew
though that much of tablet attributed to contributed the
the nursing care was the Sumerian Mosaic Health Code
provided by slaves. civilization; it to history of health
It is also said that contained healing care. The Romans
care provided for the prescriptions but did contributions to
sick was related to not describe the health care was in
physical illnesses. Beliefs public sanitation, the
maintenance and about the cause of draining of marshes
comfort. In the disease were and the building of
ancient India, early embedded in aqueducts, public
hospitals were supersition and and private baths,
staffed by males. magic. draining systems,
Blais,Haynes,Kozier, Blais,Haynes,Kozier, and central heating.
& Erb, 2006. & Erb, 2006. Blais,Haynes,Kozier,
& Erb, 2006.
Past 1600s- During these times Epidemics of Elizabethian Poor
period 2 1900s the female head of smallpox, yellow law written in 1601.
household was fever, cholera, Baltimore health
identified as being typhoid, typhus, Department
responsible for tuberculosis, established in 1789.
providing the malaria. Infant System of district
nursing care. This mortality rate high nursing established
included growing due to unsanitary in Liverpool,England
and gather herbs hospitals and poorly in 1859 by William
used for healing trained staff. Rathbone. Florence
throughout the year. Inadequate housing Nightingale
Nursing care and sanitation established Florence
focused on moral provided additional Nightingale Training
elevation and less health risk. School for Nurses at
on illness St. Thomas hospital
preventation. in London. First Red
Cross was
established in the
United States in
1864.
Current Present Nurses in the
period day community today
have many roles.
They function as the
clinician, educator,
advocate, manager,
 History of Community Nursing Matrix 2
NUR/405 Version 3

collaborator, leader,
and researcher.
They play an
important role in the
prevention of
widespread illness
and diseases.