The creation of modern-day nursing.

The publication of a lecture in the BJN 100years ago highlighted the fact that as science was advancing at that time so medical men have had to be drawn from a higher intellectual and social stratum than ever before, and nurses 'as their collaborators, equally so!'. This was the opinion of a French Physician called Dr. Rist in a key lecture he gave at the Sorbonne in Paris.

Nursing history: ships and sweets.

The following is a personal account of a nurse who escorted a patient with malaria home to England. It is an interesting story recounting the problems of visiting certain countries 100 years ago and the dangers it held at the time.

Rash remarks and practical points.

A letter in the BJN 100 years ago highlighted an interesting nursing point with regard to speaking in front of patients without thinking about their feelings.

Sleep and insomnia.

Recently, the Mental Health Foundation published the largest survey of the nation's sleep. It revealed that people with insomnia suffer from dramatically higher rates of relationship difficulties, energy deficiency, and depressed mood, as well as other health and wellbeing problems. From this report published on 27 January 2011, it appears that poor sleep is a seriously neglected public health concern, and there is an urgent need to do something about it. One hundred years ago, the BJN published an article by Dr Woods Hutchinson, about sleep and enclosed are some key points made at the time:

Anaesthesia.

A fascinating article on the subject of anaesthesia appeared in the BJN on the 21st January 1911. It covered its definition, some remarkable stages and effects on the patient, the anaesthetist's requirements and the preparation and care of the patient. Although anaesthetics have been in use for thousands of years it makes you feel glad that today's approach has now become so much easier and evidence based.

Uniformity in uniform.

A first year student recently commented that she was scarred during the first few weeks of her first ever placement in a hospital ward,because there were so many people in different uniforms. I had sympathy for what she was saying because when I visited a large nursing home recently, the variety of uniforms also struck me as strange and left me on edge as to who was who. The very definition of a uniform is that it is a distinctive dress worn by members of the same body. The problem with nurses' uniforms these days is that there is no uniformity nationally which identifies one grade from another. In fact, not only is there no uniformity in the nursing profession but it would seem that the colours and designs of uniforms are very common to other occupations.

Osteoporosis among young adults with complex physical disabilities.

This study set out to explore the possible link between osteoporosis in people under 40 years of age, who have complex physical disabilities and live in long-term care facilities. A range of information was obtained from the participants including their bone mineral density (BMD). The results confirmed that immobility is associated with low BMD, and those who are fed using a percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy (PEG) tube are particularly at a higher risk of low BMD. The study findings helped to change the evidence-based care pathway for patients with complex physical disabilities, and the physiotherapy and manual handling they receive.

Disinfectants: their values and uses.

The use of disinfectants appeared in an article in the BJN 100 years ago and gives us a fascinating insight in to nursing practice to maintain infection control at the time. 'Objections have been raised against the use of sulphur, principal among which are the bleaching action of the fumes upon vegetable colouring matters; its destructive effect upon certain fabrics; its tarnishing action upon all metals; the lack of penetration of the fumes, and the danger of fire from its use. As a disinfectant and antiseptic, its use dates back to a remote period in the world's history, and, by reason of its cheapness and the ease with which reason of its cheapness and the ease with which it may be used, it is still popular, more especially in the smaller centres of population. To secure the best results from its use, and to minimise the danger from fire, the following method is suggested:

Updating the nursing process.

It's nearly 30 years since I wrote my first book on the 'nursing process'. At the time it was the talking point of nursing and considered to be the way forward for the profession in the UK and Europe. The subject had already been implemented in the USA, and there was some resentment at the time that Britain was going to have to follow America. In fact, Professor Jean McFarlane (the first English Professor of Nursing) had given a seminar in the Department of Nursing at the University of Manchester in 1973, relating to the importance of evaluating nursing practice. As part of her paper she proposed that the department should experiment with the nursing process. This it did, firstly in planning nursing care in its course leading to the Diploma in Advanced Nursing Studies for experienced registered nurses. It was then gradually introduced into the undergraduate programme.