Foundation of Nursing

Nursing

A profession that encompasses autonomous and collaborative care of individuals of all ages, families, groups, and communities, sick or well, and in all settings. Key roles include client advocate, counseling, and case management.

Health Promotion and Wellness

The process motivated by the desire to increase a person's wellbeing and health potential, alongside an active state of being healthy through lifestyle choices that promote physical, mental, and emotional health.

Health Literacy

The ability of patients to obtain, process, and understand basic health information needed for appropriate health decisions.

Nightingale and Henderson's Definitions of Nursing

Nightingale defined nursing as 'the act of utilizing the environment of the patient to assist him in his recovery', while Henderson described it as assisting individuals in health-related activities they could perform unaided if they had strength, will, or knowledge.

Four Aims of Nursing

1. To promote health, 2. To prevent illness, 3. To restore health, 4. To facilitate coping with disability or death.

Skills in Nursing

Includes cognitive skills for providing scientific rationale for care, technical skills for using healthcare equipment with minimal distress, and interpersonal skills for establishing caring relationships.

Ethical Competence

Conducting oneself in ways that advance patient interests and adhere to professional codes of ethics while showcasing clinical virtues such as competence, compassionate caring, trustworthiness, and integrity.

Expanded Career Roles in Nursing

Roles that include nurse practitioner, clinical nurse specialist, nurse midwife, nurse educator, nurse researcher, and nurse anesthetist.