Nursing is an activity which involves caring for individuals at a time when they require physical, psychological, social, emotional, intellectual and spiritual support. The act of nursing can be carried out by many different members of society, such as parents, relatives or friends. Professional nursing can be best described as a caring role focusing upon the care of adults, children, families and/or whole communities, providing care and support.

A nurse is an individual who has achieved a national regulator’s (such as the NMC) standards of competence in a wide range of practical skills which they can support with a relevant and contemporary knowledge base, who works in partnership with a patient, their family or a group of patients, to meet their physical, psychological, social, emotional, intellectual and spiritual needs.

1. Honesty

2. Compassion

3. Knowledge

4. Effective communication

5. Respect

6. Partnership with others

7. Expertise

8. Efficiency

9. Trust

10. Appropriate dress

This list is far from exhaustive and you may have identified a range of other items. In my list the first three, honesty, compassion and knowledge were the ones I would say were most important. Discuss your thoughts with your lecturers, other students on your course, mentors and patients to investigate their views.