The nursing profession has been in existence for centuries, though it’s changed considerably throughout the course of human history. While the earliest nurses were often seen as secondary to doctors and other medical professionals, today’s healthcare industry recognizes nurses as one of the most vital parts of a medical team.
These days, considering a career as a nurse or nursing assistant means envisioning a future that’s dramatically different than the one nurses may have had even a few decades ago. From available training programs and working environments to the increased responsibilities and potential career paths, nursing has improved in many different ways over the years.
Nursing Training is More Complex (and Beneficial) than Ever Before
Early on in the history of nursing, training wasn’t even considered a necessary part of the job. Many young nurses picked up basic caretaking skills from family members, and the earliest formal nurse training courses weren’t offered until the late 1800s. As time went on, training became much more widely available, eventually evolving into a requirement for the job. Today, job qualifications for nursing assistants and nurses are very in-depth, requiring formal schooling, certification, and even special education for certain positions.
The Everyday Work Environment Has Shifted Dramatically
For generations of nurses, workdays were spent either in the home or on the battlefield. Home visits were the norm, with few patients opting to receive care in a formal space such as a hospital. Today, nurses work in a wide variety of medical settings, including hospitals, doctors’ offices, assisted living facilities, schools, and military bases. Some nurses may travel to provide care via home health care services, while others may find that their work takes them across the world to serve those in need.
Nurses Now Possess a Diverse Range of Responsibilities
As nursing became a highly respected career field, and training evolved significantly, nurses gained a significant amount of responsibility. Modern-day nurses take on far more duties than the nurses of several generations ago, employing their specific expertise to fulfill important needs. Gone are the days when nurses were viewed as merely the assistants to doctors; now, they are seen as knowledgeable medical professionals with a valuable role all their own.
Medical Advancements Have Transformed Patient Care
It’s no surprise that technology and new discoveries have changed jobs across virtually all industries, but it’s especially true for those that work in healthcare. Today, many of the medical advancements we take for granted make it possible for nurses to save countless lives, prioritizing patient care and comfort much more than they were able to before.
Nurses Have More Opportunities for Growth
After becoming a nursing assistant or registered nurse, there is still a near-limitless potential for pursuing a career that suits your unique passions and interests. Nurses today can continue their studies and receive specialized certifications and degrees, many of them working in fields that didn’t even exist until recent decades, advancing their careers and increasing their long-term earning potential.
Make Your Mark in Today’s Healthcare Field with an Education from the Allen School
For interested in the healthcare careers of nursing and medical assisting, an exciting future lies ahead. At the Allen School of Health Sciences, our medical assistant and nursing assistant training programs offer students the opportunity to gain hands-on experiences and knowledge from expert instructors. We make sure that our nursing assistant and medical assistant training students are receiving an education based on the latest healthcare advancements.
For details about our nursing assistant training programs in Brooklyn and Jamaica, Queens, contact the Allen School of Health Sciences today.
