SCOPE OF

NURSING
INTRODUCTION

• Nurse provide care for 3 types of clients:

individuals, families and communities

• Nurse practice in a wide range of settings, from

hospitals to visiting people in their homes and
caring for them in schools to research in
pharmaceutical companies
The various courses that are focused
at preparing a qualified nurse are:
• General Nursing and Midwifery.
• Basic B.Sc. Nursing.
• Post Basic B.Sc. Nursing.
• Masters in Nursing.
• P.G. Diploma or Certificate
courses in Nursing.
• Ph.D. in Nursing.
 Scope of nursing
• The term scope of practice refers to the roles, functions,
responsibilities and activities, which a registered nurse
or a registered midwife has the authority to perform.

• The list of opportunities available is listed under 2

headings:
Expanded roles
Extended roles
 Extended roles of nurses
• It is the one in which a nurse assumes responsibility
outside the usual practice area( in hospital) with
autonomy
 Nurse practitioner:
• Has an advanced education and is a
graduate of NP program

• They usually deal with non-

emergency acute or chronic illness
and provide primary ambulatory
care.
 Clinical nurse specialist
• Clinical nurse specialist has an
advanced degree or expertise
in a specialized area
(oncology, gerontology etc.)

• Provides direct client care,

educates others, consults,
conduct research and
manages care.
 Nurse anesthetist
• Advanced degree or expertise in
anesthesiology.

• Carries out preoperative visits,

assessments, administer general
anesthetics for surgery under
supervision of doctor specialized in
anesthesiology.

• Assess post operative status of patients.

 Nurse midwife practitioner
• Nurse midwife gives prenatal
and postnatal care

• Manages deliveries in normal

pregnancies

• Conduct family planning

routine breast examinations,
and take Papanicolaou
Oncology nurse practitioner

• Provide and supervise care

for cancer patients

• They monitor their patient’s

physical conditions,
prescribe medication and
formulate symptom
management strategies
Nurse informatics specialist
• They combine their nursing skills with their

knowledge in computer.

• They work with data, collecting, organizing,

interpreting inorder to make patient care more

effective

• They work in settings like insurance companies,

hospitals, consulting firms etc.

• Provide training to nurses and other health care

workers in the proper use of computer systems

Registered nurse lawyer
• A legal nurse consultant is a
licensed registered nurse
performs a critical analysis of
clinical and administrative
nursing practice, health care
facts & issues and their
outcomes for the health care
professionals and patients.
 Nurse researcher

• Investigates nursing
problems to improve nursing
care and to refine and
expand nursing knowledge

• They usually have advanced

education usually at doctoral
level
 Nurse administrator

• Manages client care

• Act as a middle management

position

• Functions of nurse administrators

include POSDCORB
Psychiatric nurse practitioner

• Registered nurses with masters in

psychiatry

• They have additional training in

psychological therapies,building
therapeutic relationship and
administration of psychiatric
medicines
Adult nurse practitioner

• A nurse practitioner who specializes in

diagnosing and treating afflictions specific
to adults

• Some adult nurse practitioners choose to

specialize in specific fields such as AIDS
assessment, pulmonary and vascular care
or other health related fields
Pediatric nurse practitioner

• Registered nurse with advanced

training in pediatrics

• Perform physical examinations,

diagnose injuries and many common
illnesses and have training to provide
the treatment procedures, therapies
and medication necessary for child.
 Nurse educator

• Employed in educational
institution and in hospital
staff education

• Certified nurse educator

course in US
 Nurse entrepreneur

• Need advanced degree

• Manages health-
related business

• She may involved in

education, research,
consultation etc.
Forensic nurse
• Give specialized care for victims of
trauma
• Need knowledge of legal system
and skills in injury identification,
evaluation and documentation
• After meeting client needs she
should collect evidences, provide
medical testimony in court, consult
with legal authorities
 Expanded role of nurses

• It means enlarging the sphere of nurses roles within

the boundaries of nursing or it is the responsibility
assumed by the nurse in the field of practice
 Home care nursing
• Work soley with community
home care programme

• Services provided to patients in

homes that are needed to
maintain , restore or promote
their physical , psychological and
social wellbeing
Institutional nursing

• A nurse working in nursing

home or hospital.

• She will provide direct

patient care and counselling
services to patients
 School health nurse
A school heath nurse is a qualified nurse working across
health and education boundaries.
ACTIVITIES OF SCHOOL HEALTH NURSE
• Heath assessment for children at entrance
to school as required.
• Individual health interviews
• Immunization programs.
• Child protection.
• Heath education
• Implementation of other school health
services
• First Aid
• Detection of disease
 Occupational health nurse
• Nurses working in occupational health
settings

• Duties: First aid care during emergency

care, periodic health check up, care
during sickness period etc.

• Occupational Health Nursing

encompasses the promotion,
maintenance and restoration of health,
and the prevention of illness and
injury.
Geriatric nursing
• Nurse practitioner with
specialization in care of older
adult

• They are trained in special needs

of aging adult with emphasis in
health promotion, maintenance
and functional status

• Promote independence and self

care
Nurse educator
 Nurse epidemiologist
• Also called infection control
nurse

• She monitors standards and

procedures for control and
prevention of infectious
diseases and other conditions
of public health significance
including nosocomial infections
 Rehabilitation nurse
• Having specialized knowledge in
assisting persons with disabilities
and chronic illness to attain
optimal function, health and
adapt to an altered lifestyle.

• They can practice in hospitals,

inpatient rehabilitation centres,
outpatient centres, long term care
facilities and in private practice.
 Military nursing
• It promote health and meet the
health care needs of military
personnel and their dependence.

• It is a part of Indian Army, so

nurses become commissioned
officers who are given ranks from
lieutenant to major general.
 Disaster nursing
• It involves response to natural
and manmade events that
affect an entire community

• Function- to provide first aid

services and helping victims
of physical and mental
trauma