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Questions and Answers
A nurse is caring for a patient who is hesitant to take their prescribed medication due to concerns about potential side effects. Which ethical principle should the nurse prioritize in this situation?
A nurse is caring for a patient who is hesitant to take their prescribed medication due to concerns about potential side effects. Which ethical principle should the nurse prioritize in this situation?
- Justice, by ensuring all patients receive the same standard of medication administration.
- Beneficence, by encouraging the patient to take the medication for their own good.
- Autonomy, by respecting the patient's right to refuse treatment after providing adequate information. (correct)
- Fidelity, by strictly adhering to the physician's orders regarding medication administration.
Which action is the MOST important for a nurse to take to prevent healthcare-associated infections (HAIs)?
Which action is the MOST important for a nurse to take to prevent healthcare-associated infections (HAIs)?
- Ensuring all staff members receive annual influenza vaccinations.
- Isolating all patients with suspected infections in private rooms.
- Administering prophylactic antibiotics to all patients upon admission.
- Strictly adhering to hand hygiene guidelines before and after patient contact. (correct)
During a health assessment, a patient reports feeling anxious and having difficulty sleeping. The nurse observes that the patient is restless and has elevated vital signs. Which nursing theory would best guide the nurse's approach to addressing these issues?
During a health assessment, a patient reports feeling anxious and having difficulty sleeping. The nurse observes that the patient is restless and has elevated vital signs. Which nursing theory would best guide the nurse's approach to addressing these issues?
- Henderson's definition of nursing, assisting individuals to gain independence as quickly as possible.
- Nightingale's environmental theory, emphasizing the importance of a clean and quiet environment.
- Orem's self-care deficit theory, focusing on the patient's ability to perform self-care activities.
- Roy's adaptation model, viewing the patient as an adaptive system responding to stressors. (correct)
A nurse is planning care for an elderly patient at risk for falls. What is the MOST important intervention to include in the care plan?
A nurse is planning care for an elderly patient at risk for falls. What is the MOST important intervention to include in the care plan?
A patient is admitted to the hospital with a diagnosis of pneumonia. Which nursing intervention is MOST important for promoting effective airway clearance?
A patient is admitted to the hospital with a diagnosis of pneumonia. Which nursing intervention is MOST important for promoting effective airway clearance?
A nurse is caring for a patient with a wound infection. When implementing standard precautions, which action is essential?
A nurse is caring for a patient with a wound infection. When implementing standard precautions, which action is essential?
A nurse is assessing a patient's pain level. Which approach is MOST effective in obtaining an accurate pain assessment?
A nurse is assessing a patient's pain level. Which approach is MOST effective in obtaining an accurate pain assessment?
A nurse is preparing to administer medication to a patient. What is the MOST important step to ensure medication safety?
A nurse is preparing to administer medication to a patient. What is the MOST important step to ensure medication safety?
A nurse is providing discharge instructions to a patient with heart failure. Which instruction is MOST important to include?
A nurse is providing discharge instructions to a patient with heart failure. Which instruction is MOST important to include?
Which nursing action demonstrates advocacy for a patient?
Which nursing action demonstrates advocacy for a patient?
Flashcards
Nursing
Nursing
A healthcare profession focused on the care of individuals, families, and communities to help them recover or maintain health.
Florence Nightingale's impact
Florence Nightingale's impact
Nightingale's actions during the Crimean War and her focus on environmental factors significantly reduced mortality rates, establishing modern nursing principles.
Nursing process
Nursing process
A systematic, problem-solving approach to providing individualized patient care, involving assessment, diagnosis, planning, implementation, and evaluation (ADPIE).
Assessment (in nursing)
Assessment (in nursing)
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Diagnosis (in nursing)
Diagnosis (in nursing)
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Planning (in nursing)
Planning (in nursing)
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Implementation (in nursing)
Implementation (in nursing)
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Evaluation (in nursing)
Evaluation (in nursing)
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Nursing ethics
Nursing ethics
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Hygiene (in nursing)
Hygiene (in nursing)
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Study Notes
- Nursing is a healthcare profession focused on the care of individuals, families, and communities to help them recover or maintain health.
- Nursing encompasses autonomous and collaborative care of individuals of all ages, families, groups and communities, sick or well and in all settings.
- Nursing includes the promotion of health, prevention of illness, and the care of ill, disabled and dying people.
- Nurses need a blend of knowledge, interpersonal and technical skills.
- Nurses provide direct care, manage care, and educate patients and families
- Key roles of nurses include caregiver, communicator, educator, advocate, and leader
Historical perspectives of nursing
- Ancient civilizations had caregivers, often with religious or mystical connections.
- The formalization of nursing began with religious orders, like those in Christianity and Islam that provided care to the sick.
- Florence Nightingale is credited with founding modern nursing in the mid-19th century.
- Nightingale established sanitary conditions and reduced mortality rates during the Crimean War.
- Nightingale established the first nursing school based on modern principles.
- Early nursing was heavily influenced by military and religious practices.
- Clara Barton founded the American Red Cross, playing a role in the development of nursing in the United States.
Nursing theories
- Nursing theories provide a framework for understanding and guiding nursing practice.
- The theories help to explain, predict and understand phenomena related to nursing care.
- Nightingale's theory focused on the importance of the environment in promoting healing.
- Virginia Henderson defined nursing as assisting individuals to gain independence as quickly as possible.
