Nursing Concepts Review: Nursing Process, Clinical Judgment, Promotion, Prevention, Mobility & Safety

Flashcards cover the nursing process, clinical judgment, delegated tasks, health promotion frameworks, prevention, socioeconomic factors, mobility, safety, and critical thinking as presented in the notes.

What are the five steps of the Nursing Process and their general goals?

Assessment: identify the patient’s health status, needs, and problems. Diagnosis/Analysis: identify actual or potential health problems. Planning: develop measurable, patient-centered goals and outcomes and guide interventions; may involve PT, social worker, and nutritionists. Implementation: carry out the planned interventions. Evaluation: assess response and determine if goals were met or if the care plan needs adjustments.

What is the goal of Assessment in the Nursing Process?

To identify the patient’s health status, needs, and problems from subjective and objective data.

What is the goal of Diagnosis/Analysis in the Nursing Process?

To interpret assessment data and identify actual or potential health problems.

What is the goal of Planning in the Nursing Process?

To develop measurable, achievable, patient-centered goals and outcomes; to guide interventions and prioritize care (often coordinating with other professionals).

What is the goal of Implementation in the Nursing Process?

To carry out the nursing interventions outlined in the plan to meet patient goals.

What is the goal of Evaluation in the Nursing Process?

To determine if goals were met and whether the care plan should be adjusted.

What is clinical judgment in nursing?

The process of observing, interpreting, responding, and reflecting to make decisions about patient care.

Provide an example of clinical judgment.

Noticing a patient’s shortness of breath, determining it may indicate fluid overload, and intervening by administering oxygen and notifying the provider.

Which tasks are commonly delegated to Assistive Personnel (AP) in nursing?

Vital signs; bathing and grooming; ambulation and repositioning; feeding (if patient is stable); collecting specimens; measuring intake/output.

What is the Healthy People 2030 Framework?

A U.S. public health initiative that sets science-based objectives for improving health and well-being, focusing on disease prevention, health promotion, and addressing social determinants of health.

What is Health Promotion?

Actions taken to enhance health and prevent disease before problems occur (e.g., regular exercise, balanced diet, vaccination).

What is Primary Prevention?

Prevents disease before it occurs (e.g., immunizations, health education, smoking cessation programs).

What is Secondary Prevention?

Early detection and treatment to prevent progression (e.g., screening for high blood pressure, mammograms).

How do Socioeconomic Factors affect Health?

Income, education, occupation, and access to healthcare influence nutrition/food security, access to care, risk for chronic diseases, and ability to afford medications and treatments.

How should a cane be used when ambulating?

Hold the cane on the stronger side; move the cane forward first, then the weaker leg, then the stronger leg; keep the cane close to the body; elbow flexion should be about 15–30 degrees.

Where is calcium stored and what roles does it play in the body?

Stored primarily in bones and teeth; also involved in blood clotting, muscle contraction, and nerve function.

What are the functions of synovial joints?

Allow free movement and provide cushioning and stability (examples: knee, elbow, shoulder).

What are key principles of proper body mechanics when lifting heavy objects?

Feet shoulder-width apart; bend at the knees, not at the waist; keep the object close to the body; use leg muscles, not the back; avoid twisting; pivot with the feet.

What guidelines support proper posture during patient transfer?

Keep back straight, knees slightly bent; use gait belts or mechanical lifts; maintain a wide base of support; coordinate movements with the team when lifting with others.

What does a Mobility Assessment typically include?

Range of motion (ROM), muscle strength, gait and balance, use of assistive devices, pain with movement, history of falls or injuries, skin assessment/turgor, ability to sit.

What is the Acute vs. Chronic Priority Framework?

Acute issues are immediate, life-threatening problems that take priority; chronic issues are long-term and stable but require ongoing management; prioritize acute issues first, then chronic.

What are common risks associated with Urinary Retention?

UTI (urinary tract infection), bladder distention, kidney damage, discomfort or pain.

What nursing interventions help manage Constipation?

Encourage fluids, promote a high-fiber diet, encourage physical activity, administer stool softeners or laxatives as ordered, monitor bowel movements.

What are the five components of critical thinking skills?

Questioning, Analysis, Synthesis, Interpretation, and Intuition.

What is questioning in critical thinking?

Asking relevant, probing questions to clarify information.

What is analysis in critical thinking?

Examining data to identify patterns, relationships, or problems.

What is synthesis in critical thinking?

Combining information from multiple sources to form a plan or solution.

What is interpretation in critical thinking?

Understanding and explaining the meaning of data.

What is intuition in critical thinking?

Using experience-based knowledge to anticipate or recognize problems.

What are the steps for collecting data on mobility?

Review medical history for mobility limitations; observe gait, posture, and balance; assess muscle strength and tone; check joint range of motion (active and passive); evaluate use of assistive devices; assess risk factors for falls or injury; skin assessment.

In mobility data collection, what does skin assessment involve?

Assess skin integrity and any issues such as breakdown; note skin turgor where relevant.