The elements of nursing ... all but unknown.

In summing up, I have explored briefly some notions on the elements of nursing through the theme of partnership with the public and with others involved in health care. These notions, which are by no means exclusive, have centred around five main areas; Firstly, the unique personal characteristics demanded by the closeness of sustained contact with patients and clients; Secondly, the primacy of the patient's and the public's needs in defining nursing or any other health care profession; Thirdly, the need for nursing both individually and organisationally to look outwards and engage with the wider public and their changing attitudes towards the professions; Fourthly, the unique skill of 'creating community', working with, co-ordinating and leading teams across disciplines in the interests of the patient and the challenge that true effectiveness of multi-disciplinary working presents for both education and practice; and Fifthly, the importance of reflective practice throughout the working life of nurses as a means of better meeting patients' needs. How nursing retains this focus whilst adapting to a constantly and rapidly shifting health and social care environment, will largely determine how nursing endures as a profession. If the example set by Florence Elliott and the many innovations and developments at the Royal Victoria Hospital are anything to go by, the people of Northern Ireland, nurses in Northern Ireland and health care generally in Northern Ireland, can look forward to another 200 years of healthy partnership.