The Unique Nature of Nursing
Nursing is the art and science of direct patient care in the healthcare system. There is a distinct feature that differentiates nursing from other healthcare professions. Consistently, nursing practice has a broader scope of practice, unlike other professions in the healthcare system. The most unique feature of nursing practice is the aspect of direct involvement in caring for patients. Nurses are directly involved in caring for patients, families, and the community (Poorchangizi et al., 2019). As a result, this ensures a quality healthcare service and, hence, better health outcomes and life. Besides bedside management of patients in the healthcare facility, nurses also play a crucial role in health promotion and disease prevention. This is among the core principles of nursing practice and ensures improved public health. In addition, the nurses also have a role in mentoring the newly graduated nurses and the nursing students (Poorchangizi et al., 2019). Essentially, this has been a continuing culture in nursing and is observed in all healthcare setups.
Furthermore, the nursing theory that links to the concept of patient care in nursing is Jean Watson’s theory. The theory states that the role of nurses includes health promotion, health prevention, patient care in healthcare facilities and at home, and other activities that promote the restoration of health (Marriner-Tomey, 2022). Particularly, this theory’s framework focuses on the nursing care process and its impact on health prevention and promotion. For this reason, nurses are expected to be able to provide health prevention and health promotion services. Jean Watson’s theory directly addresses service delivery and patient care in nursing practice. Notably, this foresees the betterment of public health besides simple bedside patient management.
References
Marriner-Tomey, A. (2022). Nursing theorists and their work. M. R. Alligood (Ed.). Elsevier. https://www.kersaint-plabennec.fr/sites/default/files/webform/nursing-theorists-and-their-work-8th-edition-martha-raile-alligood-fb8bbd2.pdf
Poorchangizi, B., Borhani, F., Abbaszadeh, A., Mirzaee, M., & Farokhzadian, J. (2019). Professional values of nurses and nursing students: A comparative study. BMC Medical Education, 19, 1-7. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12909-019-1878-2
