Nursing actions are purposeful and deliberate interventions designed to bring about results which benefit clients. Caring is inherent and central to nursing practice. Nurses provide care for people in the midst of health, pain, loss, fear, disfigurement, dying, grieving, challenge, growth, birth, aging and transition. Nurses are with clients at their least inhibited and most intimate and vulnerable times to lend strength and support to them. The complexity of nursing practice requires that nurses assume a number of roles concurrently and undertake various activities in providing comprehensive care to clients.
Nurses work in any setting where there are clients requiring care.
Services are provided on both an episodic and continuous basis. Nurses consider the wholeness of the client, including biophysical, psychological, emotional, social, cultural, and spiritual dimensions, to address the client s needs in the provision of health care. The strength of nursing lies in the nurse s ability to identify, relate, interpret and integrate the client s various needs, with the input and contributions made by others concerned with the client s care. Nurses assess a client s ongoing health situation to make decisions that facilitate the client s progress to health. In partnership with the client, the nurse collects data from a variety of sources and based on this assessment, develops a plan of care and initiates interventions.