Definition Of Nursing PDF

# Definition of Nursing The nurse is a person who has completed a program of basic, generalized nursing education and is authorized by the appropriate regulatory authority to practice nursing in his/her country. Basic nursing education is formally recognized program of study providing a broad and s...

# Definition of Nursing The nurse is a person who has completed a program of basic, generalized nursing education and is authorized by the appropriate regulatory authority to practice nursing in his/her country. Basic nursing education is formally recognized program of study providing a broad and sound foundation in the behavioural, life, and nursing sciences for the general practice of nursing, for a leadership role, and for post-basic education for specialty or advanced nursing practice. The nurse is prepared and authorized to: - engage in the general scope of nursing practice, including the promotion of health, prevention of illness, and care of physically ill, mentally ill, and disabled people of all ages and in all health care and other community settings; - carry out health care teaching; - participate fully as a member of the health care team; - supervise and train nursing and health care auxiliaries; and - be involved in research. (International Council of Nurses, 1987a) A nurse is a person who has received authorized education, acquired specialized knowledge, skills and attitudes, and is registered and licensed with the Nursing and Midwifery Council to provide promotive, preventative, supportive and restorative care to individuals, families and communities, independently, and in collaboration with other members of the health team. The Nurse must provide care in such a manner as to enhance the integrity of the profession, safeguard the health of the individual client/patient and protect the interest of the society. (Nursing & Midwifery Council of Nigeria, 2017) ## Definitions of Nursing - Nursing has been defined over time in terms of the *environment* and functions of nursing, consumers of the services provided by nurses, abilities of the practitioners, and the scope of practice. **Examples:** - Florence Nightingale - Virginia Henderson - Faye Glenn Abdellah - World Health Organization - International Council of Nurses ### Florence Nightingale - The act of utilizing the *environment* of the patient to assist him in recovery - Florence Nightingale 1969 (Berman, Snyder, & Frandsen, 2016:39) - "What nursing has to do... is to *put the patient in the best condition for nature to act upon him*" - Florence Nightingale 1859 (Gonzalo, 2011a) ### Virginia Henderson - The *unique function* of the nurse is to assist the individual, sick or well, in the performance of those activities contributing to health or its recovery (or to peaceful death) that he would perform unaided if he had the necessary strength, will, or knowledge, and to do this in such a way as to help him gain independence as rapidly as possible - Virginia Henderson, 1966 (Berman, et al., 2016:39) - "I believe that the *function the nurse performs* is primarily an independent one - that of acting for the patient when he lacks knowledge, physical strength, or the will to act for himself as he would ordinarily act in health, or in carrying out prescribed therapy. This function is seen as complex and creative, as offering unlimited opportunity for the application of the physical, biological, and social sciences and the development of skills based on them." - Virginia Henderson, 1960 (Gonzalo, 2011b) ### Faye Glenn Abdellah - "Nursing is based on an art and science that mould the attitudes, intellectual competencies, and technical skills of the individual nurse into the desire and ability to help people, sick or well, cope with their health needs." - Abdellah, F. G. (--- --, 2011) ### World Health Organization - Nursing encompasses *autonomous* and *collaborative care* of individuals of all ages, families, groups and communities, sick or well and in all settings. It includes the promotion of health, the prevention of illness, and the care of ill, disabled and dying people (World Health Organization, -----) ### International Council of Nurses - Definition of Nursing (long version) - Nursing, as an integral part of the health care system, encompasses the promotion of health, prevention of illness, and care of physically ill, mentally ill, and disabled people of all ages, in all health care and other community settings. Within this broad spectrum of health care, the phenomena of particular concern to nurses are individual, family, and group "responses to actual or potential health problems" (ANA, 1980, p.9). These human responses range broadly from health restoring reactions to an individual episode of illness to the development of policy in promoting the long-term health of a population. ### International Council of Nurses - Definition of Nursing (long version) contd. - The *unique function* of nurses in caring for individuals, sick or well, is to assess their responses to their health status and to assist them in the performance of those activities contributing to health or recovery or to dignified death that they would perform unaided if they had the necessary strength, will, or knowledge and to do this in such a way as to help them gain full or partial independence as rapidly as possible (Henderson, 1977, p.4). Within the total health care environment, nurses share with other health professionals and those in other sectors of public service the functions of planning, implementation, and evaluation to ensure the adequacy of the health system for promoting health, preventing illness, and caring for ill and disabled people. (International Council of Nurses, 1987b) ### International Council of Nurses - Definition of Nursing 2 (short version) - Nursing encompasses *autonomous* and *collaborative care* of individuals of all ages, families, groups and communities, sick or well and in all settings. Nursing includes the promotion of health, prevention of illness, and the care of ill, disabled and dying people. *Advocacy*, promotion of a safe environment, research, participation in shaping health policy and in patient and health systems management, and education are also key nursing roles. (International Council of Nurses, 2002)