Registered Nurse Essays (Examples)

Registered Nurse

As the child of a registered nurse (RN), I grew up watching my mom working in an environment that was inspirational, rewarding, challenging, and never dull. I watched her best qualities, which include a great sense of humor, sincere interest in the lives of others, and extraordinary compassion, being brought to life by her job.

It was during these days of waving her off to work, hearing her stories at the dinner table, and frequently visiting her at the hospitals and clinics, that I decided that I, too, would pursue a career as an registered nurse.

Many times I asked my mother, "What does an RN do?" She would laugh and say, "What doesn't an RN do!" On any given day, an RN deals with emotional, social and physical care of a variety of patients. An RN may deal with tedious tasks, such as administering medicine and changing…

egistered Nurse

Does your work setting foster inter-disciplinary teamwork? Explain.

The environment that I work in is encouraging teamwork. This is because the registered nurse serves a vital role in increasing the quality of care for everyone. In our setting, all staff members are encouraged to speak up and share their ideas with others. This helps us to reduce critical errors and enhance treatment options. (Gerardi, 2004)

One of the tools that have been utilized in achieving these objectives is new technology. What has been happening is the facility is introducing various solutions in order to enhance collaboration (such as: electronic medical records). When this is used in conjunction with conflict resolution strategies, interdisciplinary team work improves. This is occurring by having procedures, polices and an environment that is pushing everyone to cooperate. (Gerardi, 2004)

The effects are that everybody on the health care team is working with each other…

The huge numbers of these practitioners is attributed to their ability to work in diverse settings that are well-lit and comfortable. Furthermore, their huge numbers are attributed to their work schedules i.e. rotating shifts that cover the entire 24 hours due to the need for round-the-clock care in hospitals and nursing care centers. As a result, registered nurses may work on weekends, during holidays, and at night. Therefore, registered nurses are important practitioners in the healthcare system to an extent that only 20% work part time.

One of the dangers of being a registered nurse is that an individual is vulnerable to back injuries. This is primarily because their work involves a lot of standing, walking, stretching, and bending as well as lifting and moving patients. Secondly, the probability of contacting infectious diseases is high because they work with such patients and come into contact with potentially hazardous and harmful…

In all, a total of 5317 shifts were studied of which 2,057 shifts were for more than 12.5 hours. Within the 28-day period of the study two thirds of the nurses reported to have worked overtime 10 times or even more. There were a total of 199 reported errors and 213 'near errors' during the study period and the majority of the errors (58%) involved wrongful administration of medications. It was shown that overtime working increased the probability of committing at least a single error (or = 2.06, p =.0005) while the risk of making errors were even greater for shifts that extended for 12 hours and above (p =.005). It was found that there were not considerable differences in the error rate in terms of the age of the nurse or the hospital size. Thus commission of errors increases proportionately with the increase of the work time. [Rogers et.al]…

Moreover, other key benefits of a baccalaureate education include increased self-direction, improved ethical conduct, enhanced performance, increased responsibility, and professional enhancement. (Leonard, 2003) This situation is what they call the RN to BSN program that encourages registered nurses with ADN or diploma course as entry-levels for nursing licensure, to go back to school and get a bachelor's degree. http://www.y-axis.com/healthcare/career/facts.shtml, para 11)

In 2004, there were 600 RN-to-BSN programs in the United States. Accelerated master's degree programs in nursing also are available. These programs combine 1 year of an accelerated BSN program with 2 years of graduate study. In 2004, there were 137 RN-to-MSN programs. " http://www.bls.gov/oco/ocos083.htm, para 13, http://www.careeroverview.com/nurse-careers.html, para 14 & http://www.career-planning-education.com/health-sciences/registered-nurse.htm,para3)

Because a bachelor's degree in nursing offers great opportunities for registered nurse, the number of RNs availing such privileges is increasing. At the same time, hospitals are also considering BSN as the minimum requirement for employment. The…

The researchers believe that future research should include studies with large enough sample sizes to assess whether factors associated with satisfaction vary by subgroup such as new graduates in the first year of practice. For instance, the study included mostly white females, leaving the reader to wonder if males or people from different ethnicities or from different age groups have their own unique criteria for work satisfaction. Supporting this is the fact that the study found that lacks were less satisfied than Whites. The researchers also suggest the inclusion of additional factors that may affect attitudes and satisfaction such as communication with physicians. In particular, as Advanced Practice Nurses subsume some of the roles traditionally allocated to the physician, it will be interesting to see if interactions with physicians becomes are greater issue for satisfaction for all nurses.

