222 Nursing and Midwifery Professionals

Nursing professionals provide treatment, support and care services for people who are in need of nursing care due to the effects of ageing, injury, illness or other physical or mental impairment, or potential risks to health. They assume responsibility for the planning and management of the care of patients, including the supervision of other health care workers, working autonomously or in teams with medical doctors and others in the practical application of preventive and curative measures. Tasks include - (a) planning, providing and evaluating nursing care for patients according to the practice and standards of modern nursing; (b) coordinating the care of patients in consultation with other health professionals and members of health teams; (c) developing and implementing care plans for the biological, social and psychological treatment of patients in collaboration with other health professionals; (d) planning and providing personal care, treatments and therapies including administering medications, and monitoring responses to treatment or care plan; (e) cleaning wounds and applying surgical dressings and bandages; (f) monitoring pain and discomfort experienced by patients and alleviating pain using a variety of therapies, including the use of painkilling drugs; (g) planning and participating in health education programmes, health promotion and nurse education activities in clinical and community settings; (h) answering questions from patients and families and providing information about prevention of ill-health, treatment and care; (i) supervising and coordinating the work of other nursing, health and personal care workers; (j) conducting research on nursing practices and procedures and disseminating findings such as through scientific papers and reports. Examples of the occupations classified here: - Clinical nurse consultant - District nurse - Nurse anaesthetist - Nurse educator - Nurse practitioner - Operating theatre nurse - Professional nurse - Public health nurse - Specialist nurse Some related occupations classified elsewhere: - Professional midwife - 2222 - Paramedical practitioners - 2240 - University lecturer - 2310 - Vocational education teacher - 2320 - Associate professional nurse - 3221 - Associate professional midwife - 3222 - Nursing aide (clinic or hospital) - 5321 Notes The distinction between professional and associate professional nurses should be made on the basis of the nature of the work performed in relation to the tasks specified in this definition. The qualifications held by individuals or that predominate in the country are not the main factor in making this distinction, as training arrangements for nurses vary widely between countries and have varied over time within countries. Nurses who combine nursing education or research with clinical nursing practice are classified in Unit Group 2221: Nursing Professionals. Nursing researchers who participate in biomedical research using living organisms and do not undertake clinical nursing practice are classified in Unit Group 2131: Biologists, Botanists, Zoologists and Related Professionals.

Midwifery professionals plan, manage, provide and evaluate midwifery care services before, during and after pregnancy and childbirth. They provide delivery care for reducing health risks to women and newborn children, working autonomously or in teams with other health care providers. Tasks include - (a) planning, providing and evaluating care and support services for women and babies before, during and after pregnancy and childbirth according to the practice and standards of modern midwifery care; (b) providing advice to women and families and conducting community education on health, nutrition, hygiene, exercise, birth and emergency plans, breastfeeding, infant care, family planning and contraception, lifestyle and other topics related to pregnancy and childbirth; (c) assessing progress during pregnancy and childbirth, managing complications and recognizing warning signs requiring referral to a medical doctor with specialized skills in obstetrics; (d) monitoring the health status of newborns, managing complications and recognizing warning signs requiring referral to a medical doctor with specialized skills in neonatology; (e) monitoring pain and discomfort experienced by women during labour and delivery and alleviating pain using a variety of therapies, including the use of painkilling drugs; (f) reporting births to government authorities to meet legal and professional requirements; (g) conducting research on midwifery practices and procedures and disseminating findings such as through scientific papers and reports; (h) planning and conducting midwifery education activities in clinical and community settings. Example of the occupations classified here: - Professional midwife Some related occupations classified elsewhere: - Professional nurse - 2221 - Associate professional nurse - 3221 - Associate professional midwife - 3222 - Nursing aide (clinic or hospital) - 5321 Note The distinctions between nursing and midwifery professionals and associate professionals should be made on the basis of the nature of the work performed in relation to the tasks specified in this definition. The qualifications held by individuals or that predominate in the country are not the main factor in making this distinction, as training arrangements for nurses and midwives vary widely between countries and have varied over time within countries. Midwives who combine midwifery education or research with clinical midwifery practice are classified in Unit Group 2222: Midwifery Professionals.