Nursing Chapter 1

Chapter 1

• Nursing practice has become more independent in the last 50 years due to increased education, especially advanced practice roles like Nurse Practitioners (NPs). This has led to greater autonomy and a stronger focus on evidence-based practice.
• Nursing's historical development emphasizes patient advocacy, holistic care, and ethical conduct, establishing nurses as vital members of the healthcare team with specialized skills.
• Distinct pathways for nursing practice include Certified Nursing Assistants (CNAs), Licensed Practical Nurses (LPNs), Associate Degree Nurses (ADNs), Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSNs), and Nurse Practitioners (NPs).
• Different levels of nursing education and scope of practice exist – CNA (entry-level supervision by RNs), LPN (one-year schooling), RN (assessing, monitoring, and treating patients), ASN (Associates degree for RNs), BSN (comprehensive nursing roles), and NP (masters or doctoral degree plus licensed).
• Roles and responsibilities of RNs encompass patient assessment, recording of medical history, preparing patients for procedures, administering medications, monitoring side effects, and more.
• Professional nursing organizations establish standards of nursing practice, provide education, advocate for policies, and improve patient care.
• Key theories in nursing practice include Florence Nightingale's environmental theory, which emphasizes factors like fresh air, pure water, cleanliness, and effective drainage for optimal health.

Chapter 20

• The chain of infection has six components: infectious agent, reservoir, portal of exit, mode of transmission, portal of entry, and susceptible host.
• Infection transmission occurs through various modes: vehicle, direct, indirect, vector, droplet, and airborne.
• Factors increasing infection risk include weakened immune systems, invasive procedures, open wounds, long hospital stays, improper hygiene, overuse of antibiotics, shared equipment, and high-risk patient areas.
• Healthcare personnel and agencies play a critical role in infection control through hand hygiene, PPE usage, patient isolation, and adherence to standard/transmission-based precautions.
• Caregivers can improve their safety and decrease transmission by practicing good hand hygiene, wearing appropriate PPE, following respiratory hygiene, disinfecting surfaces, and using isolation precautions according to protocols.

Chapter 27

• The body's normal resistance to infection includes physical barriers (skin, mucous membranes), innate immune cells (neutrophils, macrophages), the complement system, and the adaptive immune system (B cells, T cells).

Additional Information

• Chapter 17: Factors affecting safety include environmental hazards, individual factors (patient acuity, communication breakdown etc), and poor safety culture.
• Chapter 24: Factors affecting personal hygiene include cultural practices, socioeconomic status, and developmental level.
• Chapter 25: Normal functions of the musculoskeletal system and movement include the factors affecting mobility (age, disease, environment).
• Chapter 25: Impact of immobility on the body encompasses many areas, both physiological (cardiovascular, respiratory, gastrointestinal, musculoskeletal) and psychological.
• Chapter 25: Proper self-care involves proper hygiene (bathing, perineal care etc).
• Chapter 25: Self-care assessment includes subjective reports, observation of daily activities, physical appearance, hygiene, nutritional intake, sleep.