NSG 100 I: Foundations of Nursing

Nurse

A professional regulated to practice nursing skills and enhance health literacy, promote health, prevent illness, and more.

Profession

A definition that has three main elements: disciplinary knowledge, regulation specifying standards, and codes of behavior.

Scientific Knowledge

A definition recognizing the various form of knowledge such as ethical, personal, aesthetic, and more.

Skills

A definition used to encompass the multitude of expertise in nursing practice.

Philosophy of Nursing

A definition that refers to the core values and principles of nursing practice.

• Nursing as an Art

• Nursing as a Science

(2) Types of Nursing

Nursing as an Art

A type of nursing that relies on knowledge gained from practice and reflection of past experiences.

Nursing as a Science

A type of nursing that is based on tested knowledge that is applied in the practice setting.

Caring

The core foundation of nursing.

• Love of God

• Love of People

• Love of Country

(3) Nursing Education Core Values

• Compassion

• Competence

• Confidence

• Conscience

• Commitment

(5) C’s of Love of God

Love of People

Respect for dignity of each person regardless of creed, color, gender, or political affiliation.

Love of Country

Patriotism and enhancement of the environment and cultural heritage.

Florence Nightingale

She stated, “God spoke to me and called me to His service.”

• Care Provider

• Communicator

• Teacher

• Counselor

• Client Advocate

• Change Agent

• Leader

• Manager

• Researcher

(9) Professional Roles of Nurses

Care Provider

A role of nurses that provides direct, hands-on care to the patient.

Communicator

A role of nurses that are the central contact in healthcare, effectively communicating with the patient, families, and other health care professionals.

Teacher

A role of nurses that educates patients and their families about health conditions, treatment, and self-care.

Counselor

A role of nurses that offer emotional, psychological, and spiritual support to patients and their families; involves helping people cope.

Client Advocate

A role of nurses that acts as a voice for the patient, ensuring the rights, needs, and wishes of the patient are respected within the healthcare system.

Change Agent

A role of nurses that identifies areas needing improvement within a healthcare setting and implements changes that enhance patient care, safety, or efficiency.

Leader

A role of nurses that lead a team of healthcare professionals, manage a specific unit, or influence a specific policy; involves inspiring others to reach a common goal.

Manager

A role of nurses that organizes and manages the resources of the healthcare unit or department; overseeing daily operations to ensure smooth operations.

Researcher

A role of nurses that conducts scientific studies to improve patient-outcome and enhance nursing practices; advancing medical knowledge.

• Nurse Generalist

• Nurse Clinician

• Nurse Practitioner

• Nurse Specialist

(4) Expanded Roles of Nurses

Nurse Generalist

An expanded role of a nurse with a broad base of knowledge and skill in nursing care focused on providing basic patient care.

Nurse Clinician

An expanded role of a nurse that refers to a more experienced RN with advanced clinical skills; provides direct patient care.

Nurse Practitioner

An expanded role of a nurse that is an APRN with advanced education and certification in a specific area or primary acute care; are able to diagnose and treat patients.

Nurse Specialist

An expanded role of a nurse that is an APRN with specialized expertise in a particular nursing practice; focuses on specific patient population or clinical area.

Nursing Theories

Organized bodies of knowledge that define what nursing is, what nurses do, and why they do it.

• Interrelating Concepts

• Logical

• Generalizable

• Can be Tested

• Increasing General Knowledge

• Guide and Improve Practices

• Consistent with Other Validated Theories

(6) Characteristics of a Theory

• Context

• Concept

• Process

(3) Components of a Theory 1994

Barbara Stevens Barnum

The author of the context-concept-process theory component

• Concept

• Definition

• Assumption

• Phenomena

(4) Components of a Theory 2016

Context

A component of a theory that resembles the environment to which the nursing takes place.

Concept

A component of a theory that is the subject; the idea of the mind or an experience perceived.

Process

A component of a theory by which a nurse acts.

Definition

A component of a theory that are descriptions which may convey general meaning to understand a set of concepts.

Assumption

A component of a theory that is a statement that specifies the relationship of factual concepts.

Phenomena

A component of theory that deals with the aspect of reality that can be consciously sensed or experienced.

• Energy

• Structural Integrity

• Personal Integrity

• Social Integrity

(4) Conservation Principles of Nursing

Myra Estrine Levine

The author of the 4 conservation principles of nursing.