Nursing Definition Although nursing practice varies both through its various specialties and countries these nursing organizations offer the following definitions Nursing encompasses autonomous and collaborative care of individuals of all ages families groups and communities sick or well and in all settings Nursing includes the promotion of health prevention of illness and the care of ill disabled and dying people Advocacy promotion of a safe environment research participation in shaping health policy and in patient and health systems management and education are also key nursing roles International Council of Nurses The use of clinical judgment in the provision of care to enable people to improve maintain or recover health to cope with health problems and to achieve the best possible quality of life whatever their disease or disability until death Royal College of Nursing 2003 Nursing is the protection promotion and optimization of health and abilities prevention of illness and injury alleviation of suffering through the diagnosis and treatment of human responses and advocacy in health care for individuals families communities and populations American Nurses Associatio The unique function of the nurse is to assist the individual sick or well in the performance of those activities contributing to health or its recovery or to peaceful death that he would perform unaided if he had the necessary strength will or knowledge As a profession The authority for the practice of nursing is based upon a social contract that delineates professional rights and responsibilities as well as mechanisms for public accountability In almost all countries nursing practice is defined and governed by law and entrance to the profession is regulated at the national or state level The aim of the nursing community worldwide is for its professionals to ensure quality care for all while maintaining their credentials code of ethics standards and competencies and continuing their education 47 There are a number of educational paths to becoming a professional nurse which vary greatly worldwide all involve extensive study of nursing theory and practice as well as training in clinical skills Nurses care for individuals of all ages and cultural backgrounds who are healthy and ill in a holistic manner based on the individual s physical emotional psychological intellectual social and spiritual needs The profession combines physical science social science nursing theory and technology in caring for those individuals To work in the nursing profession all nurses hold one or more credentials depending on their scope of practice and education In the United States a Licensed Practical Nurse LPN works independently or with a Registered Nurse RN The most significant difference between an LPN and RN is found in the requirements for entry to practice which determines entitlement for their scope of practice RNs provide scientific psychological and technological knowledge in the care of patients and families in many health care settings RNs may earn additional credentials or degrees In the United States multiple educational paths will qualify a candidate to sit for the licensure examination as an RN The Associate Degree in Nursing ADN is awarded to the nurse who has completed a two year undergraduate academic degree awarded by community colleges junior colleges technical colleges and bachelor s degree granting colleges and universities upon completion of a course of study usually lasting two years It is also referred to as Associate in Nursing AN Associate of Applied Science in Nursing AAS or Associate of Science in Nursing ASN 51 The Bachelor of Science in Nursing BSN is awarded to the nurse who has earned an American four year academic degree in the science and principles of nursing granted by a tertiary education university or similarly accredited school After completing either the LPN or either RN education programs in the United States graduates are eligible to sit for a licensing examination to become a nurse the passing of which is required for the nursing license The National Licensure Examination NCLEX test is a standardized exam including multiple choice select all that apply fill in the blank and hot spot questions that nurses take to become licensed It costs two hundred dollars to take and examines a nurses ability to properly care for a client Study books and practice tests are available for purchase 52 Some nurses follow the traditional role of working in a hospital setting Other options include pediatrics neonatal maternity OBGYN geriatrics ambulatory and nurse anesthetists and informatics eHealth There are many other options nurses can explore depending on the type of degree and education acquired These options can also include community health mental health clinical nursing specialists and nurse midwives 53 RNs may also pursue different roles as advanced practice nurses Nurses are not doctors assistants This is possible in certain situations but nurses more often are independently caring for their patients or assisting other nurses 54 RNs treat patients record their medical history provide emotional support and provide follow up care Nurses also help doctors perform diagnostic tests Nurses are almost always working on their own or with other nurses However they also assist doctors in the emergency room or in trauma care when help is needed Gender issues Despite equal opportunity legislation nursing has continued to be a female dominated profession in many countries according to the WHO s 2020 State of the World s Nursing approximately 90 of the nursing workforce is female 56 For instance the male to female ratio of nurses is approximately 1 19 in Canada and the United States 57 58 This ratio is represented around the world Notable exceptions include Francophone Africa which includes the countries of Benin Burkina Faso Cameroon Chad Congo C te d Ivoire the Democratic Republic of Congo Djibouti Guinea Gabon Mali Mauritania Niger Rwanda Senegal and Togo which all have more male than female nurses 59 In Europe in countries such as Spain Portugal Czech Republic and Italy over 20 of nurses are male 59 In the United Kingdom 11 of nurses and midwives registered with the Nursing and Midwifery Council NMC are male 60 The number of male nurses in the United States doubled between 1980 and 2000 61 However female nurses are still more common but male nurses receive more pay on average 62 Research has indicated that there