What Is Nursing? Essay

Virginia Henderson’s contribution to the nursing profession has been very influential. One of her contributions is her well known definition of nursing which request the nurse to be an expert independent practitioner equipped with the right knowledge in basic nursing care to achieve the goals of proper patient care (McCrae, 2012). Her definition along with the fourteen basic needs brought huge changes in nursing practice. The fourteen fundamental needs gives support and assistance to provide proper nursing care. In addition, Henderson also understood the importance of using the nursing process, she stated as part of the nursing process, it was vital for the nurse to collect, analyze and develop an optimal plan of care to ensure the best quality of care and patient outcomes (McCrae, 2012). Henderson defined nursing as a concept. Henderson regarded person, health, environment and nursing as follows, Person: The patient is a person who needs support attaining independence and well-being or sometimes peaceful passing. The body and mind are one entity, not to be separated in care. Patient and

“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” (ICN 2010)

Nurses are health care providers, who provide care for the sick and injured, “but their titles often depend on who or where they work” (Bureau). These healthcare providers can focus on a specific health condition, a specific part of the body, specific group of people, or a specific workplace. “They provide and coordinate patient care, educate patients and the public about various health conditions, and provide advice and emotional support to patients and their family members” (Bureau). Normally, nurses work inside where the temperature is usually low to prevent infection and germs from spreading easily. While many have become fond of this immense occupation, studies show that the nursing will become quite popular. US News and World Reports states, “The Bureau of Labor Statistics expects the profession to grow 19% by 2022,

Burkhardt, M. & Nathaniel, A. (2008). Ethics & issues: In contemporary nursing, (3rd ed.) Clifton Park, NJ: Delmar

I realized I wanted to be a nurse after I had my 2nd ACL surgery, my senior year of high school. I had to stay in the hospital 3 days in order to recover, and I was very lucky to have such a wonderful and caring nurse. She made me feel as if I was her only patient. I will never forget how well I was taken care of and how comfortable she made me feel. I was young and scared, but she was reassuring, because she made me feel as if I had my own mother taking care of me. She was the reason I wanted to become a nurse, because I wanted to make others feel the way she made me feel. My personal definition of nursing is encompassed within that one nurse. A nurse should be loving, compassionate, dependable, competent, empathic, responsible,

The healthcare profession is an ever evolving world that has changed greatly over the course of history in response to the needs of the communities and world at large. Gone are the days of doctors traveling to homes and communities near and far to provide a service. So much of the care provided now is driven by policies, legal agenda and financial impact. As a result of the changing dynamics within the healthcare industry, the roles of medical personnel have transformed into something once unfathomable. Nursing is a key area where significant changes have been observed over the last half century. Due to the ever increasing number of patients within the healthcare system and a physician pool that is not growing at the same rate, there has

What comes to the mind when we think of nurses - Someone who takes care of sick people. Nursing was introduced by Florence Nightangle in the mid of 1800’s and she took an opportunity to train women to care of wounded and sick army during the war. Back then nurses were trained to perform all the housekeeping skills. In 1900’s, there was no set of formal classes for nursing student as compared to today’s higher education. They were assigned to work for 10-12 hours without pay under the supervision of a physician. There is a huge difference between today’s and 1900’s nursing education. Nurses are more trained and skilled in their profession and today’s nursing considered to be more professional than 1900’s nursing.

Before the war women were only expected to serve as nurses before they inevitably became wives and mothers. The political decisions regarding the development of nursing as a profession meant women, gained social stature and economic rights. (Warner, Black, and Parent, 1998). Looking forward to a modern day nurse, as described in the paragraph above, nursing is no longer a temporary role of just women before becoming a housewife. Nursing is a knowledge based, worthy profession in society for both men and women, a career suitable for a

“Nursing is the protection, promotion, and optimization of health and abilities, prevention of illness and injury, facilitation of healing, alleviation of suffering through the diagnosis and treatment of human response, and advocacy in the care of individuals, families, groups, communities, and populations”. (American Nurses Association website, n.d.) At its core, nursing is a profession that is in the business of providing care to people. These people are diverse in a variety of different ways from common

Nursing is an esteemed profession that has developed over many years. This paper will explore the factors that influenced the development of the nursing profession, the roles and responsibilities of nurses, the many different career opportunities available to nurses as well as the origins of my passion to pursue nursing.

Throughout time the world’s image on Nursing has evolved rapidly. Nurses work in an extremely stressful environment and must carry out their duties in a professional manner to ensure proper procedures are followed throughout their routines. They also have a considerable amount of responsibility that comes with their career. For those reasons nurses must present themselves in a professional and structured manner at all times. The Image of Nursing describes how people in and out of the profession see nurses. Nurses must protect and continuously improve their image by fully applying themselves to their profession every day. Nurses complete rigorous course studies to obtain the ability to manage themselves and lead others towards a common

Historically, the profession of nursing has been viewed as an inferior occupation, one that holds a lower status when compared to other medical professions (Thupayagale & Dithole, 2005, pg. 1). Contrastingly, nursing is one of the most vital careers within the health care system, with continuous demands for their services (Burhans, 2008, pg.2). Generally, a poor perception and understanding of this profession exists which prevents nurses from being properly recognized for their crucial role within society (Thupayagale & Dithole, 2005, pg.2). Ultimately, four symbols will be discussed in this essay deprived from the creation of a coat of arms. They will serve to acknowledge nurses as more than providers of care and comfort, but as truly valuable medical professionals in their own right.

My understanding of nursing is that we are the biggest advocates for our patients. As nurses we would encounter many patients from different backgrounds and health conditions and in order for nurses to assist in health and wellness the community must come together as a whole to help. Since a patient’s health is a result of their social, economic, and cultural environment it is my understanding that I have a duty to teach and advocate for everyone. My community consist of many young professionals who are a part of the LGBT community and heterosexuals. There are always events going on in my area at local parks, stores, and bars. Health events in my area free with a simple registration. With the help of social media and radio stations it easy

Like any scientific discipline, the nursing profession has evolved over time. Nurses, once regarded as housemaids and lower class citizens, now hold positions of authority and stature in our modern society. These changes in the profession are attributed to the many nurse theorists who devoted their lives to the improvement of patient care. Through their theoretical advancements, the public perception of nursing has gone from dismissive to reverential. Today, our culture considers the nursing profession to be one of the most rewarding and respected career paths an individual can pursue. Through a review of one such patient theorist, Dorothea Orem, one can witness this change in the perception of the nursing profession. As a first semester student in a professional nursing course of study, Orem has already influenced my personal nursing philosophy.

Nurse’s roles are expanding according to the need of the patient and society. A nurse has to play roles from bed side nursing to the prevention of disease and illness, educating patient, families and collaboration with different healthcare teams. Howell (2012) indicated