Purpose of Nursing

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Purpose of Nursing

Nursing is a profession in which health care professionals, including nurses, provide care to individuals, families, and communities to guarantee improved quality of life. Nursing as a career has specific requirements that have to be met by the health professionals to allow them deliver quality care to patients. Notably, nurses play an essential role in promoting health and preventing illness in nursing. This paper aims at establishing and presenting the purpose from the point of view of nurses and lay persons.

According to nurses, nursing is a complex profession that entails numerous activities that help in improving the quality of life of patients. One of the purposes of nursing is the provision of care to patients. Through the help of nurses, patients can receive timely and suitable care, which guarantees improved patient outcomes. It is vital to acknowledge that provision of care entails a myriad of activities, including observing and monitoring patients, recording vital information about patients’ illness, and making decisions about the best intervention for illnesses (ANA, 2012). As a patient receives treatment, it is the role of a nurse to make a follow-up on the patient’s progress and conduct all the activities related to care according to the interests of the patient. Remarkably, nurses play a vital role in providing holistic care to patients.

Additionally, nursing helps in advocating for the rights and privileges of patients. Nurses believe that their main priority is the patient, which is absolutely true as patients are the center of focus for healthcare organizations. Nursing as a profession helps advocate for the best interests of patients and maintain their dignity during the care provision process. Nurses, with the assistance of other health professionals, help develop treatment plans of patients. In patient advocacy, nurses have a role to support and represent patients’ best interests, especially as some of the patients are unable to make viable medical decisions due to their illness.

Also, nursing helps in planning care, which is essential for attaining positive patient outcomes. It is vital to acknowledge that nurses are directly involved in the decision-making process for the care of patients. Notably, nurses are responsible for employing critical thinking during assessing patient signs and identifying any potential issues so that suitable actions can be settled upon. Additionally, nurses have a duty to report all the information about patients to physicians who make the final treatment decisions (ANA, 2012). Such information is vital in establishing the best medical intervention, guaranteeing positive patient outcomes. Also, nurses monitor the signs and symptoms of patients during the provision of care to note any unusual changes that may require immediate medical attention.

Additionally, nursing entails educating patients and supporting them during the treatment and healing processes. Through education programs, nurses have the ability to enlighten patients about their health and the best practices that guarantee improved quality of life. It is vital to acknowledge that patients require guidance on how to handle their illnesses, medications, and treatments, especially when they get discharged from healthcare facilities (ANA, 2012). Notably, before a patient leaves a healthcare facility, nurses should ensure they understand how they will manage their illness, including what is expected when they take their medications. Also, nurses can offer support to patients, which may entail emotional support, among others, which is essential in the healing process.

Reference

American Nurse Association (ANA). (2012). What is nursing? https://www.nursingworld.org/practice-policy/workforce/what-is-nursing/