Impact of 19th Century Nurses (ANSWERED)

QUESTION

Purpose:

The purpose of this discussion is for learners to explore the contributions of one 19^th century nurse related to leadership and/or provision of care.

Course Outcomes:

This discussion enables the student to meet the following course outcome:

CO1: Describe persons and events in nursing history from the early years through the 19^th century related to leadership and provision of care. (PO2)

Due Date

During the assigned week (Sunday the start of the assigned week through Sunday the end of the assigned week):
- Posts in the discussion at least two times, and
- Posts in the discussion on two different days

Points Possible

50 points

Directions

Discussions are designed to promote dialogue between faculty and students, and students and their peers. In discussions students:
- Demonstrate understanding of concepts for the week
- Integrate outside scholarly sources when required
- Engage in meaningful dialogue with classmates and/or instructor
- Express opinions clearly and logically, in a professional manner
Use the rubric on this page as you compose your answers.
Best Practices include:
- Participation early in the week is encouraged to stimulate meaningful discussion among classmates and instructor.
- Enter the discussion often during the week to read and learn from posts.
- Select different classmates for your reply each week.

Discussion

Important nurses of the 19th century are often overshadowed by Nightingale’s prominence. Select one 19th century nurse other than Nightingale and describe this person’s contributions to leadership and/or nursing care. We look forward to reading about the nurse you select!

ANSWER

Impact of 19^thCentury Nurses

Dorothea Dix

Dorothea Dix advocated for the humane treatment of the mentally sick. She led a national movement challenging the idea that people with mental illness could not be cured. She also strongly criticized neglectful and cruel practices toward the mentally sick, such as forced physical restraint, caging, and incarceration without clothing. In 1843, Dix initiated a state-wide investigation of the mentally sick in almshouses, prisons, and asylums (Strickler & Farmer, 2019). She presented her findings to the state legislature on human rights violations and lobbied the state and federal governments to improve the living conditions of the mentally sick and prisoners. Strickler and Farmer (2019) reveal that her lobbying ultimately improved standards of care for people with mental illnesses as the government took initiatives to improve their living conditions. Her report, also known as Memorial, drew attention to the inhumane treatment of the mentally sick and created awareness that people with mental illness deserved dignity and fair treatment. Dorothea Dix helped promote the inherent value of compassionate nursing care toward people with mental illnesses.

She also helped advance the field of psychiatric nursing. Parry (2006) reveals that Dorothea Dix helped create and expand more than 30 hospitals for the mentally sick. Her advocacy efforts led to a bill requiring the state government to enlarge its mental institutions. Dix then went to New York and Rhode Island to continue advocating for mental health reforms and the expansion of mental institutions. The need for psychiatric nursing grew due to the expansion of these mental health institutions.

Dix’s model for advocacy is still relevant today. As a strong patient advocate, Dix used objective data to persuade state legislators to support her cause. Dix’s data was considered objective because it detailed firsthand accounts of experiences of the mentally sick and prisoners. Strickler and Farmer (2019) indicate that these firsthand accounts elicited sympathy from legislators, garnering her support. Nurses today participate in health policy by sharing objective data from their clinical experiences, meaning Dix’s model is still relevant.

References

Parry, M. S. (2006). Dorothea Dix (1802–1887). American Journal of Public Health, 96(4), 624–625. https://doi.org/10.2105/ajph.2005.079152

Strickler, J., & Farmer, T. (2019). Dorothea Dix: Crusader for patients with mental illness. Nursing2020, 49(1), 49–51. https://doi.org/10.1097/01.NURSE.0000549724.14939.d8