Chapter 1: Evolution of Nursing Thought and Action – Vocabulary Flashcards

Vocabulary flashcards covering influential figures in nursing history, formal definitions of nursing, levels of nursing practice, practice regulation, professional organizations, care delivery methods, service types, and financing concepts from the notes.

Florence Nightingale

Founder of modern nursing; established professional standards and emphasized sanitation, standardized care, and data-driven improvements.

Dorothea Dix

Reformer who led mental health initiatives and organized nursing support during the Civil War.

Clara Barton

Nurse leader who founded the American Red Cross and advanced nursing care and humanitarian aid.

Lillian Wald

Pioneer of public health nursing and founder of the Henry Street Settlement in New York.

Mary Brewster

Co‑founder of the Henry Street Settlement; influential in public health nursing.

Edward Lyons

Listed as an influential figure in nursing evolution (early leadership/advocacy role within the profession).

Mary Mahoney

First African American professionally trained nurse; a trailblazer for diversity in nursing.

Lavinia Dock

Nurse, reformer, and author who contributed to nursing education and reform.

Linda Richards

America’s first trained nurse; early leader in formal nursing education.

American Nurses Association (ANA) – 1980 definition

The diagnosis and treatment of human responses to actual and potential health problems.

American Nurses Association (ANA) – 2015 definition

Nursing is the protection, promotion, and optimization of health and abilities, prevention of illness, facilitation of healing, alleviation of suffering through the diagnosis and treatment of human response, and advocacy in the care of individuals, families, groups, communities, and populations.

Novice (Nursing)

Little nursing experience; first stage of acquiring clinical knowledge; follows rules and written sequential processes.

Advanced Beginner

New graduate; focuses on more aspects, uses more facts, recognizes similarities, can distinguish abnormal findings but may not understand their significance.

Competent

Able to see long-term goals, plan and prioritize care, manage a client load, and coordinate care with growing experience.

Proficient

Able to see the big picture, coordinate services, forecast needs, and adapt to nuanced situations; relies on intuition.

Expert

Highly skilled; quickly interprets data, relies on deep understanding and intuition; may recognize problems before classic signs.

Nurse practice acts

Laws regulating nursing practice, defining scope, licensure, and enforcement to protect the public.

State boards of nursing

Regulatory bodies at the state level that license nurses and enforce nursing standards.

Standards of practice

Established guidelines describing the professional performance expected of nurses.

American Nurses Association (ANA)

National professional organization that sets standards and advocates for nursing.

National League for Nursing (NLN)

Establishes and maintains universal standards of nursing education.

International Council of Nurses (ICN)

Global federation of national nursing organizations.

National Student Nurses’ Association (NSNA)

Represents nursing students and supports their professional development.

Sigma Theta Tau International (STTI)

National Honor Society for Nursing recognizing excellence in scholarship and leadership.

Case method (nursing care delivery)

One nurse takes responsibility for an entire patient’s care during a shift.

Functional nursing

Care delivered by tasks assigned to different staff members, based on function.

Team nursing

A coordinated group approach where a team led by an RN cares for a patient group.

Primary nursing

A primary nurse plans and directs patient care from admission to discharge for continuity.

Differentiated practice

Nurses with varying levels of expertise perform tasks suited to their scope and skill.

Primary care (types of services)

First-contact, ongoing basic health care focused on preventive care and general health needs.

Secondary care

Specialized care typically provided after referral, often in hospital settings.

Tertiary care

Highly specialized care for complex conditions, usually in specialized centers.

Healthcare financing – Individual private insurance

Private health coverage paid by individuals for access to care.

Healthcare financing – Employer-based private insurance

Private health coverage provided through an employer as a benefit.

Medicare

U.S. federal program providing health coverage for people 65+ and certain younger people with disabilities.

Medicaid

U.S. government program providing health coverage for low-income individuals and families.

Charitable organizations

Nonprofit groups that help finance or provide health services to those in need.

DRGs (Diagnosis-Related Groups)

A payment method that classifies hospital cases into groups for billing and reimbursement.

Managed care organizations (MCOs)

Organizations that oversee a patient’s care within a network to control costs and improve outcomes.

HMOs (Health Maintenance Organizations)

Plans requiring network providers and often referrals, emphasizing preventive care and cost control.

PPOs (Preferred Provider Organizations)

Plans offering more provider choice with some out-of-network options and generally no referrals.

POS (Point of Service)

A hybrid plan combining features of HMO and PPO; requires referrals for some services.

IDNs (Integrated Delivery Networks)

Networks that coordinate hospitals, physicians, and insurers to deliver integrated care.

Health Insurance 101: Types of Plans

Overview of plan structures and options for health insurance; further details typically covered in subsequent materials.