Fundamentals of Nursing 1 - Unit One

Fundamentals of Nursing 1 - Unit One: The Nurse in the Health Setting

• The course provides foundational knowledge and skills for nursing and midwifery practice.
• The course is designed to equip student nurses with knowledge and skills to assist in ward and community practice.
• The course aims to prepare students to become critical thinkers, client advocates, clinical decision-makers, and client educators.
• The unit introduces key concepts and models to guide client care planning.
• Understanding illness, wellness, disease, health-seeking behaviour, and health practice is facilitated by the concepts taught.
• The unit equips students with basic skills to provide quality nursing care.
• The importance of a safe patient environment and care for terminally ill patients is emphasized.
• First Aid application in emergencies will be covered.
• Registered student nurses will develop an understanding of their role within the healthcare system.
• Registered student nurses will understand and be able to explain their role in patient care and how they collaborate with other members of the health care team.

Specific Objectives

• Defining key terms related to nursing is included.
• Nursing philosophy will be described.
• The organization and functions of hospital and community health services will be outlined.

Objectives

• The roles of the nurse will be described
• The nurse and health care team in hospital and community settings will be described.

The Nurse in Health Care Setting

• This unit acts as a foundation for the entire course.
• It introduces essential concepts and prepares students for further study.
• Key terminologies used in Fundamentals of Nursing will be defined.
• Nursing philosophy and the role of the nurse in hospital and community settings will be described and examined.
• The organization and function of hospitals and community health services will be described.

Definition of Terms

• A nurse is an individual who has completed a basic nursing program and is qualified to practice.
• Nurses in Zambia must be registered with the Nursing and Midwifery Council of Zambia (NMCZ).
• Nursing is derived from the Latin word "Nutricus", meaning "to nurture."
• Nursing is both an art and a science that draws from biological, social, and behavioral sciences. It involves providing care to individuals, families, and the community.
• Nursing is defined as the diagnosis and treatment of human responses to actual or potential health problems.
• Midwifery is a specific discipline involving training for professional practice.

Definitions Cont'd

• Virginia Henderson defines nursing as assisting individuals to perform activities contributing to health, recovery, or a peaceful death.
• Nursing practice is any treatment or action based on clinical judgment and knowledge designed to improve patient outcomes by helping them move from their current health state to a desired one.
• Nursing practice involves shared responsibility for the health and well-being of community members, coordinating services, supervising and directing care personnel.

Fundamentals of Nursing

• The course covers fundamental principles and practices of nursing that emphasize the human needs of individuals and the importance of basic skills.
• This unit covers the basic principles and practices of nursing.
• It discusses the importance of fundamental human needs and essential skills for comprehensive nursing care, emphasizing the scope of primary, acute, and restorative care.

Nursing Philosophy

• Nursing philosophy serves as a vision for how nursing should be practiced.
• It outlines a nurse's beliefs, values, and ethics regarding patient care and treatment within the nursing profession.
• Philosophy shapes behaviour in various aspects of life, from individual actions to country-level policies.
• Philosophy is a statement of beliefs and values that motivates actions.
• Philosophy involves the study of knowledge, reality, and existence as an academic discipline.
• Nursing philosophy includes, beliefs, values, life and reality.

Definitions... (Beliefs, Values, Value System)

• Beliefs are accepted ideas, often without proof.
• Values are standards for decision-making, enduring for a significant period in one's life. They involve thinking, choosing, feeling, and behaving.
• A Value System is an enduring set of principles and rules organized hierarchically. These guide decisions and choices. Different theories and concepts help define and interpret nursing philosophy.

The International Council of Nurses (ICN) Standards

• The ICN has formulated standards regarding the fundamental duties of nurses.
• These fundamental duties include conserving life, alleviating suffering, promoting health, and preventing disease and disability.

The Philosophy for the Training Nursing Schools

• Nursing schools believe nursing actions are centered around the individual, focusing on meeting their needs.
• Nursing is an art and science, merging biological, social, and behavioral sciences to care for individuals, families, and communities.
• Registered nurses are expected to use the nursing process as a practical tool for practice.
• The program is intended to address diverse needs of people regardless of age, color, race, creed, or social status and health issues.
• Public health is viewed as a critical strategy for promoting care to all.

