Download Introduction to nursing practice

Introduction to nursing practice
A definition of nursing
According to the American Nurses Association,
“Nursing is the protection, promotion, and
optimization of health and abilities,
prevention of illness and injury, alleviation of
suffering through the diagnosis and
treatment of human response, and advocacy
in the care of individuals, families,
communities and populations.”
What does it take to be a nurse?
• Knowledge- biology, chemistry, math, psychology
• Skill- ability to start IV’s, insert catheters, take blood
pressures
• Cool head- needed in times of crisis
• Integrity- high moral and professional standards
• Patience- ability to take the time to listen to patients
and their families
• Empathy- ability to understand another person’s
feelings
• Kindness- consideration, caring and compassion
Nursing is an art and a science
• Nursing is a combination of scientific
knowledge, compassion, and respect for
human dignity.
• Nurses integrate science into practice with
patients in order to provide high-quality,
effective health care
• Nursing is hard work but provides many
personal and professional rewards
Nursing is a profession
• Nursing is not simply a collection of specific
skills
• Nurses are not simply workers trained to
carry out patient care tasks
• Nurses are trained professionals who provide
quality health care for patients, families, and
communities
Nursing is a profession because…
• Nursing requires extensive education and
training
• Nursing has a body of knowledge all its own
• Nurses provide a specialized service
• Nurses have autonomy to make decisions in
their practice
• Nursing has a code of ethics for practice
Professional performance standards
• To ensure that the nursing profession
continues to provide high-quality care
to patients, families, and communities,
standards were developed by the ANA
• These standards serve as benchmarks to
define what is the professional practice
of nursing
ANA
Professional Performance Standards
• Describes expected professional behavior for
nurses
• Expectations for high-quality care and
collaboration among nurses and health care
professionals
• Serve as objective criteria for nurses to be
responsible for their practice
ANA
Standards of Nursing Practice
• Describe the proficient level of nursing care
• Describe expectations for use of nursing
process in clinical practice
• Include nursing accountability for patient
teaching, culturally appropriate care,
planning of care, and collaboration
Nursing education
• Two types of undergraduate nursing
programs are currently offered in the U.S.:
• 2-year associate degree
• 4-year baccalaureate degree
• Both programs prepare students to take the
NCLEX-RN exam
• The national licensing exam for registered nurses
• The NCLEX-RN exam is the same across the U.S.,
so nurses can easily transfer licenses from state to
state
Nurse Practice Acts
• States have Nurse Practice Act documents that
define the practice of nursing for that particular
state.
• Michigan does not have a “Nurse Practice Act”
with that title- MI Public Health Code and the MI
Board of Nursing’s Administrative Rules instead.
• These documents are available from the MI
Department of Consumer and Industry Services.
Nursing professional
organizations
• American Nurses Association
• Works to promote high standards of
nursing practice and a positive, realistic
view of nurses
• National League for Nursing
• Works to promote excellence in nursing
education
Different types of nurses
LPN:
• Has 1 year of training
• May follow doctors’ orders for simple
procedures and giving drugs
• May not plan care for patients
• Some facilities allow LPNs to do admission
assessments, others require RN to do so or
co-sign LPN assessment
Different types of nurses
Nursing assistant
• Also known as “CNA” or “Nurse aide”
• Training requirements vary, but generally
is few months
• Assist nurses with basic tasks such as bed
baths, feeding patients, taking vital signs
• Are invaluable to nurses- treat them with
respect and stay on their good side!
Different types of nurses
• Associate’s vs. Bachelor’s prepared RNs
• Both take same licensure exam (NCLEXRN) to become RNs
• Same basic job duties
• May have the same pay scale in some
facilities
• Major debate raging: that BSN should be
minimum for RN status
Associate’s degree RN
• 2-year program at a community college
• Fewer liberal arts classes required for degree
• No leadership content, minimal focus on
critical thinking, professionalism
• No nursing research content, minimal
community health content
Associate’s degree RN
• Generally expected to function in the
hospital, doctor’s office, or nursing home
setting
• Generally restricted to staff duties in
hospitals- BSN usually required for
management and supervisory positions
• Must complete BSN before starting work on
advanced practice nursing degree
Why BSN?
• A 2003 study by the AACN showed that
patients in hospitals with mainly BSNprepared nurses had better outcomes than
patients at hospitals with mainly ADNprepared nurses.
• BSN RNs are better prepared for complex
decision making and critical thinking to
handle patient emergencies
Aiken, L., Clarke, S., Cheung, R., Sloane, D., & Silber, J. (2003). Educational
levels of hospital nurses and surgical patient mortality. Journal of the
American Medical Association, 290(12), 1617-1623.
BSN-prepared nurses
• BSNs are better prepared to handle patient
care, including:
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Case management
Patient emergencies
Supervising nursing assistants
Functioning as charge nurse
• More career opportunities for BSN nurses:
• Management and administration
• Specialty units and practice