noun / verb
nurse
NURS/nɜːrs/
To care for someone who needs support, especially a sick person.
The nurse gently dresses the patient's injured forearm beside the bed.
Etymology
Old French norrice named a woman who suckled or fostered a child. That role of nourishing and tending someone broadened into caring for sick or infirm people.
In context
as a nurse caring for a patient who's experiencing a stroke you're going to be assessing them
More examples
- She nurses her father at home after his surgery.
- The school nurse checks his temperature.
- We nursed our neighbor back to health.
Forms
nurse · nurses · nursed · nursing
nursing noun — The profession of caring for patients.
Similar words
- tend
- Emphasizes attending to someone's needs, not necessarily providing medical care.
- caregiver
- Names anyone providing regular support, not necessarily a trained professional.