title: The history of nursing services and education in Sri Lanka and the effects on developing professionalism.
abstract: Understanding the evolution of nursing in a country provides perspective on the origins of current successes and dilemmas and enables the development of strategies and plans for future trends in the profession. This article explores the evolution of nursing services and education in Sri Lanka and the effects on developing professionalism in nursing. Internet database searches, personal communication, and published and unpublished literature and reports were reviewed to obtain historical information on nursing services and education in Sri Lanka. The Sri Lankan health system is reviewed, and the establishment of Western medicine in Sri Lanka and its effects on developing institutionalized nursing education is presented, with a focus on the evolution of nursing education. Major challenges for the nursing profession in Sri Lanka are discussed, and some recommendations are shared.
authors.affiliation: The University of Adelaide, Eleanor Harrold Building, Level 3, Royal Adelaide Hospital, Adelaide, South Australia 5005. rasika.jayasekara@adelaide.edu.au
authors.forename: Rasika S
authors.initials: RS
authors.lastname: Jayasekara
authors.forename: Helen
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: McCutcheon
mesh_terms: D003695:Delivery of Health Care / Q000458:organization & administration; D004506:Education, Nursing / Q000266:history / Q000639:trends*; D006285:Health Planning; D006676:History of Nursing; D049672:History, 19th Century; D049673:History, 20th Century; D049690:History, Ancient; D049691:History, Medieval; D006801:Humans; D009729:Nursing / Q000639:trends*; D013188:Sri Lanka