History of Nursing & U.S. Healthcare System and Policy - NUR 101 UNIT 1

Vocabulary flashcards covering key terms from History of Nursing and U.S. Healthcare System and Policy.

Nursing

The profession focused on promoting health, preventing illness, and caring for individuals, families, and communities.

Healthcare system

The network of organizations, people, and resources involved in delivering health care to a population.

Evidence-Based Practice (EBP)

Integration of the best available evidence, clinical expertise, and patient values to guide care decisions.

Just culture

A safety approach that focuses on system factors and learning from errors rather than punishing individuals; distinguishes latent vs active errors.

Profession

A discipline with technical and scientific knowledge, peer evaluation, a service orientation, and a code of ethics.

Occupation

One’s regular job or trade; not necessarily requiring professional credentials.

Discipline

A unique perspective or field of inquiry that defines its methods and scope.

Nursing history in North America

Early nursing involved bedside instruction with education gained through work; later shifted to community roles and wartime care.

Clara Barton

Founder of the American Red Cross who organized nursing on the battlefield.

Dorothea Dix

Union nurse leader and superintendent of Female Nurses during the Civil War; advocate for nursing reform.

Lillian Wald

Founder of the Henry Street Settlement; advanced public health nursing for immigrants in NYC.

Mary Brewster

Co-founder of Henry Street Settlement with Lillian Wald.

Florence Nightingale

Pioneer of modern nursing; promoted sanitation and professionalization of nursing.

Mary Mahoney

First African-American professional nurse (1879).

External influences on nursing

Consumer surveys, economy, legislation, marketing, and facility culture affecting nursing practice.

Internal influences on nursing

Increased opportunities, new research and treatments, technology vs. human touch, department culture, quality measures.

Standards and scopes of practice

Formal statements describing expected boundaries and competencies of nursing care.

Nurse practice acts

State laws regulating nursing practice and licensure; define scope and entry requirements.

Codes of ethics

Moral principles guiding professional conduct and values in nursing.

Regulatory agencies

Organizations (e.g., boards) that oversee and enforce nursing regulation and standards.

International Council of Nursing (ICN)

Represents about 130 national nurse associations to advance nursing worldwide.

American Nurses Association (ANA)

National organization that advances the nursing profession and standards of practice.

National League for Nursing (NLN)

Supports nursing education and the development of nursing services.

National Student Nurses Association (NSNA)

Represents nursing students and supports education and professional development.

American Association of Colleges of Nursing (AACN)

Represents BSN and higher-degree programs and advocates for nursing education.

American Academy of Nursing (AAN)

Focuses on advancement of nursing knowledge and leadership in the field.

Specialty Organizations

Organizations dedicated to specific nursing practice areas or specialties.

The Joint Commission (TJC)

Accredits and sets safety and quality standards for health care facilities.

Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA)

U.S. agency that sets standards to ensure safe and healthy work conditions.

Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS)

Federal department delivering health services and policy focus, including vulnerable populations.

Division of Health Service Regulation (DHSR)

Regulates health facilities to ensure safe and appropriate care.

Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS)

Federal agency that administers Medicare/Medicaid programs and reimbursement policies.

Quality & Safety Education for Nurses (QSEN)

Initiative outlining core competencies for nursing quality and safety education.

Patient-centered care

Care that respects and responds to individual patient preferences, values, and needs.

Teamwork and Collaboration

Working with others across disciplines to provide coordinated, effective care.

Quality Improvement (QI)

Systematic efforts to improve care processes and outcomes.

Safety

Minimizing risk and harm to patients through best practices and safeguards.

Informatics

Use of information technology and data to support nursing practice and patient care.

Levels of care (six levels)

Preventive, Primary, Secondary, Tertiary, Restorative, Continuing—progression from prevention to ongoing care.

DRGs (Diagnostic Related Groups)

Medicare reimbursement method that groups patients by diagnosis and resource use to standardize payments.

Medicare

Federal health insurance program for eligible older adults and certain disabled individuals.

Medicaid

State-administered program providing health coverage for low-income individuals and families.

Social determinants of health (SDOH)

Conditions in environments where people are born, live, work, and age that affect health outcomes.

Health equity

Fair distribution of health resources and opportunities across populations.

Vulnerable populations

Groups at higher risk for poor health outcomes due to inequities and barriers.

Continuing Education (CE)

Ongoing education to maintain current clinical knowledge and licensure requirements.

In-service education

Workplace training and education to update staff on policies, procedures, and new technologies.