Intro to Nursing: Core Concepts & Roles

• Nursing is a healthcare profession focused on the care of individuals, families, and communities so they may attain, maintain, or recover optimal health and quality of life

Core Concepts in Nursing

• Patient-centered care focuses on the individual’s specific health needs and desired health outcomes
• Holistic care involves attending to the patient's physical, psychological, emotional, and spiritual needs
• Evidence-based practice uses current, valid research to guide clinical decisions

Key Nursing Roles

• Caregiver: Provides direct care and support to patients
• Communicator: Establishes and maintains open communication with patients, families, and healthcare teams
• Educator: Teaches patients and families about health conditions, medications, and self-care techniques
• Advocate: Protects patients' rights and helps patients navigate the healthcare system
• Counselor: Provides emotional support and guidance to patients and families
• Leader: Influences others to promote positive change and improve healthcare quality
• Researcher: Participates in or uses research to enhance nursing knowledge and improve patient outcomes

The Nursing Process

• Assessment: Collecting and analyzing patient data to identify health needs
• Diagnosis: Formulating nursing diagnoses based on the assessment data
• Planning: Developing a care plan with goals and interventions
• Implementation: Carrying out the interventions in the care plan
• Evaluation: Assessing the effectiveness of the interventions and modifying the plan as needed
• This process is dynamic and cyclical, allowing for continuous adaptation to the patient's changing needs

Health and Wellness

• Health is a state of complete physical, mental, and social well-being, not merely the absence of disease or infirmity
• Wellness is an active process of adopting patterns of behavior that can lead to improved health and heightened life satisfaction
• Various factors influence health and wellness, including genetics, environment, lifestyle, and access to healthcare

Communication Skills in Nursing

• Effective communication is essential for building trust and rapport with patients
• Active listening involves paying attention to both verbal and nonverbal cues
• Therapeutic communication techniques, such as empathy and open-ended questions, can enhance understanding and promote healing
• Documentation is a critical part of communication, providing a record of patient care and progress

Infection Control

• Infection control practices aim to prevent the spread of infections in healthcare settings
• Standard precautions, such as hand hygiene and the use of personal protective equipment (PPE), are used with all patients
• Transmission-based precautions are used in addition to standard precautions for patients with known or suspected infections
• Proper methods for sterilization and disinfection of medical equipment are critical to prevent healthcare-associated infections

Basic Hygiene and Comfort Measures

• Providing assistance with bathing, oral hygiene, and skin care promotes patient comfort and prevents infection
• Pressure injury prevention involves regular repositioning, skin assessment, and the use of pressure-reducing devices
• Maintaining a clean and safe environment helps to reduce the risk of falls and other injuries

Vital Signs

• Temperature, pulse, respiration, blood pressure, and pain are considered vital signs
• Accurate measurement and interpretation of vital signs are essential for assessing a patient's condition
• Variations in vital signs can indicate underlying health problems or changes in a patient's status
• It is important to know the normal ranges for vital signs and the factors that can affect them

Medication Administration

• Nurses are responsible for safe and accurate medication administration
• Knowledge of pharmacology, including drug names, dosages, routes, and side effects, is essential
• Medication errors can be prevented by following the "rights" of medication administration
• Patient education about medications promotes adherence and safety

Nutrition

• Proper nutrition is essential for health, growth, and healing
• Nurses assess patients' nutritional status and identify nutritional needs
• Dietary modifications may be necessary for patients with certain health conditions
• Enteral and parenteral nutrition may be required for patients who are unable to eat or absorb nutrients

Elimination

• Normal bowel and bladder function are essential for maintaining health
• Nurses assess patients' elimination patterns and provide interventions to promote normal function
• Catheterization may be necessary for patients who are unable to urinate
• Bowel training programs may be helpful for patients with bowel incontinence

Mobility and Immobility

• Regular exercise and mobility are important for maintaining health
• Immobility can lead to complications, such as pressure injuries, muscle atrophy, and pneumonia
• Nurses assist patients with mobility and implement measures to prevent complications of immobility
• Range-of-motion exercises, positioning techniques, and assistive devices can help to maintain mobility

Oxygenation

• The respiratory system is responsible for oxygenating the blood and removing carbon dioxide
• Nurses assess patients' respiratory status and provide interventions to improve oxygenation
• Oxygen therapy may be necessary for patients with respiratory problems
• Suctioning, chest physiotherapy, and mechanical ventilation are advanced respiratory interventions

Fluid and Electrolyte Balance

• Maintaining fluid and electrolyte balance is essential for cellular function
• Nurses assess patients' fluid and electrolyte status and provide interventions to correct imbalances
• Intravenous fluids and electrolytes may be necessary for patients who are unable to maintain balance
• Monitoring intake and output, daily weights, and laboratory values are important for assessing fluid and electrolyte status

Pain Management

• Pain is a subjective experience that can have a significant impact on a patient's quality of life
• Nurses assess patients' pain using a variety of methods, including pain scales
• Pain management strategies include both pharmacological and non-pharmacological interventions
• Patient education about pain management promotes adherence and self-management

Wound Care

• Proper wound care promotes healing and prevents infection
• Nurses assess wounds and select appropriate dressings and treatments
• Wound irrigation, debridement, and negative pressure wound therapy are advanced wound care interventions
• Patient education about wound care promotes self-management and prevents complications

Perioperative Nursing

• Perioperative nursing involves the care of patients before, during, and after surgery
• Preoperative care includes patient education, physical preparation, and emotional support
• Intraoperative care involves monitoring the patient's condition and assisting the surgical team
• Postoperative care involves monitoring the patient's recovery and preventing complications