Nursing Basics: Core Principles

• Basic nursing combines key principles and practices for excellent patient care.
• It is the base for all other nursing specialties.
• Basic nursing skills include a range of tasks from hygiene to safety.
• A holistic strategy is used, focusing on physical, emotional, and social requirements of individuals, families, and communities.
• Nurses use critical thinking, problem-solving, and communication to improve health, prevent sickness, and help patients manage conditions.

Core Values and Principles

• Respect for Persons means recognizing each person's intrinsic dignity and worth, regardless of origin, beliefs, or health.
• Autonomy means supporting patients' rights to make knowledgeable health-care decisions.
• Beneficence means acting in patients' best interests by promoting wellness.
• Non-maleficence means preventing or minimizing care-related dangers to avoid patient harm.
• Justice means guaranteeing fair resource allocation and healthcare access.
• Code of Ethics: Nurses follow a code of ethics which informs their conduct and decisions.

Key Skills and Competencies

• Assessment involves collecting and analyzing patient data to identify needs and formulate a care plan.
• Diagnosis involves determining any current or potential health issues using assessment data.
• Planning involves defining goals and choosing suitable nursing interventions to suit patient needs.
• Implementation involves carrying out the nursing interventions in the care plan.
• Evaluation involves assessing nursing intervention effectiveness and making adjustments.
• Communication involves building trusting connections with patients and communicating effectively with other healthcare workers.
• Critical Thinking means one can analyze data, solve problems, and make sound clinical judgments.
• Technical Skills include performing vital sign measurements, administering medications, doing wound care, and assisting patients with hygiene.

Basic Nursing Procedures

Hygiene

• Maintaining patient hygiene is crucial for preventing infection and promoting comfort.
• Bathing helps remove dirt, sweat, and microorganisms from the skin.
• Oral care prevents oral infections.
• Regular skin assessments help to detect early signs of skin breakdown.
• Perineal care is essential for preventing urinary tract infections and skin irritation.
• Proper hand hygiene by healthcare providers is the single most effective measure to prevent the spread of infection.
• Assisting patients with bathing, dressing, and oral hygiene enhances comfort and prevents infection.

Nutrition

• Adequate nutrition is vital for healing and maintaining bodily functions.
• Nurses assist patients with feeding, monitor intake, and address nutritional deficiencies.
• Dietary modifications may be necessary based on the patient's condition such as diabetes or heart failure.
• Hydration is important.
• Helping patients with meals ensures they get adequate nutrition and hydration.

Elimination

• Monitoring bowel and bladder function is essential for identifying and addressing elimination problems.
• Nurses assist patients with toileting, manage catheters, and administer enemas.
• Accurate recording of intake and output is crucial for assessing fluid balance.
• Helping patients with toileting manages bowel and bladder function.

Mobility

• Promoting mobility helps prevent complications such as pressure ulcers, muscle weakness, and blood clots.
• Nurses assist patients with ambulation, perform range-of-motion exercises, and use assistive devices.
• Positioning patients correctly in bed is important for preventing pressure ulcers and respiratory problems.
• Helping patients walk and perform range-of-motion exercises prevents immobility complications.

Vital Signs

• Vital signs include temperature, pulse, respiration, and blood pressure which are key indicators of a patient's overall condition.
• Accurate measurement and interpretation of vital signs are essential.
• Nurses need to recognize deviations from normal ranges and respond appropriately.
• Pain is often considered the fifth vital sign.
• Measuring temperature, pulse, respiration, and blood pressure assesses a patient's physiological state.

Safety

• Maintaining a safe environment is a top priority which reduces the risk of falls, injuries, and other complications.
• Nurses implement safety measures such as bed alarms, side rails, and non-slip footwear.
• Proper lifting techniques are essential for preventing injury to both patients and healthcare providers.
• Medication Safety: Prevents errors by following the rights of medication administration: right patient, drug, dose, route, time, documentation, reason, and response.
• Infection Control: Prevents infection through precautions, and hand hygiene.
• Fall Prevention: Identifies at-risk patients and implements measures to prevent falls.
• Pressure Ulcer Prevention: Identifies at-risk patients and implements measures to prevent skin breakdown.
• Patient Identification: Verifies patient identity before administering medications or performing procedures.
• Communication: Clear communication among healthcare team members prevents errors.

Patient Care Techniques

• Patient care techniques involve the practical application of nursing skills to meet individual patient needs.
• These techniques are evidence-based and are continuously refined to improve patient outcomes.

