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Nursing-Sensitive Indicators

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Nursing-Sensitive Indicators
Frances Westlake
WGU

Nursing-Sensitive Indicators

Having knowledge and understanding of nursing-sensitive indicators assist the nurse with providing quality, ethical and safe care to the patient. In Mr, J’s case, the plan of care was not evidence based; otherwise they would not have applied restraints. The restraints only impeded his care by restricting movement which resulted in him having a pressure ulcer. By Mr.J being drowsy and having some dementia he was a high fall risk. The nurses could have used a bed alarm or staffed a sitter at his bedside. The nurse providing care to Mr. J should have immediately provided him the correct diet according to his religious beliefs. Family involvement also increases better outcomes for the patient; however, the Mr. J’s daughter was not included in the plan of care or notified of the use of restraints or the change in his diet. The nursing-sensitive indicators analyze the quality and patient outcomes of nursing care provided to patients. The information can be used to look at the nursing practice and processes, as well as how changes have influenced patient care and outcomes throughout the hospital. The measures are used for quality improvement in areas that have scored high or that could become potential issues. For example, if the pressure ulcer rate was high throughout the hospital, a pressure ulcer prevention program would be implemented. Staff would be educated on the program, and then nurse managers would follow up on the process and practice of the nursing staff. This would advance quality patient care and outcomes.
To resolve the ethical issues in Mr. J’s case, I would contact the manager over the dietary department, the nurse manager as well as staff development. I would contact Mr. J’s Rabbi if he requested. I would immediately review the hospital restraint policy and pressure

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