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Nursing Subject Guide

Library resources for nursing students

Nursing Library Subject Guide

This guide is a resource for nursing students.

Library Nursing Research Guides

What is Nursing?

"Nursing [is a] profession that assumes responsibility for the continuous care of the sick, the injured, the disabled, and the dying. Nursing is also responsible for encouraging the health of individuals, families, and communities in medical and community settings. Nurses are actively involved in health care research, management, policy deliberations, and patient advocacy. Nurses with postbaccalaureate preparation assume independent responsibility for providing primary health care and specialty services to individuals, families, and communities." [1]

"Responsibilities can range from making acute treatment decisions to providing inoculations in schools. The key unifying characteristic in every role is the skill and drive that it takes to be a nurse. Through long-term monitoring of patients’ behavior and knowledge-based expertise, nurses are best placed to take an all-encompassing view of a patient’s wellbeing." [2]


1. Buhler-Wilkerson, K. and D'Antonio, . Patricia (2022, March 1). nursing. Encyclopedia Britannica. https://www.britannica.com/science/nursing

2. American Nurses Association. (n.d.) What is Nursing? https://www.nursingworld.org/practice-policy/workforce/what-is-nursing/ 

Learn more about professional nursing in Chapter One of Transitions to Professional Nursing Practice by Jamie Murphy