The application of principles from the basic sciences, social sciences, and humanities to assist healthy and sick individuals and their families or other caring persons in performing those activities that contribute to the individuals' physical and mental well-being and that they would perform unaided if able to do so. Nursing includes providing physical and emotional care, promoting comfort, serving as patient advocates, assisting in rehabilitative efforts, teaching self-care and health promotion activities, and administering treatments prescribed by a licensed physician or dentist. Patient-care activities are conceived and coordinated so as to help individuals gain independence as rapidly as possible or maintain an optimal level of function. When multiple health-care providers are involved, nursing coordinates patient-care efforts to improve the quality of care.