...Going the Distance in Nursing Education In the dynamic world of increasing health care technology, specialized care units, and higher acuity patients, the nursing profession must upgrade its currently accepted Associate’s entry level degree to a higher beginning educational level in order to meet the needs and demands of today’s sicker clients. Although the National League for Nursing (NLN) has stated Associate degree nursing programs account for the majority of new graduate nurses, the general public and the medical profession are continuously baffled by the varying academic programs [diploma, associate degree, and baccalaureate degree], as each directs the participant towards licensure and entry level nursing positions (National League for Nursing, 2003) (Creasia & Friberg, 2010). Part of this public tumult stems from the American Nurses Association (ANA) designating, but not enacting, the BSN as a Registered Nurse’s starting point as far back as the 1960’s (Creasia & Friberg, 2010). While it can be agreed ADN nursing programs do produce excellent graduates, nurses holding Bachelor degrees have a higher success rate in patient care. This patient satisfaction finding may be the result of Baccalaureate university programs requiring approximately three (3) years of educational study, compared to most junior or community college’s Associate degree programs necessitating only eighteen (18) months to two (2) years in length (The Bureau of Labor Statistics [BLS], 2010-2011). The...
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...“The nursing process is essentially a problem-solving process” (Treas & Wilkinson, 2014, p. 31). It is a standardized way of getting information about the patient to best treat them and then evaluating what you have done. All steps of the nursing process are evident in the electronic health record (EHR), they however are not necessarily next to each other in the order of the nursing process as explained in a nursing textbook. It depends on the format of the EHR that is chosen by your place of employment. “Regardless of the type of documentation that is used, you will use or refer to the nursing process as a guideline when you are charting” (Treas & Wilkinson, 2014, p. 390). There are narrative formats to use when charting in source-orientated...
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...Delegation in nursing is the most evident but yet most overlooked of management skills. Integrating this ability is an essential constituent within the scope of the nursing practice. The American Nursing Association (2006) defines delegation as, “The transfer of responsibility for the performance of a task from one individual to another while retaining accountability for the outcome”. With the anticipation of the baby-boomer generation and the utilization of unlicensed nursing assistive personnel (NAP) on the rise; how will healthcare prepare for such conditions? By distinguishing the nature of communication as well as personal interaction during delegation, may better clarify how both roles work together to carry out patient care and...
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...Theoretical Foundation for Nursing Roles and Practice The nursing shortage is clearly a problem, and although the healthcare industry has acknowledged the shortage for decades now, the aging population has sealed the reality with an alarming force. Contributing factors include an aging population, along with its rapid increase of chronic diseases, and the limited capacity of nursing schools. As the population ages, the demand for healthcare services also escalates (Grant, 2016). The three million nurses in these United States contribute to the largest segment of the healthcare workforce, making nursing the fastest growing occupation. The Bureau of Labor Statistics has determined that there will be 1.2 million vacancies for registered nurses...
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...MANAGER ROLE Nurse Manager Role Abstract The aim of this paper is to discuss the advanced practice nurse manger role. Discussion will ensue regarding the nurse manager role: historical development; original and current educational preparation requirements; licensing, certification, continuing education, value requirements, skill requirements, options in the employment setting; issues of concern; and future projections. Based on the informed understanding of the nurse manager role new insights, personal strengths, and personal challenges that are envisioned for a nurse assimilating to this role will be provided. Introduction Leadership is an integral part of nursing. Grossman and Valiga suggest that leadership is not necessarily tied to a position of authority (Grossman & Valiga, 2005, p. 4). Also suggested by Grossman and Valiga, is that each professional nurse has the potential and the responsibility to provide leadership in each of our individual areas of practice, institutions, professional organizations, communities, and our profession as a whole (Grossman & Valiga, 2005, p. 4). Leadership is a course in undergraduate education and nurses in any role are leaders in many capacities. The purpose of this paper is to look at the nurse manager role: historical development, educational preparation, skill requirements, value requirements, role options, concerns, future projections, and my perspective. Historical Development of Nurse Manager Role The first...
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...Nursing Roles and Values Task one Western Governors University Nursing Roles and Values Task One This scenario presents various ethical issues that could be argued several ways from HIPPA violations to whether or not this patient has/had the cognitive ability to understand the execution of an advanced directive and Power of Attorney. Advance Directives are put in place for this very reason. It eliminates the need for family members to make a choice in the heat of the moment and also respects the wishes of the person whom it affects directly. Although Mr. E’s hypoxia could affect his ability to think clearly one cannot assume that he has an altered level of consciousness nor the inability to execute an advance directive prior to this situation. His advance directive clearly states that he does not wish to be placed on a ventilator. The Wyoming Nurse Practice Act clearly states in Chapter 7, Section 6 (ii) Advocates for the client, and then further states in subsection (A) respects clients rights, concerns, decisions, and dignity (Fowler, 2008). Failure to follow the nurse practice act in your state could mean that you will have your license suspended or may lose your license completely. It would depend on what the State Nursing Board decides and what they find in their investigation. It would be very unfortunate for a nurse to lose their license this way. Unfortunately the nurse in this situation did not advocate for this patient, she allowed the...