Generalization of Findings

The authors generalize their findings to all MSAs based…

Careers in Registered Nursing Today and in the Future

The need for registered nurses has never been greater. In today's healthcare environment, cost and quality, as well as an organization's ability to delivery positive outcomes, will largely determine its success. Further, rapid developments in science and new community responsibilities require new approaches to nursing today. In addition, and perhaps even more importantly, Americans are getting older faster, and the demands on the healthcare system to provide for timely and appropriate levels of care for this growing segment of the population will require innovative approaches to healthcare delivery, including expanded roles for registered nurses. This paper examines the current status of registered nursing in the United States including typical wages and benefits, followed by a description of the types of duties and responsibilities generally encountered in healthcare settings. An analysis of current and future trends for registered nurses is followed by…

RN vs. LPN

NURSE PRACTICE ACT

Differences in Scope of Practice for RN and LPN

The Nurse Practice Act

Definitions and Practice Differences

Statute 65-1113 of this document defines a registered or professional nurse or RN as one possessing a license to practice professional nursing for free or for pay (KSN, 2014). She has acquired substantial specialized knowledge in the biological, physical and behavioral sciences for the care, diagnosis, treatment, counsel and education of those in their care. Care covers treatment or prevention of disordered conditions or the administration of a medical plan by a licensed health professional (KSN). Her duties are often expansive, including the ability to perform critical thinking at work, often in hospitals (Nursing Licensure, 2014).

The statute also defines a licensed practical nurse or LPN as one who is licensed to practice practical nursing. Her assigned tasks and responsibilities are determined by acceptable or established educational…

The legal and professional authority to delegate certain medical responsibilities and to supervise the administering of care by other healthcare workers is conferred to registered nurses upon their licensing and registering with the appropriate government and professional entities, which is itself dependent upon the completion of an accredited academic and professional training program in nursing (Meadley 2009; GDU 2011). Enrolled nurses, on the other hand, retain responsibility for their own actions but are only authorized to perform those tasks that are delegated to them by registered nurses, and enrolled nurses due not serve in any supervisory capacity themselves (CN 2004; Meadley 2009).

The strategies for maintaining appropriate delegation methods and practices are relatively simple and straightforward. All healthcare workers should be entirely aware of their position and the level of their authority in regards to deciding care practices and simply by holding themselves to these standards and limitation these healthcare…

N Work oles

egistered Nurse

The role of the registered nurse (N) within society is very important as the healthcare of our communities allows us to enjoy our lives without pain and suffering. The N plays a pivotal role within the healing process and is a very popular career in today's environment. The explosion of health care needs for the baby boomer generation has created a demand for nurses like never before.

According to the Bureau of Labor and Statistics, " egistered nurses (Ns) provide and coordinate patient care, educate patients and the public about various health conditions, and provide advice and emotional support to patients and their family members. egistered nurses work in hospitals, physicians' offices, home healthcare services, and nursing care facilities. Others work in correctional facilities, schools, or serve in the military." Nursing has a variety of applications and can be specifically applied to all branches of…

Salary Inequities for Nurses in Florida

Inequities in Nurses' Salary Schedules

In the decade between 2004 and 2014, the estimated number of open positions for registered nurses was anticipated to be 2.1 million. This number reflects both attrition and the growth of the healthcare and medical fields that are responding to an aging national population. Best practices in staff recruiting in the medical arena call for an "adequate supply of nurse and high-quality patient care through competitive, transparent wage-setting, collective bargaining, and nurse/patient ratio standards" (Lovell, 2006).

An interesting phenomenon has occurred in research on the state of nursing in the U.S.: just over 20% of the nearly 50 studies conducted to analyze the nursing workforce recommended wage increases in order to attract more nurses into professional preparation programs and into the workforce. The U.S. Government Accountability Office conducted a study to look critically at the key factors that influence…

physicians and egistered nurses is an important one, which shapes the healthcare environment. Patients rely on physicians and nurses to provide their healthcare needs. The purpose of this discussion is to provide a description of current research, synthesis, demonstrations and other projects that have resulted in positive nurse physician relationships. More specifically the discussion will focus on the relationship between the two as it relates to increases in nurse satisfaction, decreases in nurse turnover, better working environment, and better patient outcomes with an emphasis on patient safety.

Descriptions

The shortage of registered nurses that has occurred in recent years, has place special attention on the need for nurses and the relationship between physicians and registered nurses. According to the journal International Labour eview, "Many health care systems are experiencing shortages of trained medical personnel. Both developed and developing countries appear to be facing a serious shortage of nurses (and physicians).…

The comparatively simplistic provider to patient ratios and demand-based estimates cannot accurately predict need; therefore, inefficiencies in the health care system will remain. By comparison, the needs-based model provides at least the possibility of addressing most inefficiencies. This model stands out because it is essentially an iterative model that incorporates 'need' and supply data as it becomes available. Although not perfect, the model is flexible enough that it can be adjusted to include additional parameters and data to minimize the impact of unexpected developments, such as a major weather event or a severe economic downturn. Increasing the predictive accuracy of the model is also straightforward and would depend on investing into data collection efforts. As the authors discuss, the main limitation is the quality of data available; however, patient to provider ratios or demand-based models are still inferior by comparison.

