Reaching out in nursing

Theoretical and practical nursing has passed several different stages since the beginning of the 1920s (Meleis 1991). Each stage has helped nurses in their attempt to come closer in identifying the domain of nursing, defining its mission, and defining its theoretical base. During the stage of practice, dating from the late 19th and the early 20th century, the mission of nursing was defined as providing care and comfort, to enhance healing and a sense of well‐being, and to create a healthy environment (Nightingale 1859, Buhler‐Wilkerson 1991). The WHO goal of health for all (WHO 1988) and their requests to health professionals (Kaplun 1992) to take an active part in the public health are in line with the nursing historical tradition, important to improve upon, and calling for new stages, such as structure, integration, and reaching out (Meleis 1991).