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...It is important that nurses understand their roles as they enter into the world of healthcare. Nurses are advocates and temporary family members of those who are ill. Nurses are to provide the best care that they can give to patients. The nurse is the person who spends quality time with the patient and personally gets to know their likes and dislikes. And yes, those details are crucial in the care of a patient because that small amount of communication can help or hurt a patients’ mind set of wanting to get better and making their own decisions for their healthcare. If patients are being treated with respect while in the care of healthcare professionals it tends to make their condition more manageable due to the cooperation and understanding of their rights. Some types of rights that patients have are rights to refuse medications and very important rights to safe care. All patients should be treated equally and fairly regardless of their race, religion, or socioeconomic background. No one patient is better than the next person. There should be one common goal in all healthcare settings especially in the acute settings and that should be focusing on getting the patients back to their...
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...SYNTHESIS OF ADVANCED NURSING ROLES BROWN_K_W5A2_SU_NSG5000 Kerry Ann Brown South University Due to the changing health care environment, the nursing profession is currently in a process of evolution. Scopes of practice and role expansions are being prepared. Some of these roles are traditional, such as nurse practitioners who have been fighting for equality and recognition since the early 19th century. With the advent of technological advancements in health care new roles such as nurse informaticists, recognized as a specialty in the later part of the 20th century, are being put into practice and defined. More responsibilities are being given to the nursing profession due to its knowledge base within the constructs of organization, implementation, and evaluation skills with a human approach. During the context of this class much knowledge was gained in respect to the nurse practitioner (NP), nurse administrator, nurse educator, and nurse informaticist (nurse informatics specialist). Because health care is changing, the aforementioned roles are also evolving, this paper will explore the commonalities with each advance practice role and analyze the roles and contributions of the nurse informatics specialist. The nurse practitioner is a postgraduate prepared registered nurse, who has either a master’s degree or doctorate. Upon graduation, NPs possess a wealth of knowledge allowing them to independently manage direct clinical aspects of patient-centered holistic...
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...RUP1: Professional Roles and Values in Nursing Allegra Connors Western Governors University Functional Differences There are many differences in functions of a regulatory board of nursing such as the Illinois Board of Nursing (IBN) and a professional nursing association such as the Hospice and Palliative Nurse Association (HPNA). The Illinois Board of Nursing functions as the licensing body for professional nursing, regulatory enforcer and where complaints about nurses or nursing practice can be addressed. It’s role is to protect the public safety in regards to nursing and it’s practice (Cherry & Jacob, 2010). The role of the HPNA is one of advocacy for it’s members and their profession, including lobbying for laws and policies, communicating with members about issues that affect us as in end-of-life care, they allow networking and sharing among hospice professionals, they disseminate knowledge of new practices and issues and they offer professional development through courses and seminars as well as credentialing in the specialization of a nurse in hospice and palliative care. (Matthews, 2012) In regards to credentials the IBN sets the standards and scope of practice that nurses are responsible for in the state of Illinois. In essence they define nursing and what that means in their state. They are responsible for verifying through transcripts that an individual has obtained the correct schooling required and they administer the NCLEX-RN exam that an individual...
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...Nursing Roles and Values Task One Western Governors University State Regulations and Nursing Standards The State of Tennessee Board of Nursing’s Rules and Regulations of Registered Nurses, Rule # 1000-01-.13-1r states that unprofessional conduct is defined in part by "failing to take appropriate action in safeguarding the patient from incompetent health care practices" (State of Tennessee, 2011). There are a number of arguments in this case study that incompetent health care practices are being performed, from the decision to place a patient on a ventilator for an oxygen saturation of 88%, circumventing the patient’s written and verbal advanced directives, utilizing an unauthorized family member to get consent for a medical procedure, and discussing confidential medical information in a public location and with and unauthorized family member. The nurse clearly violated this rule because the nurse did not take any action at any point to stop the physician from taking these incompetent actions. Implications Rule # 1000-01-.13-1r applies because, as mentioned above, the nurse failed to take any action to prevent the physician from performing a number of incompetent acts related to the healthcare of the patient. First and foremost, the patient likely does not even need to be placed on the ventilator. The physician’s decision to place the patient on the ventilator is based on an oxygen saturation of 88%. Although the patient’s oxygen saturation does need...
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...How Society and Nurses Affect the Roles of Nursing Lisa A. Turner University of Alabama Birmingham Transitions into Professional Nursing Practice, NUR 474 How Society and Nurses Affect the Roles of Nursing Introduction A nurse has many roles and parts to play in the daily routine of caring for patients. By examining the different roles of a nurse; health promoter, care provider; learner and teacher, we will see how nursing has evolved and how the philosophy of nursing changes. How these roles tie into society and into the symbiotic relationship between society at large and the nursing profession. The shift of healthcare to prevention, education, and the ever changing world of medicine, along with the realization that a nurse’s job is specialized, has tremendously affected the beliefs and ideas of the profession. Based on our textbook, research, and my personal experiences I will explore and clarify my philosophy of nursing. The purpose of this paper is to examine the fact that nursing is an ever-changing profession which society’s ideas and beliefs will impact, whether by necessity or through evolution. Health Promoter and Care Provider Health promotion or prevention is the latest hot topic in the healthcare arena. According 2 to Prochaska, J. and DiClemente, C. (1992), the nursing strategies for health behavior change are Precontemplation, Contemplation, Preparation, Action and Maintenance touch on every different type of nurse and show a need for growth. While providing...
