Introduction of Nursing

 

Introduction:

Nursing has had a significant effect on people's lives, as rapid change
continues to transform the profession of nursing and health care system.
The nurse is an essential member of a health team who cares for
individuals, families and communities in disease and illness prevention
and in the promotion of health and healthy environment.

Definitions of Nursing:

 Nursing is an integral part of the health care system, include 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.
 nursing is caring for and about people

Nursing (as an art):

Is the art of caring sick and well individual in their recovery and in the
promotion and maintenance of health. It involves the creative application
of knowledge in the service of people
Nursing (as a science):

Is the scientific knowledge and skills in assisting individual to achieve
optimal health.

Nursing (as a profession):

Profession- a calling in which its members profess to have acquired
special knowledge by training or experience, or both so that they may
guide and advise others in that special field.

Definitions of nurse:

 Comes from a Latin word "to nourish". One who cares for the
sick, the injured, and the physically, mentally, and emotionally
disabled.
 One who advise and instruct individuals, families, and
communities in the prevention, treatment of diseases and in the
promotion of health.

What is a team?
A distinguishable group of two or more people who interact dynamically,
interdependently and adaptively towards a common and valued goal, who
have been each assigned specific roles or functions to perform. Possess
specialized skills.

The health team members:

 Doctors
 Physician Assistants
 Nurses
 Pharmacists
 Dentists
 Technologists and technicians
 Therapists and rehabilitation specialists
 Administrative staff
 Community health workers
 Infection Control staff
 Emotional, social and spiritual support providers
Fivefold nursing function:
1. Promoting Health and Wellness
2. Preventing Illness
3. Pain reduction
4. Restoring Health
5. Creation of a spiritual environment

Characteristics of Nursing:

 Nursing is caring.
 Nursing involves close personal contact with the recipient of care.
 Nursing is committed to promoting individual, family and
community health goals in its best manner possible.
 Nursing is committed to personalized services for all persons
without regard to color, social or economic status.
Qualities & abilities of professional nurse:
 Respect for human dignity
 Has strong sense of responsibility for sharing in the solution of the
problems of the society.
 Has the basic knowledge, skills and attitudes necessary to solve
present day social problems, realistic and well organized thoughts
through.
 Has skills in using written and spoken language to develop own
thoughts and to communicate them to others.
 Appreciates and understands importance of good health
 Has emotional balance.
 Accepts and tries to understand people of all sorts, regardless of
race, religion and color.

Role of nurse:

 Caregiver
 Communicator
 Teacher/ educator
 Leader/manger
 Researcher
 Advocate / supporter
The Recipients of Nursing:
The Recipients of Nursing are sometimes called consumers, patients, and
clients.
 A consumer is an individual, a group of people, or a community
that uses a service. People who use health care services are
consumers of health care.
 A patient is a person who is waiting for or undergoing medical
treatment and care. The word patient comes from a Latin word
meaning "to suffer". Traditionally, the person receiving health care
has been called a patient.
 A client is the receivers of health care.

Settings for Nursing:

In the past, the acute care hospital was the main practice setting open to
most nurses. Today many nurses work in hospitals, but increasingly they
work in clients homes, community agencies, ambulatory clinics, long-
term care, health maintenance organization (HMOs), and nursing practice
centers.

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