Nursing Specialties and Scope of Practice Quiz

Nurses and Nurse Practitioners

• Nurses are distinct from other healthcare providers due to their unique approach to patient care, focusing on the whole person, not just the disease or condition.

Nurse Practitioners in the U.S.

• Nurse practitioners (NPs) differ from nurses in that they have advanced education, typically a master's or doctoral degree, and are licensed to provide primary and specialty care, prescribe medications, and order diagnostic tests.

Trends in Nurse Education

• Since the postwar period, a significant trend in nurse education has been the shift from hospital-based diploma programs to academic degree programs, with an emphasis on liberal arts and sciences.

Focus of the Plan of Care

• The primary focus of the plan of care developed by nurses is to identify and prioritize the patient's physical, emotional, and psychological needs, providing individualized care.

Global Availability of Qualified Nurses

• Currently, there is a global shortage of qualified nurses, with a predicted shortage of 7.2 million nurses worldwide by 2030, emphasizing the need for increased investment in nurse education and workforce development.