Defining the Nursing Profession Essay Example
Nursing: Defining the Profession
The definition of nursing has evolved since the introduction of the definition by the American Nurses Association in 1980. In that year, the ANA, in their Social Policy Statement, published their official definition of nursing. According to the American Nurses Association, "nursing is the diagnosis and treatment of human responses to actual and potential health problems" (1980). This definition has been massaged since 1980 and the most recent Social Policy Statement still uses the basic concepts as above, but with expanded explanations. It defines nursing as: Nursing is the 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 the care of individuals, families, communities, and populations (ANA, 2003). The American Nurses Association’s definition is an example of the discipline describing the domain of nursing, which is to protect, promote, optimize, and alleviate suffering, which therefore defines the profession of nursing. The International Council of Nursing defines nursing as: Nursing encompasses autonomous and collaborative care of individuals of all ages, families, groups, and communities, sick or well and in all settings. Nursing includes the promotion of health, prevention of illness, and the care of ill, disabled, and dying people. Advocacy, promotion of a safe environment, research, participation in shaping health policy and in patient and health systems management, and education are also key nursing roles (INC, 2005). Although the definitions provided by the American Nurses Association and the International Council of Nursing are exceptional ones they are only two definitions out of many. The nursing profession is very difficult to define in straight lines and absolute parameters. As a profession nursing is many
The definition of nursing has evolved since the introduction of the definition by the American Nurses Association in 1980. In that year, the ANA, in their Social Policy Statement, published their official definition of nursing. According to the American Nurses Association, "nursing is the diagnosis and treatment of human responses to actual and potential health problems" (1980). This definition has been massaged since 1980 and the most recent Social Policy Statement still uses the basic concepts as above, but with expanded explanations. It defines nursing as: Nursing is the 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 the care of individuals, families, communities, and populations (ANA, 2003). The American Nurses Association’s definition is an example of the discipline describing the domain of nursing, which is to protect, promote, optimize, and alleviate suffering, which therefore defines the profession of nursing. The International Council of Nursing defines nursing as: Nursing encompasses autonomous and collaborative care of individuals of all ages, families, groups, and communities, sick or well and in all settings. Nursing includes the promotion of health, prevention of illness, and the care of ill, disabled, and dying people. Advocacy, promotion of a safe environment, research, participation in shaping health policy and in patient and health systems management, and education are also key nursing roles (INC, 2005). Although the definitions provided by the American Nurses Association and the International Council of Nursing are exceptional ones they are only two definitions out of many. The nursing profession is very difficult to define in straight lines and absolute parameters. As a profession nursing is many