A common approach used for validating predictive models such as…

("Summary of the LPN Declaratory Ruling, 2003)

The selected tasks and shared responsibilities of the licensed practical nurse define such nurses as responsible for being adequately prepared for the nursing responsibilities they assume because they have obtained the validation of completion of an approved preparatory program and have evidence of the successful completion of a nursing licensing examination. A registered nurse, however, as the title conveys, must be registered as a specific health care professional, within a professional organization, rather than merely possess evidence of having a license, and has passed the necessary coursework to obtain his or her master's in the nursing profession. The LPN's validation documents state that he or she has reached the achievement of mastering all theoretical and nursing skill competencies required of an entry level practical nurse in caring for individuals in any age group. It states that the licensed practical nurse has the sufficient…

Technology-based teaching strategies can greatly accelerate the how both teaching and learning occur and therefore often reduce traditional issues and concerns faced by students and instructors. This approach changes the conventional way of thinking about how quality nursing programs are assessed and changes the levels of requirements to better suit student learning with better access to libraries, counseling and tutoring services, computing equipment, tuition, and financial aid to name a few.

But where this Associates Degree approach will benefit the profession most is in the healthcare system where it is needed most. New nurses will be better acclimated to the needs of sophisticated logging processes, medical billing and inventory as well as scheduling and other tasks now all handled via digital processing and computer. A modern day nurses are more technologically sophisticated, the overall patient care process also gets better as more available free time is offered back to the…

FCER Points Out Error to erck; erck Confirms Change"

This commentary illustrates the issue of problematic wording within the medical community. A Doctor of Chiropractic expressed concern to the Foundation for Chiropractic Education and Research over improper phrasing written in the erck anual.

The bothersome statement written in the erck anual was thought to have originated from medical data derived over 30 years ago. This article points the importance of knowing one's own specialty, and having a thorough knowledge of medical terminology so as to correct and prevent medical mishaps.

ackechnie C, Simpson, R (2006) "Traceable Calibration for Blood Pressure and Temperature onitoring" Nursing Standard 21, 11, (2006): 42-47

Correct diagnosis and monitoring largely depend on accurate pulse, respiration, blood pressure, and body temperature measurements. any measurement errors can be minimized by confirming that instruments are calibrated. This article emphasizes to need for instruments to be traceably calibrated to national…

Nursing Home

eport on Conditions at Brighton and Sussex University Hospitals NHS Trust

The following report is based on extensive observation of the conditions for patients living at the Brighton and Sussex University Hospitals NHS Trust. While some patients received moderate care, overall, the quality of care in this facility was appalling. All patients -- all people -- deserve to be treated with dignity, and this was far from the case. The conditions were especially distressing given that in general they could be fixed or at least ameliorated relatively easily. Not all of the ills of old age or disability can be remedied, of course. Pain and fear will be present even with the best possible care. Given that this is true, all possible efforts must be made to reduce fear, anxiety, and pain to the greatest degree possible.

The facts that this report is based on were documented by…

The author quotes Gary Zukav as emphasizing that if a nurse perceives herself as powerless and her image as negative, the idea can sink to the subconscious level and realize itself. She will be drawn to those who will reinforce the idea. Practitioner Pauline Robitaille's stresses impact each nurse has on others. Her influence on people she comes in contact at the peri-operative setting cannot be overstated. She found the published feedbacks of registered nurses in nursing journals as very positive while others were very negative. Those who gave positive feedbacks described the efforts of preceptors to teach and support them. Thus the intended learning flowed smoothly. However, other nurses reported the negative, punitive and critical behavior of their preceptors. The nurses described the difficulty of working with these preceptors. Hence, the nurses did not benefit from their experience with the preceptors.

Ulmer emphasizes that those in the profession must…

The death of a child is significant and in this case avoidable and a plaintiff has the right to seek compensatory damages as is allowed by law.

Case Study 1 Part B

At the end of the night shift, Nurse Brown took a verbal handover and then noticed the observation chart had not been filled in. To assist her friend, Nurse Harvey, whom she knew had a busy night, filled in the observation chart and fluid balance chart for the hours from 0200-0600 hrs.

Overcome by the events of the last 24 hrs, Nurse Harvey and Nurse Brown go to the local tavern for a few drinks before Nurse Harvey goes on duty. They discussed Mr. Spencer and his son. John, a friend of Mr. Spencer, overheard the conversation and joined them. He was also upset by the events of the day and was most keen to discuss the accident…

It is critical that NHAs are first qualified nurses, as their ability to relate to other nurses is essential to the organizational success of the nursing home ("Nursing home administrator jobs," 2011). Career paths for an NHA are rooted with education background and nursing experience. Although experience is necessary for being a successful NHA, a career path at minimum requires clinical licensing (Decker, & Castle, 2009).

