Fundamental Nursing Overview

Study Notes

Introduction to Fundamental Nursing

Fundamental nursing is the foundation of nursing practice, encompassing the essential knowledge, skills, and attitudes required for delivering patient-centered care.
It encompasses a wide range of essential skills.
From basic patient assessments to medication administration and essential life support techniques.

Patient Assessment

Thorough patient assessment is a core component of fundamental nursing, involving gathering subjective and objective patient data.
Subjective data includes patient-reported symptoms and experiences.
Objective data includes observations and findings from physical examinations and various diagnostic tests.

Basic Nursing Skills

Communication: Effective communication with patients, families, and other healthcare professionals is crucial..
Hygiene: Maintaining a clean and safe environment and promoting personal hygiene among patients.
Safety Measures: Protecting patients from harm and ensuring a safe environment. Includes fall prevention, hand hygiene, and recognizing potential hazards..
Positioning: Assisting patients with positioning for various procedures and comfort.
Basic Vital Signs: Taking and recording vital signs (temperature, pulse, respiration, blood pressure) accurately and effectively.
Pain Management: Assessing and documenting pain levels, and implementing appropriate interventions based on assessment.
Medication Administration: Safe and accurate administration of medications according to established protocols and the patient's medical record.. Includes understanding different routes, dosages, and possible side effects.
Wound Care: Assessing and treating wounds, including cleaning and dressing changes.

Patient Care Techniques

Transferring and Ambulating: Assisting patients with movement, including transferring them to and from beds and chairs and helping them walk.
Feeding: Assisting patients with eating, ensuring their safety and comfort during feeding procedures.
Elimination: Assisting patients with bowel and bladder functions, maintaining and documenting intake and output.
Specimen Collection: Collecting specimens for various tests according to established laboratory procedures.

Legal and Ethical Considerations

Confidentiality: Maintaining patient privacy and protecting confidential information.
Patient Rights: Understanding and upholding a patient's rights.
Informed Consent: Ensuring informed consent for medical interventions and procedures.
Advocacy: Advocating for patients' needs and interests to ensure they receive the best possible care.

Teamwork and Collaboration

Interprofessional Communication: Working collaboratively with other members of the healthcare team to ensure comprehensive patient care.
Collaboration: Effective collaboration across different disciplines is essential for coordinating holistic care plans.
Teamwork: Working collaboratively with other healthcare professionals to provide comprehensive care.

Patient Education

Patient Teaching Strategies: Instruction is provided to aid a patient in self-care, medication use, and treatment plans..
Addressing Health Concerns: Communicating with patients to help understand and address medical issues and potential problems.
Patient Empowerment and Independence: Promoting patient independence and self-management skills.

Infection Control and Prevention

Aseptic Technique: Applying aseptic techniques to prevent infections during wound care and other procedures.
Hand Hygiene: Maintaining strict adherence to hand hygiene protocols to prevent the transmission of microorganisms.
Environmental Hygiene: Proper cleaning and disinfection of a patient's surroundings and medical equipment to reduce infection risk.

Basic Life Support (BLS)

CPR: Performing cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) in emergency situations.
AED Use: Using automated external defibrillators (AEDs) to support cardiac arrest victims.
Responding to Emergencies: Recognizing and responding to various emergency situations, including medical emergencies and other safety concerns.

Documentation

Accurate and Concise Record Keeping: Maintaining accurate documentation of assessment findings, interventions, and patient responses..
Compliance with Standards: Adhering to all established guidelines and policies to ensure comprehensive and compliant record keeping.

Description

Explore the essential components of fundamental nursing, focusing on patient assessments, basic nursing skills, and effective communication. This quiz covers critical areas such as hygiene and safety measures that are vital for delivering patient-centered care.