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History and evolution of nursing practice
History and evolution of nursing practice
History and evolution of nursing practice
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The power of nursing incorporates multiple aspects within the profession, including the direct patient care approach, which involves providing hope, a caring attitude, and compassion. Although it has yet to be adequately represented in the political realm of policy-making for improvement of quality patient care, the indirect approach to patient care in nursing involves such issues as advocacy and political activism. The purpose of recognizing the power of nursing is to better understand the potential for this evolving profession to become increasingly proactive in the development and regulation of legislation, to create a more sound future for the health care system at both the state and national level, rather than simply maintaining a reactive …show more content…
However, the current movement of the field of nursing and the existing nurse-patient relationship both work to reveal that the nurse does hold significant job power. The implications of this power signify that the nurse has the ability to make changes related to overall health care, as well as more specific changes involving patient care (Marquis & Huston, 2014). Consequently, this power succeeds in adding to the image and overall appeal of the profession. The power that nurses have can only be described as a positive or constructive form of power that ultimately is essential for expanding and promoting the …show more content…
Since the institution of nursing was first established, care has remained the primary component. Being able to provide care to patients on an emotional level is another example of the distinctive power that nurses uphold. Generally, the nurse is the predominant choice of the patient when he/she must determine who best to confer with or share personal thoughts or concerns with, as well as who the patient trusts most with management of their own well-being. This form of day-to-day, intimate patient-nurse relationship is a powerful component of
Nursing is constantly evolving and changing, in order to be more efficient in providing care than in the past. The nursing profession includes professionals who are not only caregivers but support systems as well as educators. All these factors help to provide optimal care for patients and to also better serve their families and the community. All nurses are encouraged to break down the simplistic notion society has about the nursing profession because nursing is a multi-faceted profession encompassing many different factors that are beneficial to overall human development and health.
Often time, nurses has been viewed by patients, their family members and the medical team as basic emotional care givers, pill crushers or cart pullers and not as healthcare professionals who are more interesting in health promotion, disease prevention and better patient outcomes. They also often forget the emotional, physical, mental, and caring part that is involved with the profession. And to make matters worse, nurses are continued to be viewed as a threat by doctors more than ever before especially with the opening of Nurse Practitioners programs.
Although our main mission is to provide great care to our patients, Florence Nightingale has taught us (Burkhardt & Nathaniel 2008, 3rd Ed. P18-19) that if we do not have legislative power many of our ideas can be oppressed therefore prevent the profession from thriving. To be well organized as a profession is very important, since many of the rules and regulation that govern us often come from a legislative process. According to Burckhardt and Nathaniel, we nurses, are nearly 3 million, ( Abood, S. January 2007). In addition to our caring skills we need to enact our lobbying and legislative skills to participate in the process and help protect the legitimacy of the profession. While many lawmakers may have advisers with some medical knowledge. However, many of these lawmakers have no background in the medical field particularly in the nursing field. We must get involved, let them feel our presence, not only through voting, but al...
The American Nurses Association (ANA) developed a foundation for which all nurses are expected to perform their basic duties in order to meet the needs of the society we serve. The ANA “has long been instrumental in the development of three foundational documents for professional nursing; its code of ethics, its scope and standards of practice, ands statement of social policy.” (ANA, 2010, p. 87) The ANA defined nursing as “the protection, promotion, and optimization of health and abilities, prevention of illness and injury, alleviation of suffering through the diagnosis and treatment of human response, and advocacy in the care of individuals, families, communities, and populations” and used to create the scope and standards of nursing practice. (ANA, 2010, p. 1) These “outline the steps that nurses must take to meet client healthcare needs.” () The nursing process, for example, is one of the things I use daily. Other examples include communicating and collaborating with my patient, their families, and my peers, and being a lifelong learner. I continually research new diagnoses, medications, and treatments for my patients. As a nurse of ...
Therapeutic relationships are an essential part of nursing; they are the foundation of nursing (CNO, 2009). The National Competency Standard for Registered Nurses states that nurses are responsible for “establishing, sustaining and concluding professional relationships with individuals/groups.” Throughout this essay, the importance of forming therapeutic relationships will be explained. The process of building a therapeutic relationship begins prior to time of contact with a patient, the interpersonal skills of the nurse; then the process includes skills required by the nurse to communicate effectively, including respect, trust, non-judgment and empathy. The way to portray these skills can be via verbal or non-verbal cues that are important to understand how they influence a person.
A therapeutic nurse-patient relationship is outlined as a helping relationship grounded on shared respect, trust, the encouragement of having faith and hope in oneself and others, and emotional support (Pullen et al., 2010). In doing so, the nurse can establish complete satisfaction of the patients needs, whether it be physical, emotional or spiritual. This relationship produces when the patient and the nurse come together in harmony and peace (Pullen et al., 2010). Efficient verbal and nonverbal communication is an essential aspect of interaction between nurse and patient – in doing this, the patient feels on par with the nurse, as an equal, rather than having no indication of what procedures are taking place (Pullen et al., 2010).
