History of a Restorative Nursing Assistant

A registered nursing assistant is commonly referred to as an RNA. This career choice has a long history and is a position that offers job growth and personal job satisfaction. The first registered nursing assistants date back to the early 1900s when nurses were needed to care for wounded soldiers.

• Before the nursing field was officially recognized, nurses existing in almost all ancient civilizations and cultures. However, it wasn’t until Florence Nightingale first recruited a group of nurses to help wounded soldiers that the nursing field became officially recognized as a profession.


• The first nursing education courses were offered by hospitals in the early 1900s. However, the material taught was very basic in comparison to the knowledge that today's nurses possess. Basic knowledge of patient care and sterilization of medical equipment was provided in these first basic courses.


• After World War II, the demand for nurses began to increase due to the prosperous economic times. This is when government officials decided that nurses needed to have required knowledge and skills to practice as a nurse. Many colleges jumped on board with this decision and began offering nursing programs to meet the newly founded government specifications.


• With the major increase of medical facilities and healthcare came the need for qualified nurses. This also opened up many opportunities for different levels of nursing degrees and positions.


• RNA stands for restorative nursing assistant. The primary job duties of an RNA are to assist RNs with patient mobility and follow the guidelines set forth by the RN assigned to ensure that the patient's mobility needs are being met. Duties such as dressing, grooming and self-help skills are addressed by an RNA nurse.