Nursing may be defined as "the diagnosis and treatment of human responses to health and illness". This definition of nursing was given by?

Appeared in: SCTIMST Staff Nurse - 2016

Explanation

The American Nurses Association (ANA) formally introduced the definition of nursing as 'the diagnosis and treatment of human responses to actual or potential health problems' in its 1980 Social Policy Statement.
This definition was crucial for establishing nursing as an autonomous profession with a distinct body of knowledge and area of practice.
It shifted the focus from a task-oriented role to a professional practice centered on identifying and treating the patient's holistic experience of health and illness.
The concept of 'human responses' is the basis for nursing diagnoses, which are different from medical diagnoses.

Option A: Florence Nightingale's theory focused on manipulating the patient's environment (e.g., cleanliness, ventilation, light) to facilitate healing, not on diagnosing human responses.
Option C: Virginia Henderson's definition of nursing focuses on assisting patients with 14 fundamental needs to help them gain independence as rapidly as possible.
Option D: The World Health Organization (WHO) provides a broad, global definition of nursing that includes health promotion and care for all people, but it did not coin the specific phrase 'diagnosis and treatment of human responses'.

Clinical Relevance

Nursing practice connection: Use the key finding related to Definitions of Nursing and Nursing Theory to guide bedside assessment, documentation, and the next nursing action.
This definition is the cornerstone of the nursing process: Assessment, Diagnosis (nursing diagnosis), Planning, Implementation, and Evaluation (ADPIE).
It empowers nurses to use critical thinking to identify patient problems that they can treat independently, leading to more comprehensive and patient-centered care.
Understanding this distinction clarifies the nurse's unique contribution to the healthcare team, which is focused on the patient's experience and functional ability, not just the pathology of their disease.

How to Approach the Question

This is a factual recall question that tests your knowledge of nursing history and theory.
First, identify the key phrase in the question: 'diagnosis and treatment of human responses'.
Mentally associate this key phrase with the major nursing theorists and organizations you have studied.
Evaluate each option: Nightingale is known for the environment, Henderson for the 14 basic needs, and WHO for a broad global definition.
Recall that the ANA was instrumental in defining the professional scope of practice in the United States, making it the most likely source for this specific, formal definition.
Select the American Nurses Association as the correct answer based on this association.

Concept Tested & Keywords

QJ2agPeHjUfWToIORQlhSe

E6 Nursing Fundamentals Potter Perry 12e Part 2 p. 7-9

E6 Nursing Fundamentals Potter Perry 12e Part 1 p. 63-65

E6 Nursing Fundamentals Taylor p. 71-73

Practise the full SCTIMST Staff Nurse - 2016

Attempt every question from this paper in a timed mock, then review the full solution for each one.