nursing meaning
nursing meaning
Nursing encompasses both individual and group care for people of all ages, families, groups, and communities—whether they are ill or healthy—in any setting. Nursing encompasses health promotion, illness prevention, and patient care for the disabled, ill, and dying. Key nursing roles include advocacy, promoting a safe environment, research, participating in shaping health policy, managing patients and health systems, and education. ICN, 2002)
Long definition
- In all health care and other community settings, nursing encompasses the promotion of health, illness prevention, and care of physically ill, mentally ill, and disabled individuals of all ages. Individual, family, and group “responses to actual or potential health problems” are the phenomena that nurses are most concerned about in this wide range of health care (ANA, 1980, P.9). These human responses span a wide spectrum, from the development of policy to promote the long-term health of a population to health-restoring responses to an individual illness.
- Assessing patients’ responses to their health status and assisting them in the performance of those activities that contribute to health, recovery, or dignified death that they would perform unaided if they had the necessary strength, will, or knowledge is the unique function of nurses in caring for patients, sick or healthy (Henderson, 1977, p.4). This is done in a way that helps patients gain full or partial independence as quickly as possible. In order to guarantee that the health system is adequate for promoting health, preventing illness, and providing care for the disabled and ill, nurses share the duties of planning, implementation, and evaluation with other health professionals and public servants. ICN, 1987)
Definition of a Nurse
- A nurse is someone who has completed a program of basic, generalized nursing education and is authorized to practice nursing in their country by the appropriate regulatory authority. For the general practice of nursing, for a leadership role, and for post-basic education for specialty or advanced nursing practice, basic nursing education is a formally recognized program that provides a broad and sound foundation in the behavioral, life, and nursing sciences. The nurse is authorized and prepared to practice the full scope of nursing, which includes health promotion, illness prevention, and disabled, mentally ill, and physically ill people of all ages in all health care and community settings; to provide instruction in health care; to fully participate as a member of the medical team; to oversee and instruct health care assistants and nurses; and, five, to participate in research. ICN, 1987)
What is nursing in South Africa?
- In South Africa, there are three kinds of nurses. The primary and general needs of the patient are met by enrolled nursing auxiliaries; Patients are only cared for in part by registered nurses; The responsibility of supervising other nurses falls under the purview of registered nurses, or nursing sisters.
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