Historical development and correlation of neuroscience literature and nursing practice: 1887-1992.

The historical development and correlation of neuroscience nursing literature and nursing practice were traced through a review of selected texts commonly used in nursing education. The primary focus was nursing care of the adult patient with coma secondary to traumatic brain injury, although this patient population was not always identified in early texts. Literature and practice were divided into three periods: early, transitional and modern. The neuroscience literature from 1887-1992 revealed changes in authorship and literary style as well as changes in nursing roles from an almost totally dependent practice to one with an extremely high degree of independence. A correlation between authorship, literary style and nursing practice was evident.