As a discipline, nursing continues to make visible the role it plays in problem solving and decision making. Nursing demonstrates the effectiveness for the health of a society of a practice that achieves outcomes of personal growth for individuals and groups, promotion and evaluation of change, self-knowing, and personal and social transformation. It is essential that the contributions of nursing be described within the framework of quality and cost effectiveness. Nurses use language that has collaborative acceptance in order to justify contributions to care that are recognized by sources of funding for health care. Nursing knowledge, both theory and research, are used to inform health care policy and provide the basis for nurses' voice for change and social reform.
Nursing practice uses knowledge, both theory and research based, to guide care and promote change.
The patient, as individuals, families, communities, and groups, is the central focus of nursing care. Nursing education, practice, and research assist in optimizing the patient experience within a caring environment. Nursing education reflects the reality of practice while providing students with the knowledge needed to reform and direct health care across settings. Nurse mentors are essential to professional development and optimal patient care. Nursing theory provides a framework for understanding the nurse-patient interaction and helps direct patient care.