Nursing

From ArticleWorld

Nursing is the term used to define a provision of services by or under the direction of a nurse to patients requiring assistance in recovering or maintaining their physical or mental health. Along with caring for the people who are sick or injured or infirm, nursing also includes helping people to stay well and healthy by teaching them about healthy behaviors.

History

Much before nursing came to be regarded as a profession, this service was provided either by the military or by the nuns of churches. Interestingly, senior female nurses in many commonwealth countries are still referred to as sisters. With the wheel coming full circle, many nurses in Canada and America have started to work through churches and are called parish nurses. These nurses work within church parishes to provide nursing as well as health education and counseling and also act as bridges between volunteers and such parish members as are in need of help.

Nursing as a profession came of age through the pioneering work done by Florence Nightingale and the nurses in the two world wars.

Profession

There are many different types of nurses (in the US there are almost 200 nursing specializations), the most common among them are:

Registered nurses: They work to promote health, prevent disease and help people cope with sickness. They also assist physicians during surgeries, treatments and exams, administer medications and help in rehabilitation. Hospital nurses: They are the largest group of nurses. Most of them are staff nurses who provide bedside care and also perform secondary medical procedures. They are usually delegated to a department, such a maternity although they may also have rotating practices. Office nurses: These nurses care for people at an outpatient doctor’s office. They prepare patients for exams, give medications and dress wounds. Some may even perform small surgeries. Home health: Such nurses care for people in their homes. They teach patients and their families about how to make the environment healthier and help in situations such as AIDS care and childbirth.