Nursing Today

The ethos of nursing is still as it always has been, to provide ‘care and compassion’. Today however, the way in which health services are provided has changed, with more services now provided in the community rather than in hospitals. In essence, the same care is provided, but it is now more patient centered, with the inclusion of ‘anticipatory care’ in which a patient discusses with health professionals how they would like to be treated and when. Because of this, the role of the nurse is required to be much more adaptive to setting.

Achieving health for all will depend on there being enough well-trained and educated, regulated, and well supported nurses and midwives, who receive pay and recognition commensurate with the services and quality of care that they provide.  Nurses and midwives play a key role in caring for people everywhere, including in the most difficult humanitarian, fragile and conflict-affected settings.