Sygeplejer

Sygeplejer is a Danish term that can function as a verb meaning to nurse, and in older or regional usage it has appeared as a noun referring to a nurse. In contemporary Danish, the standard noun for a nurse is sygeplejerske, with plural sygeplejersker. As a verb, at sygepleje describes the act of providing nursing care, and the present tense form is sygeplejer for the third person singular (he/she nurses). The noun form sygeplejer is now uncommon in modern clinical language and is largely found in historical texts or dialectal use.

Role and responsibilities

Nurses provide direct patient care, monitor health status, administer medications and treatments, assist with procedures, and support rehabilitation and daily living activities. They educate patients and families about health, plan and coordinate care with physicians and other professionals, and promote patient safety, comfort, and infection control. Nurses work across a range of settings, including hospitals, clinics, home care, and long-term or community care, often serving as key coordinators of the patient’s overall care plan.

Education and regulation

Nursing is a regulated health profession in Denmark. Practicing as a nurse requires completing an accredited nursing education and obtaining appropriate licensure or authorization. The education typically emphasizes clinical skills, ethics, communication, and teamwork, preparing graduates to work in diverse healthcare environments.

History and usage notes

The term sygeplejer survives mainly in historical or dialectal Danish and is not the preferred term for a nurse today. The profession is commonly referred to as sygeplejerse or sygeplejerske in modern usage, reflecting shifts in language and professional standards. Male nurses are fully integrated into the profession and are simply referred to as nurses in Danish.

See also

Nursing, Danish healthcare system, sygeplejerske.