The NHA is the management body over the facility, and their positions are in high demand. In the U.S. In 2008, approximately 17,000 nursing home administrators were responsible for the oversight of care for 1 million elderly adults and 1.3 million employees (Leister, 2009). Overseeing a large nursing staff, as well as vulnerable residents, are the daily demands of the NHA. The future of NHA field is concerning to researchers and professionals, as the number of licensed NHAs is on the decline. In Maryland,…

The National Association of Clinical Nurse Specialists - The NACNS was founded in 1995, specifically to enhance and promote the unique and high-value contributions that clinical nurses make to the health and well-being of individuals, families, groups, and communities in their particular branch of healthcare. They also have a foundation, scholarship programs, a journal and discussion portal, various levels of conferences, scholarship programs, honors and awards, and the ability for advanced certification. A Clinical Nurse Specialist is a licensed N who has graduate preparation (MA or PhD) in nursing specifically as a Clinical Nurse Specialist. This field of healthcare goes beyond the duties of an LPN or N, or even charge nurse, and deals with either advanced levels of clinical specialization, or broader, community and national health concerns. The field requires a rather significant academic bent, and the association is designed to support and enhance that paradigm focus (CNS -…

Nursing BA vs. Associates

Nursing Competencies -- Associates vs. Baccalaureates

The difference competencies between nurses prepared at the associate-degree level nursing vs. The baccalaureate-degree level are significantly different on many levels. Today's nurses work in a healthcare environment that is undergoing a constant evolution at a speed never before imagined (NLN Board of Governers, 2011). Patient needs have become more complicated; nurses must implement requisite competencies in leadership, health policy, system improvement, research, evidence-based practice, and teamwork and collaboration in order to deliver high-quality care. Furthermore, nurses are also required to master different technologies that are also evolving extremely rapidly.

There are basically three different alternative paths to becoming a registered nurse. Some hospitals offer a three-year program that is administered in the hospital setting. Another option is a two to three-year program in which graduates receive an associate's degree and can be administered at a community college or any…

Nursing Future in 2021

Nursing has not changed greatly for decades. Nurses now have more freedom than they did two decades ago, but nurses still provide the same care they have for the past century. This has been changing with the advent of nursing master's programs that are allowing registered nurses the opportunity to become more specialized in fields of their choice. A nurse can choose from many different nurse practitioner specialties to become more engaged in their field. Nurse practitioner programs allow nurses to be more involved in decisions that are made regarding patient care, so that the nurse becomes more responsible. The position of neonatal nurse practitioner is explained more fully in the following essay.

Neonatal care refers to the hospital department that takes care of an infant at the earliest stages of life. A neonatal nurse practitioner "frequently reports directly to a neonatologist or other specialists who…

Nursing

According to the Joint Statement on Delegation produced by the American Nurses Association (ANA) and the National Council of State Boards of Nursing (NCSBN) "the N assigns or delegates tasks based on the needs and condition of the patient, potential for harm, stability of the patient's condition, complexity of the task, predictability of the outcomes, abilities of the staff to who the task is delegated, and the context of other patient needs" (Joint Statement).

In this particular case, it is easy to determine the frustrating aspects affecting Ms. W. It can also be a relatively simple matter to correct the situation in order to ensure effective care for Ms. . The nursing supervisor in this case would sit down with Ms. W. And map out a strategy for the patient's care, remembering of course that the key to successful delegation "depends on the quality of N and NAP working…

Nursing Organization

The Nurses Organization of Veterans Affairs (NOVA)

Purpose, Mission and Vision

NOVA exists to fulfill a very important function in the United States: Providing healthcare services to the nation's war veterans. To be able to do this, the organization's mission is to "shape and influence healthcare in the Department of Verterans Affairs (NOVA Foundation, 2012).

NOVA's vision has six components:

To provide high quality nursing care.

To provide nurses with an optimal work environment.

To keep nurses informed on relevant issues regarding VA health care and nursing.

To create opportunities for VA nurses to function at the leadership level.

To recruit all VA nurses for NOVA membership.

Advantages of Membership

The most obvious benefit of membership is the ability to connect with other members, who can offer support for specific challenges related to the professions. This opportunity to work with others also strengthens the ability of the VA…

"From an historical standpoint, her concept of nursing enhanced nursing science this has been particularly important in the area of nursing education." ("Virginia Henderson's Need...," 2008) Principles of Henderson's theory, published in numerous primary nursing textbooks utilized from the 1930s through the 1960s, along with principles embodied by the 14 activities continue to prove vital in evaluating nursing care in thee21st century, not only in cases such as Keri's, but in a myriad of others benefiting from nursing.

eferences

Kearney, Kathleen M., the Nurse's Duty to eport Child Abuse vs. The Attorney's Duty of Confidentiality: The Nurse Attorney's Dilemma Journal of Nursing Law. Social Science Electronic Publishing, Inc.; January 25, 2007. etrieved September 25, 2007, at http://ssrn.com/abstract=1256366.

esuggan, ay N;PN;MN. (Last Modified: August 17, 2008). "Virginia Avernal Henderson." Nurses.info. etrieved September 25, 2007, from: http://www.nurses.info/nursing_theory_person_henderson_virginia_.htm.

