Nursing Today: Key Terms (Vocabulary)
Nursing Today
- Nursing is both an art and a science; science is a changing, evolving body of knowledge; art embodies compassion, respect, and dignity for the client and family.
Nursing as a Profession
- Characteristics:
- Requires an extended education
- Requires a body of knowledge (skills, abilities)
- Provides a specific service
- Has autonomy in decision making and practice
- Has a Code of Ethics for nursing practice
Benner: From Novice to Expert
- Novice: Beginning nursing student; entry level with no experience
- Advanced Beginner: Nurse has some level of experience
- Competent: Nurse in the same clinical position for 2-3 years; can anticipate nursing care
- Proficient: More than 2-3 years in the same position; focuses on managing care
What is Nursing?
- Nursing is the art and science of caring; focuses on protection, promotion, and optimization of health and abilities
- Includes prevention of illness and injury; facilitation of healing; alleviation of suffering through compassionate presence
- Nursing is the diagnosis and treatment of human response, and advocacy in care of individuals, families, groups, communities, and populations, recognizing the connection of all humanity (ANA, 2021)
Scope and Standards of Practice
- Standards of Practice: authoritative statements of the duties that all Registered Nurses (RNs) are expected to competently perform (ANA, 2021)
- Standards of Professional Performance: describe a competent level of behavior in the professional nursing role
Standards of Practice (Box 1.2)
- Six Standards of Practice (Nursing Process):
- Assessment
- Diagnosis
- Outcomes Identification
- Planning
- Implementation
- Evaluation
- Quality of practice
- Collegiality
- Evidence-Based Practice
- Education
- Collaboration
- Communication
- Resource utilization (safety, effectiveness, cost, and impact in planning and delivery of nursing services)
- Professional practice evaluation
- Ethics
- Leadership
- Environmental Health: Safe practice that advances environmental safety and health
Code of Ethics
- The Code of Ethics defines the philosophical ideals of right and wrong to guide care
- Outlines the ethical obligations of the profession; distinguishes Should vs Must
Professional Responsibilities and Roles
- Autonomy and Accountability
- Caregiver
- Advocate
- Educator
- Communicator
- Manager
Career Development: RN Education and APRN Roles
- RN Education:
- 2-year Associate of Science in Nursing (ASN)
- 4-year Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN)
- APRN (Advanced Practice Registered Nurses):
- Clinical Nurse Specialist (CNS)
- Nurse Practitioner (NP)
- Certified Nurse Midwife (CNM)
- Certified RN Anesthesiologist (CRNA)
Career Development: Nurse Educators, Administrators, and Roles
- Nurse Educators
- Nurse Administrator:
- Master in Health Administration (MHA)
- Master in Public Health (MPH)
- Master in Business Administration (MBA)
- Nurse Researcher
Career Development: Doctoral Preparation and Education
- Doctoral Preparation (PhD, DNP):
- PhD: focus on research and education
- DNP: focus on nursing practice
- Continuing and In-Service Education
Historical Highlights
- Nurses respond to needs of clients
- Actively participate in policy making
- Respond and adapt to new challenges
Lady with the Lamp: Florence Nightingale
- Believed nurses should help the body recover and remain free from disease
- 1860: organized the first nursing school (Nightingale Training School for Nurses) at St. Thomas’ Hospital, London
- Improved sanitation in battlefield hospitals
- First practicing epidemiologist
Trends in Nursing
- Evidence-Based Practice (EBP)
- Quality and Safety Education for Nurses (QSEN): competencies to improve quality care
- Impact of Emerging Technologies: Electronic Health Record (EHR), Computerized Physician/Provider Order Entry (CPOE)
Genomics and Public Perception
- Genomics: study of all genes and their interactions with environment
- Public Perception: Hospital Consumer Assessment of Healthcare Providers and Systems (HCAHPS) informs on patient perspectives
- Impact of Nursing on Politics and Health Policy
Nursing Practice Act
- Each state Board of Nursing oversees the Nursing Practice Act (NPA)
- NPAs regulate scope of nursing practice and protect public health, safety, and welfare
- Each state defines the scope of nursing practice
Licensure and Certification
- Licensure: All nurses must pass NCLEX-RN to practice; standardizes minimum knowledge base
- Certification: In a specific area of nursing (e.g., medical-surgical, diabetic nurse educator, critical care, etc.)
Professional Nursing Organizations
- National League for Nursing (NLN)
- American Nurses Association (ANA)
- International Council of Nursing (ICN)
- National Student Nurses Association (NSNA)
