DEFINITIONS
OF
NURSING
AND
WHAT
IS NURSING?
DEFINITIONS OF
NURSING
 Nursing is a profession focused on advocacy in
the care of individuals, families, and communities
in attaining, maintaining, and recovering optimal
health and functioning.
 Modern definitions of nursing describe it as a
science and an art that focuses on promoting
quality of life as defined by populations,
communities, families, and individuals,
throughout their life experiences from birth
through the end of life.
Nightingale's Notes on Nursing
 “I use the word nursing for want of a
better. It has been limited to signify little
more than the administration of medicine
and the application of poultices.
 It ought to signify cleanliness, quiet, and
the proper selection and a ministration of
diet- all at the least expense of vital power
to the client.”
DEFINITIONS OF
NURSING
What is
your definition
of nursing?
What is Nursing?
 Nursing is something external that is
done to the client to restore health.
 Nursing is an interpersonal, interactional
or partnering process between the nurse
and client with the objective of promoting
wellness, preventing illness and giving the
client the tools to be able to function at an
optimal level of wellness.
Definitions of Nursing
 Florence Nightingale
 Act of using the environment of the
patient to assist him in his recovery
Definitions of Nursing
 Henderson
 Assisting the individual sick or well in the
performance of those activities contributing to
health, its recovery or 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.
Definitions of Nursing
 Johnson
 External force to restore, maintain or attain
health
 King
 A process of human interaction between nurse
and client to attain, maintain, and restore health
through mutual goal setting
 ANA
 The diagnosis and treatment of human
response to actual or potential health problems
NURSING
Nursing identity is a developmental
process that evolves throughout
professional nurses’ careers.
Characteristics of a
Profession
 Specialized education

standardized in a collegial setting
 Body of knowledge on which performance is
based
intellectual characteristics
nursing theory development


 Ability to deliver a unique service to others
Ethics
value of worth and dignity of others
Social policy statement and Code for Nurses


Characteristics of a
Profession
 Autonomy





use of theory & research in practice
Control over practice standards
Independent function of its members
Members are accountable and responsible or
their own practice
Standards of Practice
 Professional behaviors


career commitment of its members
upholding the service orientation in the eyes of
the public
Types of Nursing Education
Programs
 Registered nurse
 Diploma
 Associate
degree (ADN)
 Baccalaureate degree (BSN)
 Master’s programs (MSN)
 Doctoral programs (DNS)
Types of Nursing Education
Programs
 Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN) or
 Licensed Vocational Nurse (LVN)
 Ladder programs equal career
mobility
 LPN
to RN
 ADN to BSN
LPN/LVN versus
RN Roles
 The knowledge, skills, and abilities of
those in the nursing profession progress
along a continuum with increasing
complexity at each practice level.
 The education curricula for (each level)
prepares the healthcare provider to
perform within a scope of practice
prescribed by law and in the roles defined
by the professional organizations.
Nursing Education
Preparation for the future
 Articulation of educational models


easier transfer from one professional level to another
facilitates multiple career changes during a lifetime
 Inclusion of more




primary care processes & skills in curriculum
structure & systems information
economic framework as part of delivery systems
interdisciplinary collaboration
 Specialization versus generalization
 Level of educational preparation for entry
into practice
Nursing Practice
 Recipients of care
 patient
 client
 Practice settings
 Primary
care
 Secondary care
 Tertiary care
Entry into Practice
Nurse Practice Acts
 Purpose
is to protect the public
 Formalized contract between society
& the profession
 ensures minimum standards for entry
into practice
 helps the profession maintain
standards in practice
Nurse Practice Act
Level of Practice
 Dependent
- implementing a
professionals orders
 Interdependent - actions resulting from
the collaborative relationship with other
health care providers
 Independent - autonomous nursing
actions
- interventions found in the nursing care
plan
Entry into Practice
 Standards of Practice
 values
and priorities of the profession
 provide direction for professional
practice
 framework for evaluation of nursing
practice
 defines the professions accountability
to the public
Standards of Care
 The nurse
 Collects client health data
 Analyzes the assessment data in determining
diagnoses
 Identifies expected outcomes individualized to
the client
 Develops plan of care with interventions to
attain expected outcomes
 Implements identified interventions
 Evaluates client progress toward outcomes
Standards of Professional
Performance
 The nurse
 Evaluates quality & effectiveness of nursing




practice
Evaluates own practice in relation to
standards & relevant regulations
Maintains current knowledge in nursing
Contributes to professional development of
peers & colleagues
Decisions & actions on behalf of client are
ethical
Standards of Professional
Performance
 Collaborates with client , significant
others and health care providers in
providing care.
 Use research findings in practice.
 Considers factors related to safety,
effectiveness and cost in delivery of
care.
 Source - ANA Standards of Clinical
Nursing Practice (1991).
Role of the AD Nurse
Provider of care
Manager of care
Member within the discipline
of nursing
Provider of Care
Role of the AD Nurse
 Critical
thinking clinical
competence accountability
commitment to caring.
 More extensive data collection
through use of more resources &
collaboration.
 Analyze/interpret data, plan client
goals, adjust and evaluate care.
Provider of Care
LP/LV Nurse
 Client
care in structured health care
settings with common well-defined
health problems.
 Basic needs assessment
 contributes, helps to plan,
collaborates and uses established
nursing.
Manager of Care
 Role exclusive to RN.
 Collaboration, organization,
prioritization, delegation,
advocacy and respect for other
health care providers.
 Managing care and resources for
a group of clients efficiently.
Member within the Discipline
AD Nurse
 Commitment
to : professional growth
continuous learning self-development.
 Ensures high standard of nursing.
 Uses research to improve client care.
 Committee member and membership in
professional organization.
Member within the Discipline
LP Nurse / LV Nurse
 Identifies
personal strengths and
weakness.
 Uses educational opportunities.
 Under direction of the RN may participate
in research.
 Adheres to nursling's Code of Ethic.