NURSING DEFINITIONS
Florence Nightingale: - Answers To put the patient in the best condition for nature to act upon -
prevent or restore
Nursing - an art requiring an organized practical and scientific training
Nursing is therefore to help the patient live.
NURSING DEFINITIONS
Virginia Henderson - Answers Nursing is that service to an individual that helps him to attain or
maintain a healthy state of mind or body. 1939
Assist the individual sick or well in the performance of those activities contributing to health or
its recovery that he would perform unaided if he had the necessary strength, will, or
knowledge. And to do this in such a way to help him gain independence as rapidly as possible.
1960
Nursing a Social Policy - Answers 1980. ANA- "Nursing is the diagnosis and treatment of human
responses to actual or potential health problems."
Six essential features of professional nursing: - Answers 1. Provision of a caring relationship that
facilitates health and healing
2. Attention to range of human experiences and responses to health and illness within the
physical and social environments
3. Integration of objective data with knowledge gained from an appreciation of the patient or
group's subjective experience
4. Application of scientific knowledge to the processes of diagnosis and treatment through the
use of judgment and critical thinking
,5. Advancement of professional nursing knowledge through scholarly inquiry, and
6. Influence on social and public policy to promote social justice.
WHAT IS A PROFESSION? - Answers Occupation involves a unique practice that carries individual
responsibility and is based upon theoretical knowledge.
Privilege to practice is granted only after the individual has completed a standardized program
of highly specialized education and has demonstrated an ability to meet the standards for
practice.
The body of specialized knowledge is continually developed and evaluated through continuing
research.
The members are self-organizing and collectively assume the responsibility of establishing
standards for education in practice. They continually evaluate the quality of services provided to
protect the individual members and the public.
PROFESSIONALISM - Answers Commitment and dedication to the occupation
Attitude, appearance and conduct of the individual
PROFESSIONAL VALUES - Answers Caring, Altruism, Equality, Nonjudgmental, Freedom,
Esthetics, Human Dignity, Justice, Truth, Ethical Behavior
PROFESSIONAL BEHAVIORS AND ATTRIBUTES - Answers Appearance, Time-Management Skills,
Self-discipline, Maintenance of licensure/certification, Participation in institutional/community
activities, continuing education, nursing research, Initiative, Motivation, Creativity
Ancient Egypt health beliefs and practices - Answers Valued personal health; preventive
measures taken to appease the gods
Developed specific laws on cleanliness, food use and preservation, drinking, exercise, and sexual
relations, and a pharmacopoeia with more than 700 natural remedies
Women were hired by privileged families to care for the sick and to assist with childbirth;
Shiprah and Puah were midwives who saved the baby Moses
, Ancient Palestine health beliefs and practices - Answers Developed the Mosaic Code, one of the
first organized methods of disease control and prevention
Hebrew priests took on the role of health inspectors
Ancient Greece health beliefs - Answers Believed that the gods and goddesses of Greek
mythology controlled health and illness
Temples built to honor Aesculapius, the god of medicine, were designated to care for the sick
Hippocrates is considered the "father of medicine"
Aesculapius carried a staff intertwined with serpents, representing wisdom and immortality;
staff was the model for medical caduceus
Hippocrates - Answers the first to attribute disease to natural causes rather than supernatural
causes and curses of the gods
Scientific approach; patient-centered approach
Ancient India health beliefs and practices - Answers Vedas (2000-1200 BC), sacred Hindu books,
were the source of information about health practices
Developed procedures to perform major and minor surgical operations
Importance of prenatal care was understood
Hindu physicians performed major and minor surgeries, including limb amputations, cesarean
deliveries, and wound suturing
In rare instances women were allowed to work outside the home