Assessment

• Comprehensive assessment is the foundation of patient care, involving collecting subjective and objective data.
• Subjective data includes the patient's symptoms, feelings, and perceptions.
• Objective data includes vital signs, physical examination findings, and laboratory results.
• Assessment is an ongoing process that guides nursing interventions and evaluates their effectiveness.
• Collecting and analyzing patient data to identify needs and formulate a care plan.

Medication Administration

• Nurses are responsible for safely administering medications, including verifying the order, preparing the medication, and educating the patient.
• The "rights" of medication administration help to prevent errors: right patient, right medication, right dose, right route, right time, right documentation, and right reason.
• Nurses monitor patients for adverse effects and drug interactions, reporting any concerns to the prescriber.
• Administering medications safely and correctly following prescribed orders.

Wound Care

• Wound care involves cleaning, dressing, and monitoring wounds to promote healing and prevent infection.
• Nurses assess the wound characteristics, such as size, depth, and drainage, to determine the appropriate treatment.
• Different types of dressings are used based on the wound type and healing stage such as hydrocolloids, foams, and alginates.
• Aseptic technique is crucial when performing wound care to minimize the risk of infection.
• Examining and treating wounds promotes healing and prevents infection.

Specimen Collection

• Nurses collect various specimens such as urine, blood, and sputum for diagnostic testing.
• Proper collection techniques are essential to ensure accurate results.
• Sterile containers are used for collecting specimens to prevent contamination.
• Specimens are labeled and transported according to established protocols.
• Collecting samples for lab tests follows proper procedures.

Patient Safety

• Medication Safety: Prevents errors by following the rights of medication administration: right patient, drug, dose, route, time, documentation, reason, and response.
• Infection Control: Prevents infection through precautions, and hand hygiene.
• Fall Prevention: Identifies at-risk patients and implements measures to prevent falls.
• Pressure Ulcer Prevention: Identifies at-risk patients and implements measures to prevent skin breakdown.
• Patient Identification: Verifies patient identity before administering medications or performing procedures.
• Communication: Clear communication among healthcare team members prevents errors.

Legal and Ethical Considerations

• Nurse Practice Act: Each state's Act defines nursing practice scope and standards.
• Informed Consent: Getting consent before treatments or procedures.
• Confidentiality: Protecting patient data.
• Documentation: Accurately recording patient care in medical records.
• Advance Directives: Honoring patient wishes through living wills and healthcare power of attorney.
• Negligence: Avoiding acts that could harm patients.

Communication Techniques

• Active Listening: Paying attention fully.
• Therapeutic Communication: Using open-ended questions, reflection, and empathy.
• Nonverbal Communication: Awareness of body language, facial expressions, and tone of voice.
• Communication with Families: Providing information and support.
• Interprofessional Communication: Coordinating patient care with other healthcare pros.

Health Promotion and Education

• Health Teaching: Educating patients about conditions, medications, and self-care.
• Disease Prevention: Teaching about immunizations, screenings, and healthy habits.
• Promoting Wellness: Encouraging healthy behaviors and informed decisions.
• Patient Empowerment: Encouraging active participation in their healthcare choices.

Common Health Problems

• Cardiovascular Disorders: Hypertension, heart failure, coronary artery disease
• Respiratory Disorders: Asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), pneumonia
• Endocrine Disorders: Diabetes mellitus, thyroid disorders
• Neurological Disorders: Stroke, Parkinson's disease, Alzheimer's disease
• Musculoskeletal Disorders: Arthritis, osteoporosis, fractures
• Gastrointestinal Disorders: Ulcers, inflammatory bowel disease, liver disease
• Genitourinary Disorders: Urinary tract infections, kidney disease
• Mental Health Disorders: Depression, anxiety, schizophrenia.

Special Populations

• Infants and Children: Delivering appropriate care, giving vaccinations, and teaching parents.
• Adolescents: Discussing puberty, sexuality, drug usage, and mental health.
• Pregnant Women: Offering prenatal care, tracking fetal development, and teaching women about labor and delivery.
• Older Adults: Managing chronic illnesses, cognitive decline, falls, and polypharmacy.
• Patients with Disabilities: Providing individualized care and support.
• Culturally Diverse Populations: Delivering culturally sensitive care.

