EARLY HISTORY AND EVOLUTION OF

PSYCHIATRIC NURSING

Although the specialty of psychiatric mental health nursing is now well integrated into main stream nursing practice, it retains a unique history

19th century : the need for psychiatric mental health nursing was recognized.

1882 : The first school of nursing in a psychiatric setting was established at McLean Hospital.

1913, Euphemia (Effie) Jane Taylor, who worked with Adolf Meyer, initiated the first nurse programme.

1920 : first psychiatric nursing text book “Nursing Mental Disease” by Harriet Baily is published.

1925-Indian Mental hospital was built at Ranchi

1930- Principles and practice of psychiatric nursing were derived from practical experience of caring for the psychiatric patient.

1935- Insulin shock therapy

1936-Psychosurgery.

1937- Electroconvulsive therapy for treatment approach.

1943- The Madras government organized 3months psychiatric nursing course at the mental hospital Madras.( Stopped 1964).Training only male nurse instead of midwifery

1946 National health survey-leadership of Sri Joseph Bhore.Bhore committee

report-urgent need to look after the mentally ill ,Funds available. Prepare

psychiatry psychology, social work &nursing.

1952- Hildegard Peplau published interpersonal relations in nursing.

1953 -Maxwell Jones published The therapeutic community in USA has influenced by Indian psychiatric nursing

1955 –The joint commission on Mental illness and health was developed to study and evaluate needs and resources.

1961 –THE WORLD PSYCHIATRIC ASSOCIATION EXAMINED THE SOCIAL CONSEQUENCES OF MENTAL ILLNESS

1963-Perspectives in psychiatric care published, Journal of psychiatric nursing and mental health services published.

1965- INC included psy.nursing as a compulsory course in BSc nursing programme

1965-66 Psy.nsg component was added in GNM course.

1967- TNAI –formed a separate committee for psychiatric nursing to improve the perceptive of psychiatric nursing.

1975 Psychiatric nursing was offered as elective subject in M.Sc. nursing at RAK.

1979 : Issues in mental health nursing published.

1980 The first edition principles and practice of psychiatric nursing Stuart&Sadden published.

1986-INC made psychiatric nursing a component of GNM course.

1990 -Standards of psychiatric nursing published.

1991 –International council of nurses declared the year for Mental health nursing.

1991 -Psychiatric nursing experts and psychiatric nurses of NIMHANS Bangalore formed an association as the Indian Society of psychiatric nurses

2000 - Revised scope and standards of psychiatric mental health clinical nursing practice published by ANA.

2003 - Certification of psychiatric nurse practitioners by ANA.

2006 –Evidence based nursing practice. In GNM separate paper theory and practical.