Who is recognized for the first attempts at theory-based nursing?

Florence Nightingale is recognized for her pioneering contributions to nursing theory, which laid the groundwork for future developments in the field. Her emphasis on sanitation, environmental factors, and their impact on health demonstrated an early understanding of the relationships between patients' environments and their recovery. Nightingale's work led to the formulation of the "Environmental Theory," which highlights the importance of clean air, water, and adequate nutrition in promoting health and healing.

This theoretical approach was revolutionary for its time, as it moved nursing from a primarily practical skill set to a more structured discipline with a theoretical foundation. Nightingale’s philosophy underscored the importance of evidence-based practice and the need for systematic observation, which has become a cornerstone of nursing theory and practice today. Through her writings and the establishment of nursing schools, she significantly influenced the professional identity of nursing as a scientific and empathetic practice.