- Hildegard Peplau emphasized the interpersonal relationship between nurse and patient.
- Dorothea Orem's self-care deficit theory focuses on the patient's ability to perform self-care.
- Sister Callista Roy's adaptation model views the patient as an adaptive system.
- Jean Watson's theory of human caring emphasizes the nurse-patient relationship and holistic care.
Nursing process
- The nursing process is a systematic, problem-solving approach to providing individualized patient care.
- The steps are: Assessment, Diagnosis, Planning, Implementation, and Evaluation (ADPIE).
- Assessment involves collecting and analyzing data about the patient's health status.
- Diagnosis involves identifying actual or potential health problems based on the assessment data.
- Planning involves setting goals and developing interventions to address the identified problems.
- Implementation involves carrying out the planned interventions.
- Evaluation involves determining the effectiveness of the interventions and revising the plan as needed.
Ethics in nursing
- Nursing ethics involves the moral principles that guide nursing practice.
- Autonomy refers to the patient's right to make their own decisions.
- Beneficence involves acting in the patient's best interest.
- Non-maleficence means to do no harm.
- Justice involves treating all patients fairly.
- Fidelity involves keeping promises and maintaining confidentiality.
- Nurses must navigate ethical dilemmas, considering the patient's values and beliefs.
- Ethical codes provide guidance for nurses in making ethical decisions.
Legal aspects of nursing
- Nurses must practice within the legal boundaries defined by laws and regulations.
- Nurse Practice Acts define the scope of nursing practice in each state or jurisdiction.
- Nurses are responsible for providing safe and competent care.
- Negligence involves failure to exercise the care that a reasonably prudent person would exercise in similar circumstances.
- Malpractice is professional negligence that results in injury or harm to the patient.
- Informed consent is required before providing treatment or performing procedures.
- Patients have the right to refuse treatment.
- Nurses must maintain patient confidentiality and protect privacy.
Communication in nursing
- Effective communication is essential for building trust and providing quality care.
- Therapeutic communication techniques include active listening, empathy, and open-ended questions.
- Nonverbal communication includes body language, facial expressions, and tone of voice.
- Nurses must communicate effectively with patients, families, and other healthcare professionals.
- Documentation is a critical aspect of communication.
Health assessment
- Health assessment involves collecting subjective and objective data about the patient's health status.
- Subjective data includes the patient's feelings, perceptions, and symptoms.
- Objective data includes information that can be observed or measured, such as vital signs and physical exam findings.
- Techniques used in physical assessment: inspection, palpation, percussion, and auscultation.
- A comprehensive health assessment includes a health history and physical examination.
Vital signs
- Vital signs include temperature, pulse, respiration, blood pressure, and pain (sometimes considered the fifth vital sign.)
- Temperature can be measured orally, rectally, axillary, tympanic, or temporally.
- Normal oral temperature is around 98.6°F (37°C).
- Pulse rate is the number of heartbeats per minute, typically measured at the radial artery.
- Normal adult pulse rate ranges from 60 to 100 beats per minute.
- Respiration rate is the number of breaths per minute, typically assessed by observing chest movement.
- Normal adult respiration rate ranges from 12 to 20 breaths per minute.
- Blood pressure measures the force of blood against the artery walls.
- Blood pressure is recorded as systolic (the top number) and diastolic (the bottom number).
- Normal adult blood pressure is around 120/80 mmHg.
- Pain is a subjective experience that can be assessed using pain scales.
Hygiene
- Hygiene involves practices that promote cleanliness and health.
- Nurses assist patients with personal hygiene, including bathing, oral care, hair care, and nail care.
- Maintaining hygiene helps to prevent infection and promote comfort.
- Factors influencing hygiene practices include culture, personal preferences, and functional ability.
Nutrition
- Nutrition involves the intake and utilization of nutrients to meet the body's needs.
- Nutrients include carbohydrates, proteins, fats, vitamins, and minerals.
- Nurses assess patients' nutritional status and provide dietary education and support.
- Factors influencing nutrition include age, activity level, and health status.
Elimination
- Elimination involves the removal of waste products from the body.
- Nurses monitor patients' bowel and bladder function and provide interventions to promote normal elimination.
- Common elimination problems include constipation, diarrhea, urinary retention, and urinary incontinence.
Mobility and Immobility
- Maintaining mobility is essential for physical and psychological well-being.
- Immobility can lead to complications: pressure ulcers, muscle atrophy, and decreased circulation.
- Nurses promote mobility by encouraging activity, providing range-of-motion exercises, and using assistive devices.
Rest and Sleep
- Rest and sleep are essential for physical and mental health.
- Nurses promote rest and sleep by creating a quiet and comfortable environment.
- Factors influencing sleep: stress, diet, and medications.
- Sleep disorders: insomnia and sleep apnea.
Safety
- Maintaining a safe environment is a primary responsibility of nurses.
- Safety precautions: fall prevention, infection control, and medication safety.
- Nurses identify and address safety hazards to prevent accidents, injuries, and errors.
Infection control
- Infection control involves preventing the spread of infection.
- Standard precautions: hand hygiene, use of personal protective equipment (PPE).
- Transmission-based precautions: airborne, droplet, and contact precautions, used when patients have known or suspected infections.
- Nurses play a role in preventing healthcare-associated infections (HAIs).
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