What is Nursing?
Nursing is a health profession, concerned with providing
quality health care to individuals, families, and communities. Initially,
there was a misconception that nursing profession was only for women. But
nowadays, more men are coming into this field. In the
United States, around 8% of
nursing jobs are done by men. This is mainly because of the endless
possibility of career advancement in the nursing field.
Florence Nightingale – known
as “The Lady with the Lamp” – is regarded as the pioneer of modern nursing.
She made great contribution by treating the wounded soldiers during the
Crimean war. In 1860, she opened the first school of nursing at St. Thomas'
Hospital, London. Thus, Florence shaped new standards in the nursing
profession. In 1901, with the approval of the Nurses Registration Act, New
Zealand became the first country in the world to regulate nurses nationally.
There
are many theories that provide the foundation for nursing care. Nursing
theories can be roughly categorized into five sections - metatheories,
mid-range theories, grand theories, micro-theories and mini-theories. Using
these theories, the conceptual model of nursing is created, which contains
various methods for assessing each patient’s need and carrying out suitable
patient care.
More than 200 nursing specialties are available in the U.S.
Ambulatory care nursing, advanced practice nursing, behavioral health nursing,
cardiac nursing, community health nursing, emergency nursing, forensic
nursing, hospice nursing, legal nursing, substance abuse nursing, tele-medicine
nursing, and travel nursing are some among them. Certifications in these
specialty areas are issued by certifying boards or professional
organizations.
Nurses play many diverse roles. They practice in
free-standing clinics, industrial health settings, long-term health care
facilities, and even in camps. Some nurses are legal representatives, that is,
they have specialized training in handling medical-related cases. Nurses even
work as teachers and counselors.
