Evolution of Nursing Thought & Action

This set of vocabulary flashcards covers nursing history, professional identity, educational pathways, regulatory oversight, and the healthcare delivery system as outlined in Chapter 1.

Florence Nightingale

Known as "The Lady with the Lamp" and the founder of modern nursing; she organized sanitary nursing care during the Crimean War, dramatically cutting mortality rates.

Nursing (ANA 2021 Definition)

The protection, promotion, and optimization of health and abilities; prevention of illness and injury; facilitation of healing; and alleviation of suffering through the diagnosis and treatment of human response, and advocacy in the care of individuals, families, groups, communities, and populations.

Nurse (Legal Requirement)

To legally respond to the title or wear the badge, an individual must have graduated from an accredited nursing program and passed the NCLEX state licensure examination.

Associate Degree (ADN)

A community-college route for entry into nursing practice.

Baccalaureate (BSN)

A 4-year university degree providing entry into nursing practice.

Continuing Education (CE)

A strategy to maintain current clinical knowledge; many states require it for license renewal, and it is considered self-directed and profession-wide.

In-Service Education

Worksite programs focused on new equipment, devices, or procedures; these are not counted as Continuing Education (CE).

Benner's Phases of Nursing

A 1984 model describing the stages nurses move through repeatedly across a career: 1) Novice, 2) Advanced Beginner, 3) Competent, 4) Proficient, and 5) Expert.

Nurse Practice Acts

State laws designed to protect public health, safety, and welfare by regulating nursing practice.

State Boards of Nursing

Regulatory bodies that issue nursing licenses and enforce the provisions of the Nurse Practice Act.

Standards of Practice

Guidelines that define the expectations for competent nursing care.

American Nurses Association (ANA)

The official professional organization for nurses in the United States.

National League for Nursing (NLN)

An organization that maintains universal education standards for the nursing profession.

International Council of Nurses (ICN)

A federation of national nursing bodies.

Sigma Theta Tau International (STTI)

The official nursing honor society.

Health Promotion

One of the aims of nursing care focused on optimizing wellness and healthy behaviors.

Case Method

A delivery model where one nurse provides total care for one client during an entire shift.

Functional Nursing

A delivery model where tasks are divided among staff members based on their specific skills.

Team Nursing

A delivery model where an RN-led team shares the responsibility of caring for a group of clients.

Primary Nursing

A delivery model where one RN is held accountable 24/7 for a specific caseload of clients.

Acute Care

Active, sudden, urgent, or emergent treatment of injury or illness that can lead to death or disability if left untreated.

Primary Prevention

The level of healthcare focused on preventing disease before it occurs through measures like vaccines and education.

Secondary Prevention

The level of healthcare focused on early detection and prompt treatment of disease, such as screenings.

Tertiary Prevention

The level of healthcare focused on limiting disability and restoring function after an illness has occurred.

Medicare

A federal government financing program for healthcare for individuals aged 65 and older or those with a disability.

Medicaid

A state and federal government financing program for healthcare that is income-based.