NSC 201 Foundations of Nursing Concepts and Approaches PDF

NSC 201 - FOUNDATIONS OF NURSING CONCEPTS AND APPROACHES IN NURSING. MRS KIKELOMO ENAHOLO Nursing is a vital profession, providing care for patients and improving quality of life for individuals. Nursing fundamentals are essential for understanding the concepts and approaches that guide n...

NSC 201 - FOUNDATIONS OF NURSING CONCEPTS AND APPROACHES IN NURSING. MRS KIKELOMO ENAHOLO Nursing is a vital profession, providing care for patients and improving quality of life for individuals. Nursing fundamentals are essential for understanding the concepts and approaches that guide nurses in their practice. Nursing Science: is a field of study focused on human caring, incorporating arts, humanities and research based on reflective, subjective, objective and interpretive knowledge (Nursing Clinics of North America, 2009) Nursing Science: is a social science that studies how to reconcile clinical ideas with human behavior. Nursing: is the care of individuals, families, groups and communities of all ages, in all setting and in both healthy and sick states (World Health Organization) Nursing: is the care of individuals, families, groups and communities in all settings and at all ages including promoting health, preventing illness, caring for people who are ill, disabled or dying, planning, implementing and evaluating care (International Council of Nurses) Nursing: The unique function of the nurse is to assist the individual, sick or well, in the performance of those activities contributing to health or its recovery (or to a peaceful death) that he would perform unaided if he had the necessary strength, will or knowledge (Henderson & Nite, 1978) Communication and interpersonal skills: is the fundamental aspect of nursing as it enables nurses build relationships with patients and colleagues while also enabling them to provide accurate assessment and treatment plans. Communication between healthcare professionals is important in order to ensure the best possible outcome for patients. It also enhances patient-centered care that focuses on delivering individualized care based on a patient’s needs, preferences and values. It involves paying close attention to verbal and non-verbal cues from patients in order to better understand their feelings, needs and concerns. Nursing students should strive to develop these skills as they will be invaluable when working with patients throughout their career. With strong communication skills, nurses can create meaningful relationships with their patients while providing the best possible care. Teamwork and collaboration: Good communication and interpersonal relationship skills are the foundation of successful teamwork and collaboration. Inter-professional collaborations, patient advocacy, cultural sensitivity, problem solving, service improvement, increased patients’ satisfaction, open dialogue and a supportive working environment and effective conflict resolution are essential components of any successful organization. The following fundamental Concepts and Approaches are essential for nurses to master in order to provide safe and quality care. 1) Self care strategy: helps nurses maintain their own well-being so they can better serve their patients. 2) Patient advocacy: it emphasizes the nurse’s role as an advocate/a mouthpiece for the patients, for their rights and to their best interests. 3) Cultural diversity: helps nurses to understand the unique needs of each patient and how they can best respond to them. 4) Health literacy: this involves understanding how to communicate information effectively with the patients. 5) Time management: a good nurse must be able to prioritize tasks efficiently in order to deliver quality care in a timely manner. 6) Learning and personal development programs to acquire more knowledge and new trends about the profession. ROLE OF NURSES Nurse education is an essential aspect of the nursing profession, as it is the foundation for nurses to gain the knowledge and skills necessary to provide quality patient care. Patient care is the core responsibility of nurses and it involves providing holistic and evidence-based care to patients in a variety of healthcare settings. Informatics technology: effective use of electronic medical records and computerized entry systems for proper and secured records and documentations. Effective and resourceful time management and patient’s advocacy are all important areas that should be considered when discussing nurse education. Patient’s care: nurses must be able to provide psychosocial support for their patients, understanding the emotional context in which their illness exists. Cultural sensitivity: knowledge and respect for different backgrounds and cultures are crucial to establishing trust. End-of-life care: should be offered with compassion and dignity, allowing nurses to provide comfort and solace to those nearing the end of their lives. However, specific roles of nurses depend on their fields of specialization and service areas. The responsibilities of a perioperative nurse differs from that of a paediatric nurse or an ophthalmic nurse. PROFESSIONAL STANDARDS 1. Patient safety 2. Clinical competence 3. Ethical practice 4. Risk assessment 5. Time management 6. Documentation 7. Critical thinking 8. Active listening 9. Informed consent 10. Privacy protection 11. Caring practices 12. Empathic communication 13. Inter-professional collaboration 14. Inter-disciplinary dynamics LEGAL AND ETHICAL ISSUES IN NURSING Caring practices and Legal and Ethical Issues are two distinct but inseparable individual topics in nursing fundamentals. The legal and ethical issues in nursing are complex and require nurses to be aware of the regulations that apply to their practice, as well as the rights of the patients. The following factors are to be considered very well and understood. 1. End of life care: the nurses must respect patient autonomy in this regard. Must understand the relevant laws about withholding or withdrawing treatment. It is imperative that nurses are aware of patient preferences regarding end-of-life care such as advanced directives or health care proxies so they can ensure those wishes that are not against your professional standrds are carried out and well documented with a witness. 2. Patient Rights: nurses are to ensure that patient rights are to be respected throughout the course of care. This includes informed consent, maintaining confidentiality and ensuring privacy amongst others. 3. Consent form: is a critical part of any medical procedure or treatment plan. Nurses and doctors should explain all potential risks 4. Confidentiality Laws: nurses must understand applicable confidentiality laws in order to protect patient information from being inappropriately accessed or shared by unauthorized personnel. This includes electronic records as well as proper disposal of all paper works and records. If any breach is observed or suspected, nurses must take appropriate action immediately. 5. Malpractices Lawsuits: Nurses should always remain vigilant about potential malpractice lawsuits that may arise from careless errors or negligence during care provision. This includes an awareness of common mistakes made by other healthcare professionals so you can avoid making similar ones yourself. It is also important for nurses to stay up to date on any changes in healthcare regulations and laws that could affect their practices, as these can often lead to malpractice suit if not followed correctly. 6. Risk assessment: helps to identify potential risks associated with certain activities or treatments so that appropriate precautions can be taken. 7. Documentation: documentation techniques are used to accurately record all aspects of patient care including changes in condition, treatments provided and outcomes. 8. Observational skills: this allows nurses to detect subtle changes in a patient’s condition or behaviour that may indicate a need for further evaluation or intervention. 9. Critical thinking: involves analyzing data, making informed decisions and formulating plans of care based on best practices. 10. Active listening: involves being attentive to the patient’s needs and responding in an appropriate manner. 11. Privacy protection: involves maintaining confidentiality of patient’s information and adhering to applicable laws regarding data security. 12. Inter-professional collaboration: this involves health care professionals from various disciplines working together in a holistic, coordinated and collaborative manner to ensure patient-centered care. 13. Interdisciplinary dynamics: this is essential for effective communication and coordination of care between health care providers and ensure that all perspectives are considered. 14. Clinical competence: involves competency assessment, clinical decision making, and continuing professional development. 15. Empathic communication: this is important for building trust with patients. It requires nurses to take an active interest in the patient’s story and to have genuine concern for the patient. It simply means, putting yourself in the position of the patient and imagine how it feels. 16. Ethical practice: it involves respect for autonomy, beneficence and respect for diversity.