The Role and Responsibilities of Nurses in Modern Medicine

Nursing is the largest and most patient-facing profession within contemporary health systems, yet its scope has expanded far beyond bedside care to include education, advocacy, research, and health policy leadership. This article examines the evolving role and responsibilities of nurses in modern medicine through a narrative review of professional, institutional, and policy literature. Following the IMRAD structure, the review synthesizes findings from international nursing bodies and health workforce reports to characterize five core domains of contemporary nursing practice: direct clinical care, patient education and advocacy, interprofessional collaboration, leadership and policy involvement, and research participation.