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 The importance of health policies is greater than ever due to the advancements and changes in the healthcare system. In the past, historical nurse figures have tenaciously fought in creating changes in the healthcare system through implementation and revision of health policies. Two historical nurse figures whose work impacted nursing policies are Clara Barton and Margaret Higgins Sanger.
Clara Barton
Clara Barton is known for a number of accomplishments during her lifetime which included being the first woman to care for wounded soldiers in the battlefield which granted other female nurses to care for soldiers and known for her work in founding the American Red Cross which provides aids to emergency disaster nationally and internationally (Strickler, 2018).
Her work continues to be pertinent to today’s bedside nursing and political arena. Her tenacity to pursue her beliefs opened opportunities for the women who came after her to work in areas that had been off limits to them in the past. According to the World Health Organization (WHO) in 2018, 88.3% of nurses are women and 11.7% of nurses are male. To this day, women have equal right as men in caring for patients in different environments including bedside. Her political work in establishing the American Red Cross continuous to live on to this day. With the recent COVID-19 pandemic, millions of people around the world were able to receive necessary medical attention because of her work and nurses were able to provide bedside care during this time of emergency (Daily Herald, 2022).
Her method for creating changes appears to be by direct involvement. She had direct involvement in caring for soldiers during the civil war, aided in locating missing soldiers, and volunteered her time with the international red cross (Strickler, 2018). The work she did with the international red cross inspired her to offer the same services in America and through hard- work, dedication, and determination, she founded the American Red Cross. The same method of involvement and direct participation is still applicable in today’s world. In 2023, there are far more opportunities and freedom to create changes as a male, female and as a transgender person. Positive outcomes in healthcare can arise from learning, educating, sharing, and participating.
Margaret Higgins Sanger
Margaret Higgins Sanger accomplishments include her work with legalizing birth control, women advocacy, reproductive rights, and the founding of National Birth Control League which years later become known as Planned Parenthood Federation of America. Her work has made a profound impact in bedside nursing, especially in relation to reproductive freedom. Access to birth control and abortion clinics is now easily available in most states and bedside nurses do not have to witness and participate in unfortunate events due to unwanted pregnancies. In today’s political arena, her political work has provided those of child-bearing age and capabilities the opportunity for proper family planning and reproductive freedom. However, in certain states such as Texas, reproductive freedom has taken steps back instead of moving forward. Her strong tenacity and perseverance to advocate for reproductive rights is just as much in demand today as it was when she was fighting for reproductive equality.
Margaret Higgins Sanger had different methods in creating changes in health policies. She initially tried to educate the public through publications but failed and instead her efforts landed her in Jail (O’Dea, 2019). The method that was most effective involved the use of education, organization, and legislation and with that she created the American Birth Control League. It was through this organization where she learned how to network with researchers, doctors, and politicians which eventually led congress to the approve the distribution of birth control, educational information related to family planning, and devices intended to prevent pregnancies (O’Dea, 2019). In today’s world, networking is an effective method for sharing information and data. The internet and social media have made it even easier to network. There is so much information available which has made it difficult to navigate through facts and opinions and because of this there is an equal amount of misinformation circulation. Networking while challenging is one of the best ways to create changes in the healthcare system though it can be both effective and difficult to manage.
Conclusion
There are other historical nurses who dedicated their lives to changing the world of nursing, but these two strong historical nurses have done an astounding job in creating positive changes in healthcare. It is through their dedication, determination, passion, and achievements that bedside nursing is the way that it is now. There is equality in nursing opportunities and major improvements in bedside care with better patient outcomes. Nurses today can use these two historical figures as an inspiration to create changes in health policies for the future of healthcare.
SCIENCE
HEALTH SCIENCE
NURSING
GNRS 5346
