Intro to Nursing- Chapter 16: Nursings Challenge

Challenge: Caring for Self

Nursing is hard work (physically, mentally, emotionally)

Nursing- heavy responsibilities

Challenges to self-care include: Burnout, professional dynamics, & personal responses to nursing

What are older nurses known as?

The Sandwich generation

What are health responses to true caring for self?

Exercising, sleeping, and eating well

• Volunteering, becoming involved in hobbies, honoring spiritual tradition, having a pet or a source of renewal to keep one balanced and energetic

Protect the Image of Nursing: Positive Images

“The Truth About Nursing” is dedicated to changing how the world thinks about nursing

• featured coverage in 2014- “Ebola” nurse

• utilize special media

• Maximize own education

• Promote civility

Protect the Image of Nursing: Negative Images

“Nursing Secretes” trivialized nursing knowledge as a list of tips rather than a substantive science

Highly sexualized depiction of nurses in media and in public- Halloween costumes

Challenge: Caring for the Profession: Maximize own education-

BSN as entry to practice

MSN: For advanced practice nurses is currently being replaced by doctor of nursing practice (DNP)

PhD or DNS: the degree for nurse scientists with intense training or research methods and scholarship

What is incivility?

A manifested bullying between colleagues and between faculty and students in academic settings

Continuum of Incivility: Low-risk/ Disruptive behaviors

Distracting, annoying, irritating behaviors

• Eye rolling, sarcastic comments, taunting

Continuum of Incivility: High-Risk/ Threatening Behaviors

Bullying, aggressive, potentially violent behaviors

• Racial/ethnic slurs. intimidation, Physical violence

What does Incivility include?

Incivility occurs when people are stressed and feel powerless

Incivility can briefly give a sense of control or power (often misplaced and misguided)

Social media and faceless communication keep the other person’s humanity at a distance

Caring for the Environment- Natural Environment: Chemicals

Respiratory Diseases, cancer, allergic reactions, lead & mercury poisoning, Oil spills

Caring for the Environment- Natural Environment: Climate Change

Trapping of Carbon Dioxide in atmosphere, Lung Diseases, Cancers

What does failure to care for the environment cause?

Can cause significant health implications

Caring for the Environment- Work Environment

Occupational Health Hazards:

• Needlestick and blood borne infections

• Accidents and back strain

• Shift work and sleep deprivation

Stress: Associated with work overload, inadequate staffing, and intense feelings generated by caring

Nurses- Positive, effective, united action to ensure the basic dignity & safety of practicing nurses:

Use safe needle stick devices and disposal containers

High-efficiency ventilation systems

Alternatives to latex gloves and products

Adequate environmental services support

Adequate lifting assistance with devices or additional personnel

Reduction or elimination of shift rotation and double shifts; and appropriate occupational safety and health training

Genetics and Genomics- 2003: Human Genome Project-

Initial mapping and sequencing of a composite set of human genes

Genetics and Genomics- Pharmacogenetics

Genetics variants that affect drug metabolism help determine correct drug dosing

Final Challenge: Unite & Act!

Margaret Mead: “Never believe that a few caring people can’t change the world. For indeed, that’s all who ever have”

The collaborative power of nurses

Powerful voice and presence as the largest healthcare profession

ANA Nursing Agenda for the Future- Four Basic Principles

Tolerance of differences and search for common ground

Four Major Principles for Successful Implementation of Health care Reform

1. Ensure universal access to standardized package of essential healthcare services for all citizens and residents

2. Optimize primary, community-based, and preventative services while supporting cost effective use of innovative, technology- driven, acute hospital-based services

3. Encourage mechanisms to stimulate economic use of health care services while supporting those who do not have the means to share in cost

4. Ensure a sufficient supply of a skilled workforce dedicated to providing high quality health care services