Nature of Nursing
DEFINITIONS according to: FLORENCE
NIGHTINGALE
 For over 100 years, she defined
it as “the act of utilizing the
environment of the patient to
assist him in his recovery.”
(1860)
 She considered a clean, well
ventilated & quiet environment
essential for recovery.
DEFINITIONS according to : SOTEJO &
JACKSON
 A personal service given with
the heart by the nurse to her
patient, assistive or helpful by
nature, to anyone who, because
of pain, want or need, is not
able to do the things & health
activities he generally does for
himself. The nurse utilizes for
this purpose various
knowledges, attitudes & skills;
 A service based on an
understanding of the patient as
a human being deserving of
respect from his fellowmen;
 A complex service concerned
not w/relief of observable
physical signs of pain or
discomfort alone but in freeing
the patient from afflictions of
the mind, emotion & spirit by
providing reassurance, an
environment conducive to
freedom from fear & anxiety &
appropriate health instructions;
 A helping act impelled by
genuine interest in the welfare
and the well-being of the person
being helped brought about by
the systematic study of the
patient’s social & family ties &
causes & effects, and thus
establishing his worthiness &
value. Because of this feeling,
the patient develops a sense of
urgency to recover & be his
usual self again;
 A service for promoting early
recovery and rehabilitation of
patients, prevention of disease
and promotion of health;
 A service universal in scope
because it is rendered to
anyone in need, regardless of
age, sex, economic, political or
social status, creed, color or
nationality.
International Council of Nurses Version
2002
 NURSING encompasses
autonomous & collaborative
care of individuals of all ages,
families, groups & communities,
sick or well & in all settings.
Nursing includes the promotion
of health, prevention of illness,
& the care of ill, disabled, &
dying people. Advocacy,
promotion of a safe
environment, research,
participation in shaping health
policy & in patient & health
systems management, &
education are also key nursing
roles.
American Nurses Association 2004
 Nursing aids the protection,
promotion, & optimization of
health and abilities, prevention
of illness & injury, alleviation of
suffering thru’ the diagnosis &
treatment of human response &
advocacy in the care of the
individual, families,
communities, & populations.
Canadian Nurses Association 1987
 The nursing profession exists in
response to a need of society &
holds ideals related to human
health throughout the life span.
Nurses direct their energies
toward the promotion,
maintenance, & restoration of
health; the prevention of illness;
the alleviation of suffering & the
ensurance of a peaceful death
 when life can no longer be
sustained.
 Nurses value a holistic view &
regard an individual as a
biophysical being who has the
capacity to set goals & make
decisions & who has the right &
responsibility to make informed
choices congruent w/personal
beliefs & values.
 Nursing, a dynamic & the concern for others
supportive profession guided by
its ethics, is rooted in caring, a
concept of evident throughout
its four fields of activity :
practice, education,
administration & research.
Definitions of Nursing by Other
Authors
 TAYLOR
 Nursing is a unique
healthcare discipline in
which nurses provide a
service based on
knowledge & skill.
 HENDERSON
 Nursing is assisting the
individual, sick or well, in
the performance of those
activities
 WATSON
 Nursing is caring
 NIGHTINGALE
 Nursing is the act of
utilizing the environment
to assist the patient in his
recovery
Emerging Definitions
1. Nursing is caring.
2. Nursing as collaboration.
3. Nursing as professionalism.
RTRMS definition:
1. Nursing as caring means
and self
Other definitions…
• Caring is the essence of
Nursing what is.
• Nursing is the care of others.
Nursing as collaboration means that
the nurse works as partners in health
care team with other professionals.
Nursing as professionalism means
having a specific body of knowledge,
set of values, & skills that differentiate
them from one another.
Basic Definitions of Nursing
 From the Latin word “nutrix”
meaning “to nourish”
 Most definitions of nurse
& nursing describe the
nurse as a person who
nourishes, fosters &
protects & who is
prepared to take care of
sick, injured & aged
people.