Over the past century, nursing has changed from a task-oriented profession to a field emphasizing leadership, critical thinking, and evidence-based practice (EBP). Nurses are no longer subservient to physicians as they once had been, and they are now an equal part of the health care team when developing a patient’s plan of care and making clinical decisions. Levitan and Schoenbaum (2021) affirm that an emphasis on patient-centered care, autonomy, and advanced education characterizes contemporary nursing practice. By adhering to these basic concepts, nurses are better placed to succeed in the ever-evolving medical field.
In modern nursing, EBP is integral because it incorporates clinical knowledge and patient values with the latest and most valid research findings. According to Wudu et al. (2024), EBP improves the quality of care and reduces healthcare expenditure, often leading to improved patient outcomes. Critical thinking is integral to EBP because a nurse will use it to evaluate complicated cases, interpret data, and apply suitable therapies. This way, clinical judgments will be based on scientifically proven facts rather than tradition or anecdotal evidence.
The name that stands preeminent in the annals of nursing is that of Florence Nightingale, known to the entire world as the originator of modern nursing. Her work during the Crimean War, which focused on hygiene, close observation of patients, and practice based on facts and evidence, set the precedent for contemporary nursing. Bradshaw (2020) reports that the Magnet Recognition Program, developed in the 1990s, has influenced modern practice. It is one of the initiatives developed by the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC) to recognize healthcare facilities that advance nursing excellence and deliver quality patient care (Abuzied et al., 2022). Magnet status provides many benefits, including advancing nursing responsibilities and improving patient outcomes.
Abuzied, Y., Al-Amer, R., Abuzaid, M., & Somduth, S. (2022). The magnet recognition program and quality improvement in nursing. Global Journal on Quality and Safety in Healthcare, 5(4), 106–108. https://doi.org/10.36401/jqsh-22-12
Bradshaw, N.-A. (2020). Florence Nightingale (1820–1910): An unexpected master of data. Patterns, 1(2), 100036. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.patter.2020.100036