Nursing is a profession listening carefully on assisting individuals, families and communities in attaining, re-attaining and maintaining best health and functioning. Current definitions of nursing define it as knowledge and an art that focuses on promoting excellence of life as defined by persons and families, during their life experiences from delivery to care at the end of life.

Nurses recognize that the nursing profession is a necessary part of the society from which it has grown-up. The right for the practice of nursing is based upon a social agreement that delineates specialized rights and responsibilities as well as mechanisms for open accountability. The practice of nursing involves unselfish behavior, is guided by nursing investigate and is governed by a policy of ethics.

Nursing continues to build up a wide body of information and associated skills. There are a number of instructive paths to becoming a qualified nurse but all involve extensive learn of nursing theory and put into practice and training in clinical skills.

In approximately all countries, nursing practice is defined and governed by rule and access to the profession is keeping pace by national, state, or territorial boards of nursing.