Without going to stock phrases, textbook definitions and the like, how would you define nursing in a way that differentiates it from other health care professions?
I'm asking because even having graduated from nursing school, I find that defining what nursing is is a tricky area.
Nursing is assisting patients with ADLs? That's usually a part of the definition of nursing. There are the basic "nursing care" tasks such as helping patients wash, turning patients to prevent skin breakdown, feeding patients, etc. Professional nurses have had formal training in the rationales for such nursing care and evidence backing it up, but unlicensed personnel often participate in this care and may or may not be supervised by licensed nurses (eg home personal assistant). Professional nurses and other health personnel can implement such care without collaborating with medical personnel.
Nursing is the professional (occupational) performance of health-related tasks? That's usually an assumption and reality of nursing, though it's not always included in definitions of nursing. Traditionally, though, nurses have tended to do the "boring", "routine", and "less skilled" work that MDs could do if their time weren't at such a premium. These are things like prepping patients for procedures, changing dressings, giving injections, patient teaching, etc. Unlicensed personnel are also often trained in such tasks - phlebotomy, administering injections, giving enemas, etc.
Nursing is the on-going monitoring and intervening in collaboration with medical personnel? I think this the bulk of inpatient nursing care, where the nurse is essentially the stand-in for the MD (or PA or PA or DO), monitoring and documenting the patient's status and judging when a change in status merits action. This is a vital function of nurses yet it seems to me that it's often glossed over, as it seems "less professional" since the nurse can't function completely autonomously in such cases.
Nursing is "filling the gaps"? Nurses have often filled the gaps in health care, such as teaching patients when the MDs don't have time. Nurses have also filled in in disadvantaged communities offering health screenings, immunizations and such and thus some of the community health nursing roles developed. Nurses took on the role of providing health services in schools. Now more nurses continue in this tradition stepping into a more medical role (diagnosing and prescribing) as nurse practitioners, helping fill in the gaps for mid-level providers.
I'm just trying to organize some thoughts. I'm curious what thoughts other may have on this.
