Ch. 1: Introduction to Nursing and Professional Formation

Nursing’s Aims and Competencies

• promote health

• prevent illness

• restore health

• facilitate coping with disability or death

Roles of Nurses

• caregiver

• communicator

• teacher/educator

• counselor

• leader

• researcher

• advocate

• collaborator

Professional Identity of a Nurse

• think like a nurse

• act like a nurse

• feel like a nurse

Educational Preparation

• LPN/LVN

• Registered nurse

• Graduate education in nursing

  • APRN’s

  • Nurse educator

  • Clinical nurse leaders

• Doctoral prepared

Clinical nurse leader

A nurse prepared at the graduate level who overseas the lateral integration of care for a distinct group of patients and who may actively provide direct patient care in complex situations. Role is not one of administration or management

Guidelines for Nursing Practice

• ANA standards of nursing practice

• Nurse practice acts

• Code of ethics and professional values

• Nursing process

ANA Standards of Nursing Practice

defines activities that are specific and unique to nursing

Nurse Practice Acts

• laws established in each state to regulate nursing practice

• establishes criteria for education and licensure

Code of Ethics and Professional Values

• professional values provide the foundation for nursing practice; guides interactions with patients, colleagues and the public

• professional values are specified in the ANA Code of Ethics for Nurses

Nursing Process

• used by the nurse to identify the patient’s health care needs and strengths, establish and carry out a plan of care, and to evaluate the effectiveness of the plan to meet established outcomes

• a critical thinking and clinical reasoning process unique to nurses

Model of Professional Nursing Practice Regulation

• self determination

• policies and procedures

• nurse practice act

• scope and standards of practice

• code of ethics

Self Determantion

the responsibility of each individual to act professionally within their role as a nurse

Policies and Procedures

governing rules and regulations established by institutions and organziations which direct nursing practice

Nurse Practice Act

rules and regulations which are determined by each state to guide the delivery of nursing care to clients

Scope and Standards of Practice

explanatory statements that describe a competent level of nursing care and professionalism

Code of Ethics

interpretive statements that address the values, client obligations, and ideals of the nursing profession