Documentation

• Accurate, timely documentation ensures patient safety.
• Documentation includes:
  • Assessment findings
  • Nursing diagnoses
  • Interventions
  • Patient responses
  • Medications administered
  • Patient education
• Use standard forms and electronic records (EHRs).
• Follow legal and ethical guidelines.
• Accurate and timely documentation is essential for communicating patient information, tracking progress, and ensuring continuity of care.
• Nurses document assessments, interventions, and patient responses in the medical record.
• Documentation should be objective, factual, and concise.
• Electronic health records (EHRs) are commonly used for documentation, improving access to patient information.

Infection Control Principles

• Hand hygiene is key to preventing infection.
• Use soap/water or sanitizer.
• Use standard precautions with all patients.
• Use transmission-based precautions for known/suspected infections.
• Use PPE (gloves, gowns, masks, eye protection).
• Dispose of contaminated materials properly.
• Promote vaccination.

Emergency Care

• Basic Life Support (BLS): CPR, Heimlich maneuver
• First Aid: Wound care, burn care, splinting
• Recognize/respond to emergencies (heart attack, stroke, anaphylaxis).
• Call for help/activate EMS.
• Nurses must be prepared to respond to medical emergencies, such as cardiac arrest, respiratory distress, and anaphylaxis.
• Basic life support (BLS) skills, including CPR, are essential.
• Nurses administer emergency medications and assist with advanced life support measures.
• Effective communication and teamwork are crucial during emergency situations.

Ethical Principles

• Autonomy: Respect patient decisions.
• Beneficence: Act in their best interest.
• Nonmaleficence: Avoid harm.
• Justice: Treat all patients fairly.
• Fidelity: Be loyal and committed.
• Veracity: Be truthful.
• Confidentiality: Protect privacy.
• Accountability: Accept responsibility.
• Nursing ethics are the moral principles that guide nursing practice, ensuring that nurses provide compassionate and ethical care.
• Ethical dilemmas often arise in healthcare.
• Nurses must uphold these ethical principles while respecting patient autonomy and promoting well-being.
• Autonomy refers to the patient's right to make informed decisions about their own healthcare.
• Nurses respect patient autonomy by providing accurate information and supporting their choices.
• Informed consent is a key aspect of autonomy.
• Patients have the right to refuse treatment, even if it may be life-saving.
• Beneficence involves acting in the patient's best interest, promoting their well-being.
• Nurses strive to provide care that benefits the patient and improves their quality of life.
• Balancing benefits and risks is a key consideration in beneficence.
• Non-maleficence means "do no harm."
• Nurses avoid actions that could potentially harm patients.
• This principle underscores the importance of safety and competence in nursing practice.
• Justice involves treating all patients fairly and equitably, regardless of their background, beliefs, or socioeconomic status.
• Nurses advocate for equal access to healthcare resources and services.
• Ethical dilemmas related to justice often arise in situations involving resource allocation and healthcare disparities.
• Fidelity refers to keeping promises and maintaining loyalty to patients.
• Nurses uphold their commitments to provide care and advocate for their patients' needs.
• Maintaining confidentiality is a key aspect of fidelity.
• Veracity means telling the truth.
• Nurses provide honest and accurate information to patients, even when it is difficult.
• Honesty builds trust.
• Confidentiality involves protecting patient privacy.
• Nurses do not disclose patient information without their consent, except in certain legal or ethical situations.
• HIPAA (Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act) protects the privacy of patient health information.
• Nurses act as advocates for their patients, speaking up for their rights and needs.
• Advocacy involves supporting patients in making informed decisions and accessing necessary resources.
• Nurses advocate for policies that promote patient well-being and improve healthcare delivery.
• Ethical decision-making involves a systematic process of analyzing ethical dilemmas and determining the best course of action.
• Gather relevant information, identify the ethical principles involved, and consider the potential consequences of different actions.
• Consultation with ethics committees or experienced colleagues can be helpful in resolving complex ethical issues.

Safety Measures

• Patient Identification: Use two identifiers.
• Medication Administration: Follow the "rights."
• Fall Prevention: Assess risk, use prevention.
• Pressure Ulcer Prevention: Follow protocols.
• Fire Safety: Know the fire plan.
• Electrical Safety: Inspect equipment.
• Hazardous Materials: Handle/dispose of them properly.

Explore fundamental nursing principles for patient care. Learn about respect, autonomy, beneficence, and justice in healthcare. Understand the core values that guide ethical nursing practice and quality patient care.