Singleton, Joanne K. "Nurses' perspectives of encouraging clients' care-of-self in a short-term rehabilitation unit within…

The dependent variable in the study is the nursing rounds (which involves undertaking the prescribed protocols and actions to be taken as well as the frequency of rounds, i.e. one hour rounding and two hour rounding). The study aims to see the behavior of the nursing rounds variable when tested against the study's independent variables (which are patient's call light use, level of satisfaction, and safety). The title of the article, as readers may notice, effectively points out the dependent and independent variables in the study.

In terms of the relationships of the dependent and independent variables, the authors hypothesized that nursing rounds will reduce the call light use (negative direction, i.e. As one variable increases, the other decreases), increase patient satisfaction (positive direction, i.e. one variable increases and so is the other), and improve patient safety (positive direction).

For the first hypothesis (nursing round and call light use), probability…

Charity, selflessness, altruism and entrepreneurship are, therefore, not contradictory. It is well-known that the well-paid traditional nurse is likely to be a better worker better able to devote more attention to her patient (Hardin & . Kaplow, 2001). Deductively, therefore, the independent nurse who is motivated to work well in order to be successfully self-employed would likely (although not necessarily) be a better nurse in terms of the intrinsic nursing characteristics than those employed by institutions.

Ironically, entrepreneur nursing can potentially make one into a better nurse, for aside from being motivated to perform excellently, the entrepreneur nurse can adopt her own style and afford to conduct thorough research into nursing theories and models that culminate in enhanced nursing.

The institutional nurse is classically overworked and, therefore, has little time for arbitrary activities; the entrepreneur nurse, on the other hand, can adequately fulfill the expectations of evidence-based nursing where she…

In interacting, factors may also modify each other:

nurse who might return to work for a higher salary might decide to do so only later when her children are older. The incentive of salary is therefore modified by the factor of young children.

The table is significantly complicated by the inclusion of more than two factors:

Any combination of the factors could result in the majority of nurses returning to work. Individually, each nurse has his or her own motivations for doing so.

The iterative proportional fitting procedure can be used to calculate expected frequencies.

Note: pecifically, the indication of this study is that nurses would return to work were certain factors in the work situation to change. pecifically, the highest frequencies are assigned to work load and hours. These are also the two most common factors in causing burnout and stress in the profession. Concomitantly, if inactive nurses were…

Nursing

Fatigue and Compassion as Functions of Ethical Nursing

The American Nursing Association's Scope and Standards of Practice are designed to provide a blueprint for preempting and addressing the various challenges, pitfalls and procedurals norms of the profession. These help to draw a professional, ethical and practical connection that offers a basic outline for that which is expected of the registered nurse. Indeed, it is of critical benefit to the nursing professional and to the patient community that there exist some clearly elaborated set of ethical standards that pertains directly to sometimes difficult to identify challenges such as bedside manner and fatigue. The American Nursing Association (ANA) provides just such standards, and these function to significantly aid in the decision-making, workplace culture and treatment processes undertaken by nurse professionals.

Ethical orientation is an important feature of a nursing team, particularly as it impacts the morale of nurses and the treatment…

Nursing Mentor Scenario

Introduction- Just as the theoretical and practical backgrounds of nursing have changed over the past several decades, so has the nursing education environment itself. . Students now entering the field are diverse in culture, educational background, and most especially age and experience. Traditional undergraduates coming directly from High School or Junior College often interact with more mature and experienced students. In addition, nursing instructors remain challenged to recognize different learning needs and styles, and respect that adaptive scenarios might be necessary to further the learning opportunities for many students. e thus see that the most effective way of teaching in the modern nursing classroom is to adjust one's pedagogical paradigm outward and to actively find new and innovative ways of reaching each student, rather than expecting each student to completely bend to the tried and true curriculum of previous generations (Young, L., Petson, B., eds., 2006). Too,…

There are, of course, many individuals besides nurses that are essential parts of medical teams when it comes to providing effective and efficient care to patients. General practitioners (GPs) are primarily tasked with determining diagnoses and developing treatment plans for their patients, and with coordinating the efforts of the rest of the medical team (Thomas & Corney 1993). Specialists such as dieticians, diabetes educators, and physicians that practice in highly specialized fields all have their own niches that most patients require service in at some point in their lives. Nurses can support all of these roles without assuming them themselves.

From a nursing perspective, teamwork in the provision of medical services and overall patient care is heavily predicated upon mutual respect amongst the team members and acknowledgement of the competencies and skills brought to the group by each team member (Thomas & Corney 1993). Teams function most effectively when the…

In the emergency room, this distinction can have a determinant impact on the ability of the staff to preserve life and diminish pain and suffering.

