In good hands

Nursing...

• addresses people at all ages of their lives, individuals, families, groups and communities, sick people and their relatives, people with disabilities, healthy people;
  
• include, in a continuum, activities in health maintenance and promotion, prevention, in preparation for birth and childbirth, in acute illness, convalescence and rehabilitation, in long-term care and in palliative care;
• are based on a relationship between the cared-for and the carers, which is characterised by care, understanding and concern for the other. This relationship allows for the development of each other's resources, the openness to the closeness necessary for care and the establishment of common goals;
• identify the resources and care needs of the cared-for, set goals, plan care interventions, implement them (mobilising the necessary relational and technical skills) and evaluate the results;
  
• are based on the evidence, reflective experience and preferences of the cared-for, take into account physical, psychic, spiritual, socio-cultural, lived and perceived world (Lebenswelt), age and gender aspects, and respect ethical guidelines
  
• include clinical, pedagogical, scientific and leadership activities carried out in a complementary way by generalists and specialists, carers with basic training and carers with various further training;
• are carried out in collaboration with the cared-for, family carers and members of ancillary professions, in multi-professional activities with doctors (responsible for diagnosis and therapy) and members of other health professions. Caregivers are in leadership roles or work under the direction of others. However, they are always responsible for their decisions, actions and behaviour;
• they work in health institutions as well as outside, where people live, learn and work.

^{Définition selon Spichiger et al. (2004) for the project "Future Medicine Switzerland" of the Swiss Academy of Medical Sciences. The elements of the definition of the International Council of Nurses ICN (2008) are included.
Source: ICN (2008) Nursing Care Continuum: Framework and Competencies, ICN Regulation Series - Spichiger, E., Kesselring, A., Spirig, R. De Geest, S. (2004) Professional Nursing Redefined: Two core propositions and eight additions.Nursing 8/2004.}