According to the American Nurses Association (ANA),
nursing is defined as the
"protection, promotion and optimization of health and ability, prevention of illness and injury, alleviation of suffering through the diagnosis and treatment of human response, and advocacy in the care of individuals, families, communities, and population."
As you already can visualize, nursing practice has undergone dramatic changes over the years all over the world and is a multifaceted discipline, not just the care of those who are ill. To break it down again, it involves:
- Protection, promotion and optimization of health
- Protection, promotion and optimization of ability
- Prevention of illness and injury
- Alleviation of suffering through the diagnosis of human response
- Alleviation of suffering through the treatment of human response
- Advocacy in the care of individuals,
- Advocacy in the care of families
- Advocacy in the care of communities
- Advocacy in the care of the population
Nursing is, therefore, an art as well as a science.
We will be exploring more of this in the days ahead. Join me on this exciting ride!
