Nursing vs Medicine: How are They Different
Is there any difference between medicine and nursing? Undeniably there are differences in both professions. After reading this write-up, we hope that you will understand the inter-professional relationship between nurses and doctors.
Nursing and medicine are credible partners in the provision of care and health outcomes for patients. While doctors are trained in treating diseases through medication between the medical procedure and sometimes surgery, nurses are formally trained in nursing and caring for the sick and well-using knowledge to assess patients’ responses towards their diseases; identifying the patients’ health needs which include the physical and psychosocial aspects, implement interventions in the patient-centred nursing care plan and follow through the outcome-based evaluation.
Achieving patient satisfaction is a priority for all health care providers. Doctors may prescribe the treatment which is the therapeutic aspect of the disease but the way treatment is delivered is also vital in making the experience a satisfying one. At this point, nurses have the time, patience, and compassion to fulfil the emotional needs of the patients and demonstrate care for patients that will certainly leave a positive impact on quality care. For these, the nurses earned the recognition: hands that turn caring into actions; touch that turns compassion into comfort.
The historical influence on ethics has attributed nursing to the ideals of caring the persons rather than to diseases. Adherences to theses ideals, nursing as defined by Virginia Henderson “The unique function of the nurse is to assist the individual, sick or well, in the performance of those activities contributing to health or its recovery (or to peaceful death) that he would perform unaided if he had the necessary strength, will or knowledge”.
Therefore, nursing focuses on the patient’s active role in treatment and prevention through educational movements, home healthcare, improved personal hygiene and other psychosocial aspects of illness. Nursing has substantially developed as a health-oriented profession that emphasizes on preservation and restoration of health on patients. It maintains an idea of care that compassionately helps patients to adapt to chronic illness and its capacity.
The nurses’ interaction with the patient is more in-depth and personal, concentrating on values and adaptive processes. The nurse’s “ever-presence,” i.e., they are there, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, providing continual bedside care to patients.
Continuous nursing care lends itself to greater trust and also to advocacy. Advocacy is an integral element of nursing ethics and the proper definition of nursing practice. It is a meaningful and respectful relationship between the nurse and the patient, whether a person or community.
The processes and skills considered necessary to advocate for patients successfully include factors such as accountability, ethical analysis and decision making, knowledge of and adherence to clinical standards and proper definitions of nursing practice, health education and counselling, leadership, collaboration, communication, and the ability to implement change.
Finally, the inter-professional collaboration between doctors, nurses and other health care professionals is vital for holistic patient care as there is recognition for the essential integration of healing and nurturing (curing and caring) for they are all inseparable.
To study MBBS course or to acquire a degree in nursing in Malaysia, there are top medical universities in Malaysia where you can enrol and study to become a certified nurse or doctor.
For more information, please feel free to get in touch with our friendly and helpful counsellors.
Ms. Yaya
Mobile: +6012-497 3060
Email: nurbaya@aimst.edu.my
