Fundamentals of Nursing – Historical Perspective, Roles & Professional Foundations

Vocabulary flashcards covering historical developments, definitions, aims, roles, competencies, education, legal foundations, the nursing process, and professional wellness issues.

Hospital Schools of Nursing (19th – early 20th c.)

Training programs run by hospitals to supply inexpensive, easily controlled nursing staff.

Early Female Nurses

Worked under the authority of male administrators and physicians in hospital settings.

World War II Impact on Nursing

Drew large numbers of women into the workforce, promoting independence and expanding nursing roles through medical and technological advances.

Nutrix

Latin root of the word “nursing,” meaning “to nourish.”

ICN Definition of Nursing

Describes nursing as the promotion of health, prevention of illness, and provision of collaborative care.

ANA Social Policy Statement

Defines nursing’s commitment to society, outlining its purpose, scope and standards.

Central Focus of Nursing

The patient, considered holistically in physical, emotional, social, and spiritual dimensions.

Promote Health

An aim of nursing that encourages behaviors to increase well-being and actualize human health potential.

Prevent Illness

Nursing aim focused on reducing risk of disease through education and healthy lifestyle promotion.

Restore Health

Nursing aim involving direct care activities that help patients recover optimal function after illness or injury.

Facilitate Coping

Assisting patients and families to deal with disability, chronic conditions, or end-of-life issues.

Caregiver

Role in which the nurse integrates all nursing skills to meet holistic patient needs.

Communicator

Nursing role that involves effective exchange of information with patients, families, and the healthcare team.

Teacher / Educator

Role focused on imparting knowledge to promote informed health decisions and self-care.

Counselor

Nursing role providing emotional support and guidance in problem-solving.

Leader

Role involving direction, motivation, and coordination of patient care and team activities.

Researcher

Nurse who investigates problems systematically to generate evidence for practice.

Advocate

Role in which the nurse protects patients’ rights and helps them navigate the healthcare system.

Collaborator

Nurse who works with inter-professional team members toward common patient goals.

QSEN: Patient-Centered Care

Recognizing the patient as the source of control and full partner in care decisions.

QSEN: Teamwork & Collaboration

Functioning effectively within nursing and inter-professional teams to foster open communication and shared decision-making.

QSEN: Quality Improvement

Using data to monitor care outcomes and implement methods for ongoing enhancement.

QSEN: Safety

Minimizing risk of harm to patients and providers through system and individual performance.

QSEN: Evidence-Based Practice

Integrating best current evidence with clinical expertise and patient preferences.

QSEN: Informatics

Using information and technology to communicate, manage knowledge, and support decision-making.

QSEN: Systems-Based Practice

Awareness of and responsiveness to the larger healthcare system to provide optimal care.

QSEN: Leadership

Ability to influence others to improve quality of care and patient outcomes.

QSEN: Professionalism

Demonstration of accountable practice, ethical behavior, and continuous professional growth.

Genetic Inheritance

Biologic factors passed from parents that influence individual health risks.

Health Literacy

Capacity to obtain, process, and understand basic health information needed to make decisions.

Socioeconomic Status

Economic and social position that can affect access to healthcare and health outcomes.

Lifestyle & Environment

Personal habits and surrounding conditions that influence health status.

Preventing Illness (Nursing Strategies)

Teaching, role-modeling, community programs, and health assessments aimed at risk reduction.

Practical / Vocational Nursing Education

Programs that prepare Licensed Practical/Vocational Nurses (LPN/LVN) for basic bedside care.

Diploma in Nursing

Hospital-based RN education lasting ~3 years, emphasizing clinical experience.

Associate Degree in Nursing (ADN)

Two-year community college program preparing graduates for RN licensure.

Baccalaureate in Nursing (BSN)

Four-year university program integrating liberal arts, science, and nursing theory for RN practice.

Graduate Education in Nursing

Master’s and doctoral programs that prepare advanced practice nurses, educators, researchers, and leaders.

Continuing Education (CE)

Structured learning activities beyond basic licensure to maintain and enhance competence.

In-Service Education

Instruction or training provided by an employer to increase knowledge related to job duties.

Nurse Practice Act

State law defining the legal scope of nursing practice and protecting the public.

State Board of Nursing

Regulatory body created to enforce the Nurse Practice Act and oversee licensure.

Standards of Nursing Practice

Authoritative statements that describe responsibilities for which nurses are accountable.

Nursing Process

Systematic framework guiding nursing care through assessment, diagnosis, planning, implementation, and evaluation.

Assessment (Nursing Process)

Collecting comprehensive data pertinent to the patient’s health or situation.

Diagnosis / Analysis

Nurse’s clinical judgment about actual or potential health problems.

Planning

Developing individualized strategies and goals to address nursing diagnoses.

Implementation

Executing the planned nursing interventions to achieve goals.

Evaluation

Determining patient outcomes and the effectiveness of the nursing care plan.

Compassion Fatigue

Emotional exhaustion and reduced empathy resulting from prolonged caregiving.

Burnout

State of physical, emotional, and mental exhaustion caused by long-term job stress.

Secondary Traumatic Stress

Stress experienced from exposure to others’ traumatic events within the caregiving role.

Nursing Shortage

Insufficient supply of qualified nurses, impacting workload and patient care quality.

Technology in Nursing

Use of advanced tools and informatics to enhance efficiency, accuracy, and patient outcomes.