Symptoms are at the heart of nursing care.

Much of what nurses do for and with patients is focused on symptoms:

measuring them, assessing factors that may inuence changes, developing prevention and management strategies, and helping patients with ongoing monitoring and self-management. e eory of Unpleasant Symptoms (TOUS) was developed to highlight important aspects of the symptom experience in order to improve understanding and help guide nursing research and practice. It is exciting that interest in the theory and its application has been increasing internationally.