Humanness of Caring in Nursing (Concept Analysis Paper) Essay

Humanness of Caring in Nursing (Concept Analysis Paper) - Essay Example Recently the profession of health care has undergone amazing changes and the development of science and technology has given the nurses varied tools in the service of mankind. However, without an attitude of loving and humane care giving, all the efforts of the nurses will only be exercises in futility. The paper sets forth to analyze the historical origins of nursing as a profession of loving and humane caring and the need to revitalize those aspects in a world of reckless competition, consumerism and anonymity of the human person. Historians point out that the early nurses were women and the motivating factor to serve as nurse is deeply entrenched in the maternal instinct of woman. Therefore, from time immemorial the nursing care has been loving care. The maternal instinct provided that strong impulse or motive necessary to care for those who were suffering or helpless. Women, because of their maternal instinct, were considered "born nurses." (Donahue, 1996, p. 5) It was only gradually that nursing started developing as a profession. In the early days, nursing was regarded as a calling for those who had given up the world. The intense religious motive that translates ones love of God towards fellow human beings in loving care is marked by self-sacrifice (Donahue, 1996). This other-centeredness of nursing resulted always in the uncanny knack to perform ones service in an attitude of humane care. Ancient nursing caregivers were somewhat ill equipped to render professional service but their enthusiasm and commitment alleviated the helpless condition of the patient. This attitude of loving care sprang from the realization of the other as God’ child. In the passage of time, this attitude has dimmed and there is apprehension that nurses will not care completely unless and until they care in a spirit of humane and loving care. In the past care,