NURSING

Role of a Nurse

Abstract

The role of a registered nurse, on a very broad scale, may be understood as the provision of treatment to patients, educating the patients as well as the general public on various illnesses and treatment interventions and providing medicinal, emotional and moral support to the family members of the patients. This means that a nurse is a caregiver, a teacher, counselor, change agent, client advocate, manager and researcher. The approach of a nurse and the ethical virtue of her decisions must be judged from the point of view of four identified principles. These are beneficence, justice, non-munificence and autonomy. The paper discusses the role of a nurse in detail. It discusses the importance of working in teams in nursing as well as the importance of working under supervision. In addition the ethical dilemmas faced by nurses as well as different types of nurses are discussed.

Table of Contents

Introduction1

Role of nurse1

Ethical and moral dilemmas faced by nurses3

Skills and attributes essential for nurses4

Difference between nurse and interrelated professions6

Different types of nursing7

Development of the nursing profession8

Different contexts of nursing9

Nursing skills required in different contexts10

Conclusion10

References10

Role of a Nurse

Introduction

Many people have conflicting perceptions when it comes to their understanding of the role of a nurse. While some view it as a critical profession, most others undermine the importance of the role played by a nurse in the provision of quality health care. The only imperative to nursing should be the passion to help and care for nursing. In this sense, the role of a nurse essentially is to care for people and make their life easier. It is a very respectable and challenging profession. This challenge is coupled with the reward of satisfaction and mental peace that most nurses feel from caring for others (Arafa & Ibrahim, 2003, p. 3125).

The paper discusses the role of a nurse in detail. It discusses the importance of working in teams in nursing as well as the importance of working under supervision. In addition the ethical dilemmas faced by nurses as well as different types of nurses are discussed.

Role of nurse

The role of a registered nurse, on a very broad scale, may be understood as the provision of treatment to patients, educating the patients as well as the general public on various illnesses and treatment interventions and providing medicinal, emotional and moral support to the family members of the patients. This means that a nurse is a caregiver, a teacher, counsellor, change agent, client advocate, manager and researcher.

The aforementioned are the very basic duties of a nurse. However, with time interventions are being introduced to ensure the participation of nurses in critical decision making and enhancement of their roles. Recent review of literature reveals that nursing is a complex profession; but one which has to be carried out with a sense of interest and responsibility (Fear, 2008, p. 5). This responsibility, care and concern must be at its peak when it comes to nursing practice whereby nurses must practice and display evidence based practice ...