Nursing Fundamentals Overview

Study Notes

A blend of science and art, utilizing knowledge, skills, and attitudes.
Aims to assist individuals, families, and communities in maintaining health and navigating illness.
Encompasses health promotion, illness prevention, disease management, complication avoidance, and rehabilitation.

Assisting individuals and groups to maintain optimal health across the lifespan.
Involves assessing health status, establishing diagnoses, planning care, implementing care plans, evaluating responses to care, and adjusting care as needed.

Individuals who assist nurses under the direct or indirect supervision of registered nurses.

A healthcare professional who has completed a basic, general nursing education program.
Licensed to practice nursing in their country of practice.

General Scope of Practice:
- Health promotion, illness prevention, disease management, and care for individuals with disabilities in all healthcare settings.
Specific Roles:
- Specialist: Advanced expertise in a specific nursing field with advanced education.
- Caregiver: Providing nursing care, implementing strategies, and administering treatments.
- Teacher: Educating clients and peers about nursing principles and practices, ensuring their knowledge is updated with advancements in science, technology, and education.
- Counselor: Assisting clients in coping with stress, social challenges, and providing psychological support. Requires skilled therapeutic communication.
- Leader: Guiding families, client groups, communities, and professional colleagues. Effective communication is essential.
- Manager: Coordinating resources and managing responsibilities through planning, organizing, directing, and controlling actions according to specific institutional goals and objectives.
- Collaborator: Working effectively with other healthcare professionals to ensure smooth care delivery and address shared responsibilities.
- Consultant: Referring or transferring clients to other healthcare professionals.

Assess clients' health status (collect data).
Establish nursing diagnoses and set goals.
Determine appropriate nursing approaches and activities.
Implement care plans by providing supportive, restorative, and life-sustaining care.
Evaluate the effectiveness of nursing care.
Re-evaluate care plans as needed.
Authorize nursing interventions that can be performed by other qualified individuals.
Maintain safe and effective nursing care.
Teach the theory and practice of nursing.
Manage the practice of nursing.
Collaborate with other health professionals in managing healthcare.