4 Answers

I need you to be more specific about what constitutes "early nursing".  That could be thousands of years ago, when people believed in Asclepius as the healer of all ills.  He gave you a "potion" to help you sleep, during which you would have a dream of how to cure your illness.  The fact that your "potion" had some hallucinogenic qualities probably stimulated the dreaming. 

Or you could be referring to Hippocrates, who believed the fluids of your body needed to be in balance for you to be healthy. 

When my mother was a nurse, she didn't need a doctor to OK an exray for someone who came in with what was likely a broken limb.  She took the initiative, as did other nurses of the 1940-1950.  When I took my mom to the emergency room in the mid-1960's with an injury that needed to be cauterized, the ER nurse was wandering around with her manicured fingernails pushing her hair out of her eyes and earrings dangling from her ears, three things that were NOT part of my mother's standard uniform; she wore a registered nurse's cap with pride, which I doubt you will find anywhere nowadays.  The nurse had no idea where the cauterizing kit was.  My mother, who had never BEEN in that hospital, much less WORKED there, pointed to a drawer and said, "It should be in there"...which it was.

Another difference?  The bigger paycheck, more specialty fields, so much paperwork there is little time to be attentive to the patient (hospital).

9 years ago. Rating: 5
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I went to nursing school and was taught the difference between modern nursing compared with modern day. This was 40 years ago.  We were taught ethics, compassion, history, as well as good sense.  Today nurses are too business like, paperwork and no time to recognize the PEOPLE who are seeking care.....

9 years ago. Rating: 4
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Well in the early time that I remember,  the person in charge in a hospital  was the Matron she ran the wards and the nurses like clock work. Everyone was kept on their  toes, including  the doctors,  the whole hospital  was spotless, no one crossed the Matron. And woe  betide  any visitor  who sat on the bed,  unlike nowadays. Now the nurses wear trainers instead of proper  shoes ,no hat, some have dirty uniforms.  True, there are good and bad nurses, but if the sister  who is supposed  to be in charge is not good at her job  the place falls apart. 

9 years ago. Rating: 3
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Nurses in the UK now have to get college degrees so are selected on their academic abilities not necessarily their caring skills. Apparently they have little or no exposure to life on the wards until they graduate.

Modern nursing probably started with Florence Nightingale and her efforts in the Crimean War when she had to recruit women from domestic service and the streets.

9 years ago. Rating: 3
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