A nurse’s role in our society today is exceptionally significant. Nurses are somewhat idolized and looked to as our everyday “superman”. “The mission of nursing in society is to help individuals, families, and groups to determine and achieve physical, mental, and social potential, and to do so within the challenging context of the environment in which they live and work” (“The Role of a Nurse/Midwife”). Many Americans turn to nurses for delivery of primary health care services and health care education (Whelan). In our country, there is constantly someone in need of health care. There will always be a baby being born or a person dying, someone becoming ill or growing old. Some people due to their physical and/or mental state of health are completely dependent on a nurse and wouldn’t be able to get through the simple obstacles of every day, or achieve the necessary requirements of a simple day without their aid. Not only do nurses help, and assist you when you’re sick, but also act to promote good health to others. They end...
As health care providers, nurses strive to instill confidence in their patients and their loved ones. A nurse is respectful to their colleagues as well as their patients. Nurses promote patients’ independence, patients can be confident in the knowledge that a nurse will do what is best for them, respecting their privacy and dignity. This means that a nurse does not share the patient information for personal reasons nor does the nurse get involved in a patients personal relationship if it is not medically relevant (NCSBN, 2011).
This nurse would be viewed as the nurse mentor and shares past learning experiences to benefit others. The expert power nurse is able to guide the way for new nurses giving examples of both negative and positive past clinical endeavors and ways to deal and learn from their experiences. Nurses should share their knowledge and resources daily with patients and other coworkers. Also, the expert power is the basis for collaborating and for advocating for patients, employees, and the health care system. The experience from the expert power provides nurses with knowledge, background, and credibility to speak out on health care issues. Nurses are hands on with the patients and see the impacts of the problems in today’s health care system, such as shortages, cutting costs, and nurses “eating their young” and have the knowledge to speak out. Nurses also have the knowledge and the possible solutions to be directly involved in achieving policy and health care goals. The down side to expert power is the fact that the expert’s opinion may weight heavier on the decision than the opinion of another. An example of expert power in today’s nursing would be anyone working above the nurse and also the more “seasoned nurses”
As individuals and as a united voice, nurses can highlight the areas of need in health policy and regulation. This can be done at many levels: local and regional health care facilities; local, state and federal communities; local, state and federal policy development and even global networking. Khalsa suggested that “the advocacy role is to serve on behalf of self and/or others to elevate awareness to issues and to offer viable answers to the issues at hand” (Khalsa, 2016, p. 8). It is essential that nurses act to promote actions that protect human rights, promote health equity and further social justice. Nurses can use their experiences, and knowledge to share with those leaders who have influence over regulatory and legislative health. We must be comfortable with articulating what our role as professionals brings to the table in terms of quality, safety, service and outcomes. The information reported in the group article, Williams et al. (2016) “the United States spends more money for health care than other industrial counties. Yet people experience inequitable, inadequate, and inaccessible health care” (p. 1), should alone induce us into action. Nurses as collaborative leaders are partners in the creation of valuable outcomes for patients, families, and
Nursing in this theory is described as an art that helps individuals who are in need of health care, and goals are attained threw following a series of steps in a pattern. The nurse and the patient have to work together threw this process to achieve said goals. The Theory of Interpersonal Relations is a process that starts with the roles of the nurse, and those roles began with the nurse as a stranger, teacher, resource person, counselor, surrogate and leader (Nursing Theories, 2012). The theory begins with the role of the stranger, which is defined as the introductory phase and is an environment where about the patient is meeting the nurse and developing a trusting relationship. The nurse as a teacher allows the nurse to provide knowledge and information on a particular interest while the resource person provides specific information to a problem or situation. As counselors the nurses help to make life decisions and provides guidance. The surrogate role acts as an advocate on the patients’ behalf, while the role of the leader has the nurse assuming most of the responsibility to help patients meet treatment
Every person’s needs must be recognized, respected, and filled if he or she must attain wholeness. The environment must attuned to that wholeness for healing to occur. Healing must be total or holistic if health must be restored or maintained. And a nurse-patient relationship is the very foundation of nursing (Conway et al 2011; Johnson, 2011). The Theory recognizes a person’s needs above all. It sets up the conducive environment to healing. It addresses and works on the restoration and maintenance of total health rather than only specific parts or aspect of the patient’s body or personality. And these are possible only through a positive healing relationship between the patient and the nurse (Conway et al, Johnson).
Two concepts at the heart of nursing are comfort and caring. The Meriam Webster dictionary defines comfort as easing grief or trouble, as well as giving hope or strength. The definition of caring is showing or feeling concern for others. Theorists Jean Watson and Katharine Kolcaba seek to enhance nurses understanding of caring and comforting patients through their respective theories. This paper will discuss their theories using a stepwise approach.
Many persons go into the healthcare ground because they want to work with people. For these nurses, it is the nurse-patient relationship that is one of the most significant things. By understanding the nurse-patient relationship, nurses can be better furnished to work with their patients and, eventually, deliver superior care for them. Hildegard Peplau's model of nursing emphases on that nurse-patient relationship and recognizes the diverse roles nurses take on when working with patients.
Power can be defined in many different ways and can have both a negative or positive connotation. A nurse’s power lies in his or her ability to apply the knowledge, skills and expertise in patient care. Additionally, it is essential for nurses to identify their own power and have the ability to influence or encourage patients, families and the interdisciplinary team members. Therefore, after reading chapter thirteen (13) of the text “Leadership Roles and Management Functions in Nursing” by Marquis and Huston (2017), I realized that at this stage in my nursing career and as a novice nurse, I would like to associate myself with nurses who are good role models or mentors who places high value to quality patient care. Therefore, I believe that