Organization and Functions of the Hospital and Community Health Services

• Hospitals provide care for the sick and injured.
• Hospital staff includes patients, nursing staff, doctors, and other healthcare team members.
• A patient is a person under treatment or care.
• The health care team includes doctors, nurses, support personnel and social workers.

Role of the Hospital

• The role of a hospital includes quickly and accurately diagnosing illness or injury.
• Appropriate medical care and treatment should include minimal patient discomfort and disability.
• The role also includes alleviating suffering for those with incurable illnesses and ensuring peaceful and dignified deaths.
• Research and the promotion of positive health are among the institution's goals.

Hospital Departments

• Administration is the governing body.
• Accounts Department handles financial transactions.
• Radiology employs medical imaging to diagnose and treat diseases.
• Laboratory departments conduct diagnostic tests (e.g., hematology, parasitology, bacteriology, virology).
• Chaplaincy offers spiritual care to patients and staff.
• Catering Department prepares and provides meals.
• Housekeeping maintains cleanliness.
• Maintenance Department maintains equipment and buildings
• Laundry Department washes and repairs linen.
• Pharmacy Department prepares, dispenses drugs, and provides medical supplies.
• Purchasing & Stores Department acquires and manages hospital supplies.
• Medical Records Department maintains patient records.
• CSSD (Central Sterile Supply Department) sterilizes and distributes supplies
• Physiotherapy Department treats patients through physical agents.
• Social Services Department assists patients requiring social support.
• ICU (Intensive Care Unit) handles critically ill patients.

The Role of the Nurse

• Nurses can have multiple roles/duties, depending on the situation or specialty.

Care Giver

• Nurses assist patients in regaining health by meeting all their medical, emotional, spiritual, and social needs.
• The care given is tailored for each patient’s unique situations.

Decision Marker

• Nurses use decision-making skills throughout the nursing process based on patient assessment.

Advocate

• Nurses speak for patients and vulnerable groups and interpret information.
• Nurses assist in protecting patient's rights and ensuring appropriate care.

Educator

• Nurses educate patients and families by explaining concepts, demonstrating procedures, reinforcing learning and evaluating progress.

Manager

• Nurses coordinate and delegate care responsibilities, supervising other healthcare workers to deliver quality care.

Communicator

• Nurse-client communication builds relationships and identifies patient needs and concerns.
• Effective communication facilitates providing appropriate care, comfort, and emotional support, building trust.

Rehabilitator

• Nurses support patients in coping with lifestyle changes and physical impairments associated with chronic conditions.
• Nurses teach patients how to use assistive devices and other tools.

Counselor

• Nurses advise and guide clients in identifying and clarifying health problems and choose appropriate courses of action to resolve issues.

Collaborator

• Nurses work with other healthcare professionals to deliver holistic and effective care to patients.
• Plans and strategies are crafted to meet common care goals.

Epidemiologist

• Nurses may conduct patient case finding, health education and track illness incidences in communities.
• The example given is tuberculosis case management.

Change agent

• Nurses are agents of change by implementing effective approaches to health issues in communities.
• They empower individuals and families to creatively solve issues within the health institution.

Consultant

• Nurses provide expert advice to other healthcare providers and clients.

The Nurse and Health Care Team in the Hospital and Community Health Settings

• The healthcare team works together for the benefit of patients.
• The team members include doctors, nurses, physiotherapists, nutritionists, medical technicians , radiographers, social workers, pharmacists etc.
• The nurse does not function in isolation; collaboration is vital for successful patient management.
• Teamwork is essential, emphasizing respect among team members.

The Nurse in the Community Setting

• Community nurses focus on health promotion and maintenance.
• They offer various services for addressing acute and chronic health problems in the community.
• Community nurses are employed in various settings like schools, industries, nursing homes and private clinics to assess the multifaceted needs of individuals, families, and communities.

Unit Summary

• Unit one defines terms like nurse, nursing, nursing practice, and nursing philosophy.
• The organization and different departments within a hospital and community health setting are introduced.

Additional Considerations

• References and dates mentioned in the presentation are not included in these notes.