Describing a model of nursing as a focus for psychiatric nursing care

This thesis would not be complete in it's review of Psychiatric nursing and Psychiatric nurse education, without reference to one of the fundamental changes that is occurring in nursing. One of the major changes that had occurred in recent years has been in the focus of nursing management nurses are placing much more emphasis on nursing diagnosis and nursing theories and are detaching from the more traditional medical model when planning nursing care. This movement towards a greater autonomy in planning their nursing care is assisting nurses in becoming a professional and independent group. Nurses are establishing a body of knowledge and skills which may be called "nursing science". Through the use of nursing models for planning patient and health care, nurses are offering a better service to the individual and the community. These changes in the focus of care commenced in the 1950's within the United States with the introduction of nursing models and theories. The Philosophies and concepts of these theories have outlined various methods and ways that the nurse could better plan and organize their professional work, including patient assessment and care. As early as 1953 the term "nursing diagnosis" was introduced by Fray to describe a step in the organization of a nursing care plan. (1) The various nursing models and theories seemed to have coincided with the movement through the 1950's and 1960's within America towards more generic based integrated curricula.