Sjúkrunar

Sjúkrunar is the Icelandic term for nursing, the professional discipline focused on caring for individuals, families, and communities to maintain health, prevent illness, and alleviate suffering. It combines direct patient care with assessment, care planning, and advocacy within interdisciplinary health teams. Core responsibilities include monitoring patients, administering medications and treatments within the nurse’s scope, supporting rehabilitation, providing health education, and promoting infection control and patient safety. Nurses also support families, uphold patient autonomy and dignity, and participate in ethical decision-making and end-of-life care. Practice is guided by evidence-based standards and professional codes of conduct.

Education and regulation: In Iceland, as in many countries, sjúkrunar is taught through university-level programs. Graduates typically earn a bachelor's degree in nursing and must be registered or licensed with the national health authority to practice. Advanced practice roles exist in areas such as clinical specialization, leadership, research, and teaching, often requiring additional training and certification. Ongoing professional development is emphasized to maintain competence and respond to evolving healthcare needs.

Work settings and roles: Nurses work in hospitals, clinics, primary care centers, home care, long-term care facilities, mental health services, and public health programs. They collaborate with physicians, midwives, therapists, social workers, and other professionals to implement care plans and coordinate services. The scope of practice varies by jurisdiction and experience, but patient-centered care and safety are universal priorities.

History and impact: The nursing profession has evolved from informal bedside care to a regulated, evidence-based discipline. In Iceland, as elsewhere, nursing has expanded alongside changes in healthcare delivery, aging populations, and advances in health technology and digital documentation.