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How was most nursing care provided before professional nursing developed?
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Nursing
A nurse uses a sphygmomanometer to check a patient's blood pressure.
Before the development of professional nursing in the mid-19th century, the care of the sick was primarily a domestic responsibility carried out by families, friends, and community members recognized for their healing abilities.1
In institutional settings, nursing care was provided through various means:
- Religious Orders: For centuries, women from religious nursing orders were noted for providing high-quality care in hospitals they established. Early hospitals were frequently founded by religious institutions, such as monasteries, which maintained infirmaries to care for the sick as part of their commitment to community service.123
- Hospital Staffing: Many hospitals relied on a mix of hired men and women or even recovering patients to provide nursing care. The quality of this care was inconsistent, ranging from excellent to deplorable, which eventually highlighted the need for standardized, competent nursing practices.1
- Community and Epidemic Response: During major health crises, such as cholera or smallpox epidemics, men often took on active roles in nursing the sick. Additionally, in the early Christian church, deacons and widows were tasked with caring for the sick, a service extended to the broader community during times of plague.12