Question
Nursing Welcome to Week 8 As we close this week, we will conclude with an exploration of the unique nature of nursing. What makes nursing different and unique from all other disciplines? Week 8: Discussion Question – The Unique Nature of Nursing Discussion Topic Task: Reply to this topic Discussion Prompt Identify the unique purpose of nursing that is NOT performed by any other profession. What do nurses do that no other profession or discipline is dedicated to perform? Identify this concept and link it to a concept in any theoretical framework. Expectations Initial Post: Length: A minimum of 275 words, not including references Citations: At least 3 high-level scholarly reference in APA from within the last 5 years
Answer
Nursing The Unique Nature of Nursing
One aspect that makes nursing unique is Advocacy. From 1976, advocacy has been an important element of a professional nurse’s role. Shetty (2016) describes an advocate as someone who pleads a course for others’. Nurses as advocates dates back to the likes Florence Nightigale in her theory of physical and environmental health. Nightigale valued egalitarian human rights and refined leadership practices that have provided a foundation for advocacy techniques that nurses use in the 21st century (Shetty, 2016). Although Nightigale expected obedience, she advocated for Autonomy of purpose to enable nurses’ advocate for the interest of their patients.
According to Choi (2015), patient advocacy is made up of 2 concepts; empathy, which is the ability to understand a patient and develop closeness, and empowerment. Nurses more than any other profession make more contact with the patient. Therefore, they ae well positioned to know the needs and values of patients, hence able to advocate for the patient. Nurses also act as a bridge between the patient and other healthcare providers. Nurses’ act as educators, helping patients and their families understand treatment procedure’s and processes. This helps patients to make informed decisions. Besides, a nurse can use their knowledge to effectively advocate for the patient by empowering vulnerable patients to advocate on their own demands.
According to Edmonson et al., (2017), this unique role comes with challenges such as frustrations, anger, and separation from peers. On the other hand, it improves the lives of the patients, protects patients from incompetent healthcare workers and enriches the nursing profession.
References
Shetty, A. P. (2016). Florence Nightingale: the Queen of nurses. Archives of Medicine and Health Sciences, 4(1), 144.
Choi, P. P. (2015). Patient advocacy: the role of the nurse. Nursing Standard (2014+), 29(41), 52.
Edmonson, C., McCarthy, C., Trent-Adams, S., McCain, C., & Marshall, J. (2017). Emerging global health issues: A nurse’s role. Online Journal of Issues in Nursing, 22(1).