Foundations of Nursing Study Notes
Foundations of Nursing
Falcon Institute of Health & Science
Instructor: Amber Palmer, BSN, RN
Contact Information
Name: Nurse Amber Palmer
Email: APALMER@FalconIHS.edu
Teaching Goals
Provide knowledge and skills for safe and competent care.
Emphasize professionalism and leadership.
Enable students to realize their potential.
Today’s Agenda
Review Course Material
Lecture: Chapter 1 & 2
2 Breaks
Lecture: Medical Terminology (Part 1)
Course Documents & Stuff
Course Schedule & Syllabus
Exam Policy
Make-Up Hours
Class Participation
Ask for Help
The Tests
Format: Multiple-choice, “Select All That Apply”.
Restrictions: Only allowed 2 make-up tests; a third will result in a ZERO.
Course Objectives - Foundations of Nursing
Key Topics Covered
Medical Genetics
Anatomy
Clinical Medicine
Upon Successful Completion, Students Will Understand:
The history of nursing.
Professionalism in client interactions and with the healthcare team.
Describing members of the healthcare and nursing teams.
Documenting on the nursing record.
Different scopes of practice within nursing.
Client Confidentiality: Importance and maintenance.
Safe care environments.
Appropriate communication techniques across the lifespan.
Implementing and evaluating holistic care plans using the nursing process.
Adapting practice to meet diverse cultural and spiritual needs.
Assessing clients' physical, psychosocial, and cognitive needs.
Nursing care for clients with:
Comfort alterations.
Mobility alterations.
Nutritional, fluid, and electrolyte disturbances.
Common alterations in elimination patterns.
Integumentary disorders.
Cognitive and sensory impairments.
Grief and loss experiences.
Understanding and utilizing standard precautions in care.
Chapter Objectives
Chapter 1: The Evolution of Nursing
Learning Objectives
Describe the evolution of nursing and nursing education.
Discuss significant changes in nursing during the 21st century.
Explore societal influences on nursing.
Identify major nursing history leaders.
Examine major nursing organizations.
List key developments in practical nursing.
Identify components and participants in healthcare systems.
Describe factors affecting patient care delivery.
Define practical nursing.
Elucidate the purpose, role, and responsibilities of the practical nurse.
Definition of Nursing
To nurse:
To nurture
To feed
To foster
To support
Nurse is both a verb and a noun:
Verb: Actions taken in care.
Noun: Identity such as LPN, RN, CNM, CRNP, CNS, DNP, PhD.
Historical Context of Nursing and Education
Nursing practices have evolved in relation to:
Societal factors affecting care provision.
Relationships between individuals and their environments.
Emphasis on knowledge acquisition through education.
Recognition of the importance of preventative care.
Technological advances impacting healthcare.
Shifting societal needs and policies.
Care of the Sick Throughout History
Nursing roles have evolved significantly:
Transition from home to hospital care.
Development of formalized training.
Significant impacts include:
World War I & II influences.
Cadet Nursing Corps during WWII.
Major Figures in Nursing History
Florence Nightingale:
Known as the “Lady of the Lamp.”
First nursing theorist influencing education.
Established the first nursing school in London and promoted new standards.
Developed the “Nightingale Plan.”
Mary Seacole:
Notable for contributions to nursing care.
Major US Nursing Leaders:
Dorothea Dix: Advocated for mental health.
Clara Barton: Founded the American Red Cross.
Mary Eliza Mahoney: First qualified Black nurse in the US, worked toward greater acceptance of Black nurses.
Significant Changes in Nursing in the 21st Century
Demographics changes, including increased focus on women's health issues.
Male representation in nursing is below 10%.
Emphasis on human rights and services for the medically underserved.
Addressing nursing shortages.
Development and Licensing of Practical and Vocational Nursing
Attendant Nurses:
3 months of education, focused on home care.
Post World War II, training programs improved.
1919: States started mandating licensure for nurses.
Importance of the American Nurses Association (ANA).
Accreditation
Voluntary review processes to ensure educational programs meet specific criteria.
Maslow’s Model of Health & Illness
Framework for understanding health needs based on a hierarchy of requirements.
Delivery of Patient Care
Key components:
Determining individual patient needs.
Developing comprehensive care plans.
Meeting patient needs and preventing/treating diseases.
Restoring wellness and providing education to patients and families.
Four Major Concepts of Nursing Care
Nursing: Roles and actions taken by nurses.
Patient: The individual receiving care.
Health: Assessment of the patient's health status.
Environment: Context of nurse-patient interactions.
Role and Responsibilities of LPN/LVN
Provides specific services under the supervision of an RN.
Educated to deliver safe, responsible, and effective care in various settings.
Responsibilities include:
Professionalism in accountability, behavior, and appearance.
Effective communication.
Holistic patient data collection.
Collaboration with RNs and others for comprehensive care planning.
Ability to delegate tasks under supervision.
Knowledge of nursing practice acts.
Chapter Objectives
Chapter 2: Legal & Ethical Aspects of Nursing
Learning Objectives
Summarize the legal system's structure and function.
Discuss the legal relationship between patients and nurses.
Explain standards of care and nursing malpractice.
Explore strategies to avoid lawsuits.
Understand legal issues in healthcare.
Overview of the Legal System
Laws: Guide acceptable and unacceptable behavior within society.
Types of Law: Criminal and Civil.
Concepts such as Accountability and Liability presented.
Deposition: A formal statement used as evidence in legal proceedings.
Malpractice Defined
Malpractice: Refers to professional negligence where nursing responsibilities include:
Adhering to established standards of practice such as documentation and safety.
Evaluating both actions and omissions that may lead to harm.
Elements of Malpractice:
Duty: Establishment of a caregiver-patient relationship.
Breach: Failure to meet acceptable care standards.
Harm: Actual harm caused to the patient.
Proximate Cause: Direct link between negligence and harm.
Nurse-Patient Relationships
Nurses assume responsibility for patients’ care, reducing legal liabilities by meeting or exceeding standards.
Advocate: Represents and defends the patient's interests.
Standards of Care
Established guidelines that dictate permissible actions for care providers.
Adherence is essential to avoid legal liability.
LPNs must communicate effectively with RNs or charge nurses.
Scope of Practice
Defines the practice areas for nurses under respective Nurse Practice Acts.
Obligation includes knowledge of specific acts per state regulations.
Legal Issues in Healthcare
Patient’s Bill of Rights: Protects patients in healthcare settings.
Informed Consent: Patients must be voluntarily making informed decisions.
Confidentiality: Protection of patient privacy and health information.
Social Media Policy: Guidelines regarding posting online and implications for employment.
Abuse Reporting: Nurses are mandated reporters of child abuse and must follow established protocols for reporting unethical behavior.
Battery Defined
Performing medical procedures without patient consent or signed authorization can constitute battery.
Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA)
Establishes patient rights to privacy, confidentiality, and receiving care without prejudice.
Strategies to Avoid Lawsuits
Providing expert, compassionate care.
Building trust and maintaining open communication.
Adhering to established standards of care, legal documentation, and utilizing Good Samaritan laws where applicable.