Nursing

Nursing

Introduction

Nursing is a profession within the health care sector focused on care of individuals, families and communities so they may attain, maintain, or recover optimal health and quality of life .Nurses may be differentiated from other health care providers by their approach to patient care, training and scope of practise. There are many definition of nursing and one of them is as below;

"Nursing is protection  ,promotion, and optimization of health and abilities; prevention of illness and injury ;alleviation of suffering through the diagnosis and treatment of human response ;and advocacy in health care for individuals, families, communities and population." 

                                                                                           -American Nurses  Association

As a profession

The authority for practice of nursing is based upon a social contract that delineates professional rights and responsibilities as well as mechanism for public accountability. In almost all countries, nursing practice is defined and governed by law, and entrance to the profession is regulated at national or state level. The aim of nursing community worldwide is for its professionals to ensure quality care for all, while maintaining their credentials, code of ethics, standards and competencies and continuing their education. Nursing involves extensive study of nursing theory and practice as well as training in clinical skills. Nurse must be licensed. To work as nursing profession, all nurses hold one or more credentials depending on their scope of practice and education.

            Florence Nightingale was an influential figure in development of modern nursing  as profession.

Scope of Nursing

-Activities of daily living assistance

              Assisting in activities of daily living are skills required in nursing as well as other professions such as nursing assistants, this includes assisting in patient mobility and patient hygiene.

-Medication

             Nurses do not have the authority to prescribe medications, with few expectations. All medications administered by nurses must be from medication order from a licensed practitioner. Nurses are responsible for drugs they administer and there may be a legal implications when there is an error in drug order and record, report should be kept. In United States, nurses have right to refuse any medication administration that they deem to be harmful to patient.

-Patient education

             Patient education is duty that is not legally delegated to unlicensed assistive personnel. The patient's family is often involved in education. Effective patient education leads to fewer complications and hospital visits.

Pros and Cons of becoming nurse

     When you consider becoming a nurse, you may think about the excitement and opportunities to make a difference in someone's life. Both of those things can be true about working as a nurse.But nursing is not like you see on television. Every moment is not exciting, and not every patient will encounter will be rewarding. some of pros and cons of nursing are;

Pros

     Nursing is a great carrier choice if you want to be in helping profession. There may be days when you literally save someone's life. Knowing what you did helped someone can be a very gratifying aspect of the job. The work can be diverse and interesting. Nurses work in various patient care areas including labour and delivery, surgery and intensive care unit. Nursing job is exciting because not all days of nurse are same. Nurses work in areas , such as discharge planning, case management and education. Hospital are not only industry that employs nurse. Insurance companies, law firm and schools also hire nurses. Flexibility and travelling can also be build in nurses.

Cons

      Nurses are exposed to all types of germs and viruses. If u are squeamish, nursing is probably not your best carrier choice. Nurses deal with blood and other bodily fluids. They are also exposed to all types of viruses and other pathogens. Some days maybe overwhelming and you may feel guilty for being a nurse because this job is stressful for a variety of reasons. For example; there may be times you are short staffed or get a sudden increase in new patients to treat. All patient are not polite or appreciating type. You have to exposed to sad situation in which you witness sad or tragic situations. You may have to work even during holidays. Nurses should be flexible enough to adjust at any times and work for patients which maybe tough enough.

Summary

        Nursing need to achieve autonomy in controlling and maintaining the integrity of its professional education and united membership has to be recognized. The fact that nursing is primarily composed of women, who have been and continue to be dominated by physicians and hospitals administrators in many health care institutes that shouldn't be overlooked. New nurses have to understand how nursing trends and issues synthesize technical, ethical and organizational issues in ever evolving health care area of nursing.