Continuous care at the bedside is the foundation of hospital medicine. A nurse is a licensed healthcare professional trained to assess patients, administer treatments, monitor responses, educate, and coordinate care across settings.

Nursing roles range from bedside hospital care and clinic practice to advanced practice, education, and leadership. Nurses perform physical assessments, manage medications, dress wounds, support activities of daily living, and recognize early deterioration. Therapeutic relationships and advocacy are central to the profession.

Staffing levels and skill mix strongly influence patient outcomes. Nursing education combines scientific knowledge with practical and ethical training. In every healthcare system, nurses form the largest clinical workforce and the primary point of ongoing contact for most patients.

• Licensed professional providing direct patient care and coordination
• Assesses, treats, monitors, educates, and advocates
• Works across hospitals, clinics, and community settings
• Critical to safety, recovery, and patient experience