The introduction of a bioethical perspective into this dialogue invokes a question as to the primacy of an interest in pursuing to the utmost the well-being of the patient. This speaks to one of the core values associating the principles of the ANA with the treatment outcomes desired in patiences. An examination of the ANA's Code of Ethics reveals that a theoretical basis exists to contend a direct correlation between the nurse's self-interest and that which is best for any given patient. There exists an essential obligation for such healthcare practitioners to "examine the conflicts arising between their own personal and professional values, the values and interests of others who are responsible for patient care and health care decisions, as well as those of the…

The stengths of this design ae elated to the ease of application and usage. The design of the suvey was easy to administe and self explanatoy. While the weakness was elated to the willingness of the paticipant to Chapte Thee 5

paticipate complete the suvey and povide tuthful esponses. An additional weakness is elative to the age goup that was pesent fo the suvey and thei elationship to the use of computes.

Subjects

Afte appoval of the study fom the Institutional Review Boad at Indiana

Wesleyan Univesity and Methodist Hospitals, Inc. Nusing staff wee ecuited to paticipate in fo the study. Paticipants wee eligible fo the study if they wee cuently an employee of the employed by Methodist Hospitals, Inc., It was also necessay that they hold a cuent nusing license, paticipated in online leaning, and wee able to ead and wite English. A egisteed nuse who has paticipated in…

Nurse Licensure

Do you believe that nurse licensure (and scope of practice) should be controlled at the state or federal level?

The NLC (Nurse Licensure Compact) is a mutual acknowledgement licensure model. Many states have thought of authorizing it. Nonetheless, there were various factors that either terminated the bill while it was being processed or had it cancelled after adjournment. National licensure involves setting of criteria for universal licensing nationally, and administering it per state. It relinquishes, to some level, state authority over criteria for licensing and would expect states to bargain and agree on a complicated chain of regulatory factors including discipline and investigations. National licensure would bring about one license for every registered nurse, which would be administered and granted by the national government. The fact that this model completely takes away state authority makes it special. Most of the issues raised on national licensure are also applicable…

Moreover, recent legislation such as the Affordable Care Act is expected to create an even greater need for nurses who can take on more advanced responsibilities. As one nurse stated on National Public adio: "…with the passage of the Affordable Care Act, which was passed in March, we're going to see 32 million new patients accessing the health care delivery system which previously weren't accessing this system. And currently, we don't have the capacity to provide high-quality, patient-centered care for this new expanded population" (NP, 2010)

Careers in nursing have become vast and varied, particularly for the highly educated, and pay for many of these careers is above $60,000 annually. While a nurse with a BSN who becomes an N can still advance in her career, enter management, or become a nursing professor, an MSN is necessary for nurses to enter one of the more prestigious and specialized subfields (Sacks,…

Nursing: Today and Throughout History

The occupation of nursing has been around for almost all of history in some form or another. In the ancient Roman Empire are found records of the nursing practice, where nurses provided care to in-patients at local Roman hospitals. In Constantinople—the Rome of the East—nurses were “known as hypourgoi” (Kourkouta, 1998). These nurses (both male and female) were tasked with jobs much like today’s nurses: they provided a wide variety of services to patients. Kourkouta (1998) states that the main tasks of the hypourgoi (male nurses) and hypourgisses (female nurses) were to give “psychological support of patients, everyday care of patients’ bodily needs and elementary comfort, cleaning of patients and providing them with proper food, the administration of medicines according to a doctor’s instructions, supervising wards when the physicians were not present, the performance of enemas, cuppings and bloodletting, the main therapeutic means used at…

739, p=0.009, e?=0.727). This study clearly highlighted that sleep shortage and work fatigue poses a threat to patient safety and that nurse self-care is warranted.[Dorrian et.al, (2006)]

Nurse Support Services

An earlier Australian study by Moore KA (2001) which observed 201 nurses working in three different hospitals had concluded that organizational restructuring policies and the consequent work overload was a high stressor for nurses and this was made worse by the poor communication style (top -- down approach instead of consultative style) that only contributed more to nurse burnout. [Moore KA, (2001)]. Given the high levels of occupational stress and burnout among nurses, it is important that nurse self-care interventions are prioritized. A recent literature review on the subject of work stress and coping methods among Australian nurses revealed that 'work load ', 'role conflict' and 'expression of aggression' were the three main stressors. The literature study also revealed 'seeking…

Nurse Patient atios and Quality of Care

This study reviews the broad level of issues that surround the nurse/patient ratio: a critical shortage of trained and experienced nurses; increased political and fiscal demands from all sectors of society; rising costs internally and externally combined with a rising number of under-insured; and the conundrum of nursing ethics and the ability to foster excellence in care and patient advocacy. We note that there remains an issue about hiring more nurses -- where will these nurses come from if the nursing schools do not increase their recruitment efforts and broaden their curriculum. In addition, we note that the large majority of patients and stakeholders primarily want two things when admitted to a healthcare facility: better paid nurses and more highly-trained professionals who are satisfied with their vocation.

