Final answer:
Nursing is a healthcare profession deeply interconnected with ethical practice and is committed to providing quality and safe care. Protection of the public is crucial to maintain trust in healthcare services. Nursing knowledge combines evidence-based practice with an understanding of the theoretical frameworks within the discipline.
Step-by-step explanation:
Nursing is a healthcare profession focused on the care of individuals, families, and communities so they may attain, maintain, or recover optimal health and quality of life. Ethics in nursing is vital to ensure that the care provided is aligned with moral principles, ensuring the dignity, rights, and welfare of patients are respected. Quality and safety in healthcare refer to providing care that minimizes risks and harm to patients, improves health outcomes, and is consistent with current professional knowledge.
Protecting the public is imperative because it ensures the trust in the healthcare system is maintained and that individuals receive effective and safe medical interventions. Nursing knowledge and the theoretical basis of the discipline involve applying evidence-based practice, clinical judgment, and understanding of the biological, psychological, and social aspects of patient care informed by nursing theories and models.