Nursing as a Science and Art

Flashcards covering the key concepts of nursing as a science and art, the nursing process, therapeutic communication, infection control, evidence-based practice, and complementary and alternative medicine.

What are the fundamental goals of nursing?

To maintain health and provide comfort.

Define nursing science.

Nursing science involves systematic knowledge built on observation, study, and research.

Who is credited with the quote about nursing as an art?

Florence Nightingale.

What are essential components of the art of nursing?

Care, compassion, communication, support, reassurance, and spiritual calling.

What is the nursing process?

A systematic, creative approach for obtaining, categorizing, and analyzing patient data to plan care actions.

List the key steps in the nursing process.

Assessment, Nursing Diagnosis, Outcome Identification & Planning, Intervention, Evaluation, Documentation.

Define critical thinking in nursing.

Goal-oriented thinking involving various skills such as identifying relevant data and making informed inferences.

What are the characteristics of critical thinking?

Rational, reasonable, creative, knowledge-based.

What does the evaluation phase of the nursing process involve?

Determining progress and effectiveness of nursing interventions.

What is therapeutic communication?

Communication essential in nursing to establish a productive nurse-client relationship.

What are the types of assessment in the assessment phase?

Initial, Focus, Emergency, and Time-Lapsed assessments.

What is the purpose of data validation in nursing assessments?

To ensure data accuracy and reliability.

What are the types of nursing diagnoses?

Actual, High-Risk, Possible, and Wellness nursing diagnoses.

What is the Focus Charting method?

A structured note format for documenting a patient’s health, care provided, effects of care, and continuity of care.

What are the elements of Focus Charting?

Focus, Data, Action, Response.

What is the significance of asepsis in healthcare?

Asepsis is crucial for preventing the growth and spread of pathogens.

What are the two types of asepsis?

Medical Asepsis (clean technique) and Surgical Asepsis (sterile technique).

List two types of infectious agents.

Bacteria and Viruses.

What are nosocomial infections?

Infections acquired in healthcare facilities at least 12 hours post-admission.

What are the core elements of evidence-based practice (EBP)?

Clinical expertise, best research evidence, and patient values and preferences.

List the major steps in evidence-based practice.

Formulate clinical questions, search for evidence, appraise evidence, integrate evidence with clinical expertise, assess results.

Define complementary and alternative medicine (CAM).

A range of medical therapies that fall outside of mainstream healthcare.

What major act was established to support research in CAM?

Creation of the NCCAM (National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine).