Fundamentals of Nursing I

Over time, professional nursing organizations and theorists have helped shape how nursing is defined. These definitions reflect nursing’s growth as a science and caring profession.

American Nurses Association (ANA)

• 1973
  Nursing practice as direct, goal oriented and adoptable to the needs of the individual, the family and the community during health and illness.
• 1980
  The ANA updated its definition:
  "Nursing is the diagnosis and treatment of human responses to actual and potential health problems."
• 1995
  The ANA added key elements to highlight the science and art of caring in nursing. It described four essential features:
  • Attention to the full range of human experiences and responses to health and illness without restriction to a problem focused orientation
  • Integration of objective data with knowledge gained from an understanding of the client or group’s subjective experience
  • Application of scientific knowledge to the processes of diagnosis and treatment
  • Provision of a caring relationship that facilitates health and healing

Canadian Nurses Association (CNA)

• 1987
  Defined nursing as a dynamic, caring, helping relationship which the nurse assists the client to achieve and obtain optimal health.

Nurse Theorists and Theoretical Definitions

In the latter 20th century, several nurse theorists developed their own theoretical definitions of nursing. Theoretical definitions are important because they go beyond the simplistic common definitions. They described what nursing is; The relationship among nurses and nursing, the client, the environment and the intended client outcome: health.