The importance of nursing history: A method of inclusion

An integrative review of the literature on the teaching of the history of nursing in pre-registration adult nursing education in the UK

“…Studies showed that advocates of nursing history in the curriculum used the opportunity of the reconfiguration of pre-registration education degree and modularised programmes to re-emphasize the importance and create a position for nursing history in undergraduate pre-registration programmes (Kirby, 1998;Lait, 2000;Madsen, 2008;Padilhaa and Nelson, 2009;Buckingham, 2010;Alpern et al, 2011;Toman and Thifault, 2012). Success in this has been limited by a perceived lack of space and lack of agreement surrounding how, why, when and how to teach nursing history.…”

“…Rationale for including the teaching of nursing history in preregistration curricula was diverse, ranging from enhancement of generic and to specialist knowledge. In regard to specialist knowledge, it is suggested that students have opportunity in studying nursing history to understand nursing contributions, change agency, effective strategies, and early origins of nursing, changes in nursing, the impact of war on the role and position of women, gender issues, and professional and international issues (Ferguson, 1979a,b;Kirby, 1998;Alpern et al, 2011). Development of awareness of issues and influences that shaped practice was advanced as rationale for including history of nursing teaching (Lait, 2000).…”

“…Development of awareness of issues and influences that shaped practice was advanced as rationale for including history of nursing teaching (Lait, 2000). Toman and Thifault (2012) explained that teaching the history of nursing in undergraduate programmes imbued stronger professional identity, critique of practice and aided the process of socialisation and enculturation (Alpern et al, 2011). Students had opportunity to enhance generic skills such as team building, working in co-operation and problem solving (Kirby, 1998;Lait, 2000).…”

“…More recently in the USA, Alpern et al (2011) advocated its inclusion early in the curriculum. Recommendations for nursing history as a stand-alone module while seldom achieved have been universally well supported (Kirby, 1998;Lait, 2000;Buckingham, 2010;Alpern et al, 2011;Toman and Thifault, 2012).…”

“…More recently in the USA, Alpern et al (2011) advocated its inclusion early in the curriculum. Recommendations for nursing history as a stand-alone module while seldom achieved have been universally well supported (Kirby, 1998;Lait, 2000;Buckingham, 2010;Alpern et al, 2011;Toman and Thifault, 2012). With the introduction of the pre-registration nursing diploma programme in the UK, Kirby (1998) placed the subject of nursing history in the first year and made recommendation for the inclusion of further strands in the subsequent second and third undergraduate years.…”