at least two references cited using APA format. Responses to peers or faculty should be 100-150 words and include one reference.

The profession of nursing has experienced a remarkable evolution, especially over the last century, when the role of a nurse has moved from being a task performer to skilled professional who works on the principles of evidence-based practice and critical thinking. EBP started in the 1990s when nurses could make decisions based on research, clinical experience, and patient preferences (Patricia et al., 2020). The given approach has multiple benefits not only for patients but for the nursing profession by increasing its credibility and independence as well. As one of the competencies of nursing education and practice, critical thinking allows nurses to approach various problematic contexts, analyze and make proper decisions, and implement safe and quality care.

Florence Nightingale, who can also be considered the mother of nursing, was instrumental in the development of modern nursing. In the Crimean War in the 1850s, she began the improvement of military hospitals, highlighting the need for the cleanliness of patient surroundings or what is termed today, ‘infection control’ (Riegel et al., 2021). Not only did this historical event serve as a major development of the nursing profession, but it also paved the way for nursing roles that were focused on patient advocacy, public health, and leadership roles. Apart from the field of military medical facilities, Florence Nightingale also formed the first scientifically grounded school of nursing – the Nightingale School of Nursing in 1860 (Riegel et al., 2021). Her work also called for the advancement of nursing theories that are still practiced today and focused on the importance of the environment on the patients. The significance of the mentioned developments cannot be overemphasized because all of them have positively impacted the professionalization of nursing, the accreditation of nursing courses, or the increasing scope of nursing from mere bedside practice to the practice 3 of leadership, research, and policy. Hence, the focus on EBP and critical thinking means that nursing continues to grow into a profession ready to adapt to the dynamic healthcare system.