Nursing, a profession that recalls the name of Florence Nightingale is indeed one of the noblest professions in the world. It is the art of caring for sick people with the science of health care. It is a vital component of any form of medical care. The largest group of workers in the health sector is those in the nursing occupations as nurses and nursing assistants. In a hospital from the general ward to the operating theater, nursing forms an integral part. This is one of the few domains of work that is almost totally dominated by women.
Nursing duties are manifold and cover a wide range of functions and responsibilities that depends with the level of qualification and the working environment. At the initial level, nurses are required for the bedside care of patients, while at senior level they are required to manage special group of people like psychiatric, pediatric, intensive care patients etc which require specialized skills. They are also involved in dispensing medication, keeping records of the patients’ progress, setting up and operating medical equipment, administration and several other routine chores. Now, India has State-wise registration councils in 19 states. With the efforts of Professor S. Radhakrishnan, nursing education in the country was integrated into the system of higher education.