When the term nursing comes to mind, most people think of the profession. Nursing is a career in which one person gains specialized training that enables him to care for another's health. Medical nurses administer shots, take blood pressure readings, give medication to patients, and assist doctors in surgery. A nursing degree takes several years of classroom training and clinical training in the field. The word nursing, however, can mean many other things outside of medicine.
Nursing is also another term for breastfeeding an infant. After a child is born, the mother of the child produces milk in her breast that is released throughout her nipples. The child can nurse from the mother's breast by sucking the milk out. The breast milk provides all of the nourishment that the child needs during his first few months of his life. Nursing is an alternative to giving the baby formula. Nursing is considered to be healthier than giving formula. It also helps create a stronger emotional bond between mother and child. Some experts maintain that this bond manifests itself years down the road when the child is much older. Nursing with breast milk also helps the child resist infections. Children have a lower risk of developing allergies, asthma, and many other diseases. Women who drink alcohol or smoke should either abstain from these activities or stop nursing. Alcohol and tobacco can be harmful to the baby if passed through the breast milk. In these cases, a mother can hire a wet nurse to suckle her baby. Wet nurses may also be used if the mother herself cannot produce enough milk. When a mother gives birth to two or more babies, she may not be able to handle all of the nursing activity on her own. A wet nurse is also helpful if a mother is ill or unwilling to breast feed.
Another form of nursing is nursing an injury. Nursing an injury means giving special care and attention to help it heal. This does not require the use of an actual medical nurse. Professional athletes out on medical leave are said to be nursing an injury. When someone nurses a sprained ankle, they may be seen limping instead of walking normally on it. Without this special care, the injury may not heal properly, and may take longer to heal.
Yet another form of nursing is slow consumption of a beverage. College kids may poke fun at one another for nursing a beer. In college, getting drunk as fast as possible is considered to be the cool and fun thing to do by some kids. Nursing a beer may not be the standard acceptable way to drink at a fraternity party. In fact, at many parties, a beer bong may be used to encourage rapid consumption of beer. This is the opposite of nursing a beer. This is not to say that all college students exhibit this kind of behavior. Many people may actually choose to nurse their drink in order to enjoy the taste and flavor as long as possible.
Whether nursing is done at a hospital, to a baby, an injury, or a beer, it has benefits for everyone involved.