Introduction

Modern nursing is, by necessity, a mixture of complex balance: patient care vs. staffing; procedures…

Nursing Fiscal Plan

The author of report is asked to assess a budget framework and compare what has happened to what is set to happen through the rest of the year and ascertain how best to close out the year. The author is asked to assess budget line item requests for the duration of the year as well as what expenses can and should be deferred until the new fiscal year. The budget projections that were accurate are to be labeled as well as what factors have caused the inaccuracies. As to the latter, it is asked if those inaccuracies were controllable or predictable.

The author is asked to do a bit of research on patient acuity symptoms and to ascertain the best approach for that process vis-a-vis quality patient care. The author is asked what strategies pertaining to motivation, communication, care delivery and so forth need to be implemented…

Nursing Concept

Theoretical Background

One of the complexities of 21st century medicine is the evolution of nursing care theories in combination with a changing need and expectation of the stakeholder population. Nurses must be advocates and communicators, but must balance these along with an overall philosophy of ethics while still remaining mindful of budgets and the need for the medical institution to be profitable. It seems as if these issues comprise a three-part template for nursing: respect for patient value & individuality, education of patients, and cognition and respect for the realities of contemporary medicine. In many ways, too, modern technology has advanced further than societal wisdom, especially when confronting the issue of death. The modern nurse's role is to create a nurse-patient culture that encourages the individual to take responsibility for their healthcare and, in partnership with the nurse, to be involved in their recovery. The modern complexities of…

As to catheter straps, if fastened too tightly they can act as tourniquets, cutting off the needed flow of blood and presenting. And at least theoretically, use of straps brings about a risk of increasing the complications such as "…deep vein thrombosis and pulmonary embolism" in those patients with "impaired lower extremity circulation" (Billington 504). Research presented in this article shows that the problem of infection due to poorly attached catheters can be reduced significantly through the use of a product called "Bard StatLock" -- which, the authors insist, is an effective stabilization device because it allows movement (through a swivel clip), because it is a "sterile latex-free, tug-resistant product" (Billington 504). An article in the journal RN, incidentally, states that treating "hemodialysis catheter-related bacteremia" can cost a hospital up to $45,000.

ashing "Bloody Hands": An article in the Australian Nursing Journal asserts, "…hand hygiene is the single most effective…

" (Allen 2008) This means that nursing educators are also a key stakeholder.

Other stakeholders include healthcare facility administrators, corporate trustees and public office holders, who will often have entangled or competing interests relating to the profitability of operations and the political expediency of policy orientation. This will also be true of the various professional advocacy groups, nursing associations and lobby groups that will vie for influence in the discussion on any legislation relating to the nursing shortage.

Policy Objective:

A primary policy objective is to endorse any legislation that would aggressively enforce better recruitment of nursing students, better training of existing nurses, improvements in working conditions for nurses and mandated nurse-to-patient ratios. These objectives are underscored by evidence of the opportunities to save lives facilitated by mandated ratios. According to the text by Health Services Research (HSR) (2010), "key findings of the study reportedly include that 10-13% 'fewer surgical…

Nursing Problem: Shortage of Nurses in Healthcare

Nursing Shortage

The researcher works at Phoebe Memorial Hospital, where there is an extreme nursing shortage. Without an adequate amount of nurses, patient care and safety may turn out to be compromised, while nurses themselves may be stunned, upset, and dissatisfied. At the researcher's workplace, high patient-to-nurse ratios has been displaying that there is a lot of frustration and job burnout, which is linked to higher yield. At Phoebe, there is an inadequately staffed nursing force which has been discovered to play a negative part in patient results. In difference, studies have confirmed that hospitals like Phoebe Memorial Hospital with low nurse turnover are the ones that have the lowest rates of risk-adjusted death and severity-adjusted span of stay.

There is no very exact way of describing the concept of nursing shortage at the Phoebe Memorial Hospital Phoebe, but a report of this…

Nursing Comm

Communication in a Collaborative Healthcare Context

Providing leadership in a healthcare context requires one skilled both as a manager and as a collaborator. The modern healthcare context is a highly collaborative environment in which medical professionals must work hand in hand with specialists, nurses, physicians, family members, physical therapists, mental health professional, administrators and the patients themselves in order to derive treatment of the highest quality. The discussion hereafter considers the implications of this collaborative environment to those serving in roles of leadership within the healthcare field with a particular focus on communication.

Communicating in the Collaborative Healthcare Context:

My consideration of communication in the healthcare context is taken from recent clinical experiences within which I interviewed an Advanced Practice Nurse, a doctorally prepared nurse and an ICU nurse manager. My time at the Pacific Institute of Nursing

Conference would yield a great many insights concerning the value…

Nursing

There are a number of significant differences between in the art of teaching nursing skills at the university level and the art of teaching nursing skills at the community level. The educational opportunities are similar at both types of institutions but the demands on faculty are different at each level.

