Somehow with all of the information that is out there on nursing education, sometimes we forget to remember nursing history.  Nurses have a long and prestigious, though sometimes not very glamorous story.   I have done a bunch of research for you and highlighted a few nursing history videos and some blog resources for your entertainment and education.  I hope you enjoy!

Here are some Nursing History Videos I thought you might enjoy:

Nursing History

research college of nursing. nursing history

World History of Nursing (video Project)

World History of Nursing (video Project) Baliuag University College of Nursing BSN 1-B SY 2009-2010 2nd semester NC100

The History of Nursing – Celebrating our past

While ideas of who is a nurse and what constitutes nursing have changed over time, the rich heritage of nursing provides an insight into its complexity and diversity, as well as how nurses have shaped health care. From an educators perspective, under…

Below are some blogs that have some nursing history discussions.  Feel free to pick and choose for the following posts:

Nursing opens doors for History Week – News and Events …

Step back through time and explore the lives of the women who shaped nursing and midwifery in Australia when the University of Sydney’s Nursing History Research Unit opens its doors for History Week, 6 to 11 September. …

Publish Date: 09/06/2010 17:00

http://sydney.edu.au/news/84.html?newsstoryid=5574

UMSL Presents the 4th Annual African-American Nursing History …

UMSL Presents the 4th Annual African-American Nursing History Conference. Conference offers the community a chance to explore unique contributions African American nurses have made in addressing health care disparities, identify local …

Publish Date: 01/11/2011 15:08

http://www.prlog.org/11212365-umsl-presents-the-4th-annual-african-american-nursing-history-conference.html

A short history of medicine

Ever get the feeling that medicine has a circular history? This funny timeline confirms your hunch is right on the money. 2000 B.C. – Here, eat this root. 1000 A.D. – That root is heathen. Here, say this prayer. 1850 A.D. – That prayer is superstition. Here, drink this potion. 1940 A.D. – That potion is snake oil. … Related Posts. Top 10 reasons I went into nursing · Top 10 ways for nurses to relieve stress · 10 questions I’d love to ask SOME MDs… …

Publish Date: 01/24/2011 17:00

http://scrubsmag.com/a-short-history-of-medicine/

Urgency Amid Violence: What Forensic Nursing History Is Telling Us

Since forensic nursing is a fairly new field in nursing care, not too many people are aware yet of their roles. So many of these medical-legal professionals are already in the field helping victims of crimes by becoming instruments in …

Publish Date: 01/17/2011 17:48

http://articlesplace.cz.cc/urgency-amid-violence-what-forensic-nursing-history-is-telling-us/

Nursing history is an important part of your heritage and should be part of your nursing education.  So find some time to do a little research on people like Florence Nightingale, Clara Barton and other tid-bits of info. Maybe you will impress the nurses on your floor with some nursing history facts!

Lateral violence is a big problem in health care & the nursing profession

However, hospitals are beginning to be more proactive about addressing the inappropriate behavior.

It is also known as horizontal violence.  Lateral violence, basically bullying or verbal abuse, not only elevates stress levels in nursing staff, but it can endanger patient care.

There really has not been too much research on nurse hostility, but there needs to be in order to better understand the phenomenon in order to better address it.  Identifying lateral violence is one thing, and its a starting point- but there is much investigation to be done in order to help reduce the occurrence.

Nurse-to-Nurse Hostility:

For the past few years, nurse education on lateral violence has been included more often in orientation programs in many health facilities.  The nurses spend a few hours learning to recognize acts of lateral violence such as verbal abuse and then practice different techniques to address it.

Nurse Hostility Is Everywhere

Nurses often report seeing cases of other nurses ‘eating their young’ but what is more disheartening is that they believe their nurse manager is aware of the inappropriate behavior and did nothing about it.  Or even worse, that the managing experienced nurses seem to actually encourage it! In fact, an astounding number of nurses (I’ve seen reports between 80% and 95%) have either seen lateral violence and nearly 50% say they have been subjected to it in their nursing career.

Some nurses actually feel forced to leave their positions because lateral violence is so pervasive in their workplace.  There has been research showing 60% of new nurses right out of nursing school will leave their first positions within six months due to lateral violence in the workplace.

What causes Lateral Violence?

There seems to be many reasons for and types of the nurse hostility.  Sometimes it is just due to high stress and tension levels by individuals due to circumstances like being over worked.  This can happen when experienced nurses, already with a heavy workload are required to precept a new nurse or nursing students-adding to the workload.  Patience tends to run short, and the more experienced nurses are resentful for the extra work.

Often this is where verbal abuse, and even sabotage of other’s work can happen.  Unfortunately, it is not only the nursing staff that is affected, but this behavior can affect patients’ well being and can even endanger their lives.

Bottom line is this horrible behavior needs to come to an end.  More study in to the matter will help devise methods to address the behavior.  Nurse managers must also be first responders to stop lateral violence immediately.  In order to do this, they must become familiar with it and solutions.

Beyond this, health care facilities must be hyper aware of and vigilant at addressing issues like under-staffing and other staff stressors.  Nurses must work together with management to help stomp out lateral violence.

There has always been talk to one level or another about nursing burnout.  However, these days I seem to be hearing it vocalized much more than in the past.  And appears to be an increasing problem in today’s institutions.

So, it seems prudent to have a discussion on nursing burnout, what it is, what its effects are, and how to avoid it.

What is Nursing Burnout?

Basically it is a condition that some registered nurses experience that shows itself as being fatigued all of the time, readily irritable, insomnia and poor performance.  Physical manifestations can be chronic headaches, back pain, weight gain and/or GI problems.

Nursing burnout can happen to nurses with years of experience, newly graduated RNs and even students in nursing school experience burnout. You must take care to avoid it in your nursing career. Read the rest of this entry