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...The Role of Nursing Advocacy Across all Healthcare Settings Nursing is an autonomous profession where lives are saved every day. Nursing advocacy can affect patient outcomes. As the nursing profession evolves and responsibilities increase, it is necessary to better understand the concept of nursing advocacy. The role of advocacy is not new for the nursing profession, but the nature of advocacy in the nursing practice remains ambiguous. Nurses are obligated to act as an advocate for their patients, but there is lack of clarity on how to perform this role. The purpose of this paper is to better understand nursing advocacy and to explore ways it is practiced across all fields of nursing in order to promote improved patient care. Advocacy is an essential role for the nursing profession; however, it can be affected by many factors. The goal of advocacy is to balance the relationship between the healthcare system and the patients who are served by evaluating patient/family needs, providing information and education, ensuring access to proper care and supporting the patient and family’s decision within the structure of a multidisciplinary team. This paper will explore the following research question: What are the variables that affect the role of nursing advocacy and in what ways is it practiced across all fields of nursing? Review of Literature Introduction The general topic of the review of literature is nursing advocacy. We are examining and exploring a clearer definition...
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...Nurse to Patient Ratios in Acute Care Hospitals Chamberlain College of Nursing NR 504: Leadership and Nursing Practice: Role Development Spring B 2011 My vision for nursing is a simple one. It is not grand or extravagant and therefore, should be easily attainable. The problem is, is that as with any vision, there will be obstacles along the way. I hope to be able to overcome these obstacles and make my vision become a reality. My vision is to establish a guideline to lower the nurse to patient ratios in acute care hospitals, so that the quality of care given to patients as well as employee satisfaction can be significantly raised. Key Concepts of Vision The current nurse to patient ratio at my hospital is 1 nurse to 7 patients. I do not feel that this ratio is appropriate. My vision is to implement a new ratio guideline, lowering the ratio to 1 nurse per 5 patients with the exception being made for high acuity patients. I would then like the ratio to be 1 nurse to every 4 patients. A high acuity patient with a major trauma would be harder to care for than someone admitted for dehydration. The charge nurse would be in charge of designating which type of acuity patients and how many are assigned to each nurse. This procedure is currently in place, but with the new guideline, there would be less patients assigned to each nurse. This would result in a safer work environment, better patient care, and a great recruitment incentive for nurses (Gonzalez...
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...The Purpose of Health Promotion in Nursing Practice and the Nurses roles The World Health Organization, (WHO, 1986), defines health promotion as the process of enabling people to increase control over and to improve their health. As the concept of medicine and health evolved, so has the concept of health promotion. Health care providers including nurses, require an understanding of how economics, environment, culture, education, politics and psychosocial problems influence health, illness, lifestyle and behavior change. Nurses promote health in diverse setting such as hospitals, community, nursing homes, schools, and worksites. Health promotion activities may include raising awareness of health issues, providing information, motivating and persuading people to make changes in their lifestyle or equipping individual with the skills and confidence to make those changes (Naidoo, J. & Wills, ., 2000). The nurse, being on the frontline of patient care, has the ability based on education and experience, to be the driving force of health promotion activities. Nursing education traditionally directed towards the disease-oriented model, where the focus was on diagnosis, physical health and the relief of physical symptoms. It has now evolved to a more patient-centered model, creating a more holistic approach where individuals and families are empowered to make health decisions and are supported in their engagement of health promotion activities. No longer are patient told what...
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...important for nurses to study the development of nursing theory because without an idea of where you have been, how can you know how, why, when, or where to go “ (Cherry and Jacob, 2014, p.75). Theory leads to research, research leads to science, science leads to practice, and practice then cycles back to theory. New theory emerging from practice will generate new studies that will, in turn, produce new knowledge for practice. All of this contributes to improving nursing practice. It is a very sad situation when nurses and nursing students feel that studying and applying nursing theories is irrelevant and a waste of time. Often nurses and nursing students are not very interested in educating themselves about various nursing theories. They much rather be more concerned about the technical and administrative end of nursing. The scenario with Mary Jane and her coworkers is a very good example of how many nurses show lack of interest in the studying and application of nursing theory. I believe Mary Jane should have responded by telling her coworkers that nursing theory is just as important and vital to nursing practice as anything else you learn in nursing school. She should have asked them if they both would agree that the major aim in nursing is to see your client reach his or her highest attainment of health. Next, she should go on to explain how Imogene King’s theory of goal attainment was beneficial to her and her client. Nursing is highly focused on client outcomes. However...
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