Nursing Profession, Ethics & Advocacy, and Evidence-Based Practice Flashcards

Vocabulary flashcards covering the core concepts of nursing history, education, clinical decision-making, ethical decision frameworks, advocacy, and evidence-based research.

Florence Nightingale

The founder of modern nursing who introduced sanitation reforms during the Crimean War (1853–1856), dramatically reducing mortality, and opened the first formal nursing school at St. Thomas' Hospital in 1860.

Nursing

The art and science of providing comprehensive care to promote and maintain health, prevent illness, and alleviate suffering for individuals, families, and communities while advocating for patients and collaborating with the interdisciplinary team.

Metaparadigm of Nursing

The theoretical foundation guiding nursing practice and research, consisting of four core concepts: person, environment, health, and nursing.

Art of Nursing

The compassionate, person-centered dimension of nursing care that encompasses empathy, communication, and therapeutic presence.

Science of Nursing

The technical expertise of nursing grounded in evidence, clinical knowledge, assessment skills, and procedural competence.

LPN / LVN (Licensed Practical/Vocational Nurse)

A nurse who completes a 12–18 month program, passes the NCLEX-PN, and works under RN or provider supervision to deliver basic care, administer medication, and check vital signs.

ADN (Associate Degree in Nursing)

A 2-year nursing degree from a community or technical college that prepares students for the NCLEX-RN and provides broader clinical authority, independent decision-making, and care planning.

BSN (Bachelor of Science in Nursing)

A 4-year degree (or accelerated program) preparing students for the NCLEX-RN while adding theory, research, leadership, and public health preparation.

MSN (Master of Science in Nursing)

A graduate degree completed after a BSN that prepares nurse practitioners, educators, and administrators in advanced theory, research methods, and health policy.

DNP (Doctor of Nursing Practice)

A terminal practice doctorate in nursing focused on clinical leadership and evidence-based practice.

PhD in Nursing

A terminal research doctorate in nursing focused on generating new nursing science through original research.

State Boards of Nursing

Regulatory bodies that govern nursing practice and grant licensure via standardized examinations such as the NCLEX-PN or NCLEX-RN.

Nursing Practice

As defined by the ANA, the diagnosis and treatment of human responses to actual or potential health problems.

Nursing Process

A systematic, five-step clinical decision-making framework consisting of Assessment, Diagnosis, Planning, Implementation, and Evaluation.

Assessment (Nursing Process)

The first step of the nursing process, involving the collection of patient data through health history and physical examination, and comparing findings to normal values.

Diagnosis (Nursing Process)

The second step of the nursing process, which involves grouping and analyzing collected data to identify and prioritize patient problems (nursing diagnoses).

Planning (Nursing Process)

The third step of the nursing process, focused on establishing desired patient outcomes or goals and designing specific interventions to achieve them.

Implementation (Nursing Process)

The fourth step of the nursing process, which consists of carrying out the planned nursing interventions.

Evaluation (Nursing Process)

The fifth step of the nursing process, involving the review of patient progress toward goals to determine if outcomes were met, partially met, or require revision.

Standards of Nursing Practice

Authoritative statements published by the ANA—built directly on the nursing process—that define the competent level of care expected from every nurse.

QSEN Competencies

Quality and Safety Education for Nurses framework outlining six core competencies: patient-centered care, teamwork/collaboration, evidence-based practice, quality improvement, safety, and informatics.

Ethical Considerations

Situations where a nurse must pause to reflect on ethics, though the correct course of action is relatively clear once analyzed.

Ethical Dilemmas

Complex situations involving choices between two or more actions with competing justifications, or disagreements among the healthcare team regarding treatment.

ANA Code of Ethics for Nurses

A fundamental professional document that outlines non-negotiable ethical standards, guiding nurses in evaluating conflicts between patient needs, professional values, and available actions.

MORAL Model

A five-step ethical decision-making framework consisting of: Massage the dilemma, Outline options, Review criteria and resolve, Affirm a position, and Look back.

Four Topics Method

An ethical decision-making framework that analyzes cases across four lenses: medical indications, patient preferences, quality of life, and contextual features.

Institutional Ethics Committee

An organizational body that clarifies ethical issues, helps resolve team disagreements, assists in identifying surrogate decision-makers, and develops or upholds ethical policies.

Nurse Advocacy Concerns

The three primary domain focuses of a nurse advocate: patient safety and rights, workplace conditions and self-care, and systemic and social justice issues.

Evidence-Based Practice (EBP)

A decision-making strategy that integrates the best available research evidence with clinical expertise and patient preferences and values.

Research (vs. EBP)

A structured, systematic inquiry designed to generate new knowledge by asking 'What works?'.

PET Process

The three steps of the Johns Hopkins Evidence-Based Practice model: Practice question, Evidence, and Translation.

PICO Question

A structured clinical question format standing for Population, Intervention, Comparison, and Outcome (often adding Time for PICOT).

Population (PICO)

The specific group or types of patients about whom a clinical PICO question is asking.

Intervention (PICO)

The specific treatment, action, diagnostic test, or exposure being investigated within a PICO question.

Comparison (PICO)

The alternative intervention or standard care against which the primary intervention is measured in a PICO question.

Outcome (PICO)

The measurable result or clinical target being evaluated to test effectiveness in a PICO question.

Quantitative Research

A research methodology focused on measurable, numerical data collected through surveys or experiments and analyzed via statistical comparisons of variables.

Qualitative Research

A research methodology focused on individual experiences and narratives ('why') gathered through interviews or focus groups and analyzed by identifying themes or patterns.

Mixed-Methods Research

A research design that combines both quantitative and qualitative methods to gain a more complete and valid picture of a research question.

Abstract

A brief summary of roughly 200–350 words located at the beginning of a research article outlining the entire study.