Today is the international "Day of Care"! A special day, even if every day should be a "Day of Care".
It would be the 202nd birthday of Florence Nightingale. Florence Nightingale is considered the founder of modern Western nursing. Nightingale came from a wealthy English home and was deeply involved in learning languages and mathematics. Her family did not understand her desire to train as a nurse, as nursing was a profession that was not fully recognized by society and tended to be located in Christian communities.
In 1850, Nightingale began her training in Kaiserswerth against all opposition. In 1836, Theodor Fliedner had established an educational institution for Protestant nurses in the nearby town of Düsseldorf. Like Nightingale, his goal was to improve conditions for patients through targeted training.
After her training, Nightingale returned to England. By now, her aspirations to work in nursing were accepted by her family. In the mid-19th century, the Crimean War broke out. Nightingale decided to provide nursing care to wounded soldiers in the Crimea. Once there, she found very poor hygienic conditions for the wounded.
She began to scientifically study the hygienic situation and to statistically process the data she collected. With her polar area diagram, she was able to statistically and pictorially prove the causes of death of the soldiers.
At that time, it was an absolute novelty for nurses to become scientifically active. Today, although perhaps not yet widely known, it has become the norm in nursing science to address issues of nursing care for people of all ages.
In the Nursing Professions Act, the examination of scientific topics, participation in scientific projects, and the implementation of scientific findings in nursing practice have been included as goals of training. But how do science and nursing fit together?
The care landscape in Germany has changed significantly in recent years. Medical care is becoming increasingly specialized as a result of further developments in medicine and medical technology. As a result, the number of days patients spend in hospital is becoming much shorter, and the transition from hospital to outpatient or inpatient care plays an important role in the work of nurses. The chronification of diseases also ensures that not only the healing approach of medicine, but also aspects of counseling, health promotion and keeping people healthy are becoming increasingly important.
This increasing complexity of the nursing profession is supported by the latest findings in nursing science. Nursing research is now established at many colleges and universities. The aim of education is to pass on these scientific findings to future nurses and, in doing so, to advance the professionalization of nursing. Research predominantly relates to new, scientifically proven findings for nursing care. The latest nursing treatment methods are to be applied in order to provide patients with the best possible advice and care in a professional manner.
Since 2020, the Nursing Professions Act has enshrined university-based nursing education. Whether it is a coincidence that this year was the 200th birthday of Florence Nightingale is uncertain. Nevertheless, it is clear what a rapid development the nursing profession has undergone in the last 200 years. A profession shaped by Christian institutions, which was carried out by vocation, is developing into a highly complex research-based profession, which is taught at universities. Dealing with scientific nursing findings is becoming a daily tool for future nurses, since the place of research is also the place of education. Research no longer takes place in the ivory tower, but is lived together with the students.
The Ludwigshafen University of Business and Society will offer a primary qualifying degree programs in nursing starting in the winter semester 2022/2023. The theoretical content will be taught exclusively at the university, while cooperation agreements have been concluded with acute care, outpatient care and long-term care facilities for the practical assignments. In this way, the university lives up to its claim of providing knowledge in the care of people of all ages.
For those interested in the degree programs, further information is available at: Nursing (B.Sc.) | Ludwigshafen University of Business and Society (hwg-lu.de)
Dates for upcoming information events can be found here: Campus Events - Event Management for Universities (hwg-lu.de).
Or contact the program director directly:
Ludwigshafen University of Business and Society
Department of Social and Health Services
Prof. Dr. Joachim von der Heide
Professorship of Nursing Science
Tel.: 0621 5203-550
E-Mail: Joachim.vonderheide@hwg-lu.de