護理係一門應用科學，縱有各種不同的理論與工作模式，最終還是要應用在個案（clients）或病人身上以滿足他們的需求。基此；護理將依據服務對象的情況而提供不同的照護。在本文中將護理分成醫院臨床護理、社區護理兩大部份，但在社區護理又再分成公共衛生護理、學校衛生護理及工廠衛生護理三部份，全文描述自1946年迄今，護理人員在不同領域或層面中隨著服務對象健康狀況不同而提供不同的工作內涵，由於在過去約一甲子的歲月，民眾的健康狀況、疾病型態，甚至整個國家社經狀況、生活水準都有顯著的改變，因此本文中亦特別引用一些健康指標：如死亡率、平均餘命、十大死因等…與民眾的護理需求突顯出護理專業的功能、改變與自主性的發展。

Nursing is an applied science. While there is a wide range of nursing theories and nursing care models, resolving the health problems and meeting the health needs of clients is the common objective of all in the nursing profession. The nursing profession may be subdivided into hospital clinical nursing and community health nursing (CHN). CHN is further subdivided into public health nursing, school health nursing, and industrial health nursing. The past 60 years has been a period of significant growth and improvement in Taiwan that has enhanced the nation’s socioeconomic condition, general living standards, and general public health. The nursing profession has seen profound progress as well, not only in terms of content but also in terms of nursing care models, which are increasingly framed around core public health needs and take into consideration different health perspectives. Nursing in Taiwan has gradually established its own professional function and autonomy.