Current literature shows that "approximately 42% of students enter community colleges with reading, writing, or math skills below the college level' (Cohen, Brawer, 2003) and therefore many of these students "need basic skills preparation in remedial-developmental courses" (National Center for Educational Statistics, 2003). The need for basic skills preparation is evident of many students entering college, but especially so for those who are entering at the community college level. Many of these students have not gained acceptance into the larger universities, or have the desire to hone their educational skills before tackling the demanding requirements of four-year colleges and…

The data gathered is subjected to statistical analysis using statistical methods of linear regression and chi square testing.

The main purpose of the study was to confirm the hypothesis that consultation with CNS or RN in a drug-monitoring clinic has a significant positive impact on the well being of patients with rheumatoid arthritis. The study involved a single blinded randomized controlled trial over a period of three years. Subjects were chosen from the rheumatology out patient setting in a district general hospital with a drug monitoring service. A total of 71 subjects who were starting out on anti-rheumatic therapy were randomly assigned to either the interventional or the control group. While the interventional group was supervised by the CNS to assess patient needs (using Pendelton's framework) alongside drug safety evaluation, the control group was seen by an outpatient staff nurse purely for drug safety concerns. oth the groups were assessed…

The nurse would need to explain the FOBT process along with what the results of this test would indicate. It would need to be explained that if the test were to come back positive then there would be a need to undergo diagnostic testing in order to determine what is really going on. The process of a colonoscopy would need to be explained in detail. The nurse would need to make sure that all of the tests and procedures were explained so that they patient could understand why the screening and testing was necessary and what their options are at every step of the way.

The ethical, legal and professional implications of providing this advice to the patient would lie in the fact that as a nurse a person has a reasonability to provide the best possible medical care to those who seek their services. This includes providing the correct…

cute care facilities try to maintain low costs and employ quality nurses. Within this statement is a double standard. How can we have quality nurses and cut costs at the same time? This is where the skill mix comes into play. In the skill mix, there are Registered Nurses (RNs), Licensed Practical Nurses (LPNs), and unlicensed staff. If the lesser skilled staff free RNs they can be better able to perform their nursing duties and assessments. If acute care facilities can agree on an appropriate number of each type of staff member within the facility, they might be better able to accomplish safe patient outcomes while keeping costs down.

Determining nurse-to-patient ratios is a complex issue where one solution is not sufficient to cover all circumstances. The merican Nurses ssociation assembled a panel of nursing and health professionals to research appropriate staffing levels. The panel developed the following Matrix for…

Of course, as Medicare beneficiaries increase because of the number of baby boomers, the Medicare program may adjust. However, current hospice figures demonstrate that only about twenty percent of all elderly individuals that die are enrolled in hospice programs.

Implementation and Monitoring

The needs of this new program will require thorough training and once implemented, precise monitoring. "When you approach a problem in the way your work group functions, you're implementing an organizational change. By taking a critical look at your process, and using some theories from organizational design, you can fix the problem -- and change your organization to make quality more likely." (Derby, 1999) The training will be a key because of the potential requirements associated with the Hospice program that may require completely new skill sets for the majority of our staff. The fact is that many of our nurses may not have acquired the necessary skills…

When nurses put their patient(s) ahead of themselves, it assures that they address and solve any patient problems or concerns about post-hospitalization care (Han, 2009). Patients' health has a more significant chance of improving or remaining stable if they understand their condition which is why it is valued for nurses to communicate effectively (Han, 2009). Proper communication by a nurse can give caregivers and/or patients the powers of freedom and independence concerning their health once they are discharged from the hospital (Bauer, 2009).

Identify Nurses oles in Discharge Planning

In most discharge planning, nurses have a central role. As a generalization discharge planing, nurses ensure that their patient receives their medication, instructions, and have discussions with patients and their family regarding concerns dealing with discharge (Han, 2009). Nurses must identify those who require discharge planning and begin the transfer from one facility to another (or to home) (Han, 2009). Also,…

Future Goals & Scholarship

My journey in the RN-BSN program has provided me with the knowledge I needed to advance my career in nursing. Also, the RN-BSN has prepared me intellectually as well as in a foundational way to offer a higher quality of service to my patients. A nurse that truly engages with her profession never stops learning about the newest advances in healthcare strategies and policies, and I have been an enthusiastic learner when it comes to advancing my skills and my experiences for the benefit of my patients.

hat I learned and how that Knowledge Helps Me

The advanced skills I have learned allow me to better care for my patients. But moreover, the RN-BSN program brought into my focus the importance of better English comprehension skills, including the ability to critically evaluate ideas, scholarly articles, speeches given by healthcare professionals, and other materials that nurses need…

nursing theory practice setting.

Provide an overview of the theory

Myra Estrin Levine is known as the most important Nursing theorist for developing "The Conservation Model." Levine got a diploma in 1944 and obtained her B.S in 1949 and finished M.S.N in 1962 from Wayne State College. She acted as a specialist to healthcare facilities and colleges of nursing. Furthermore, she offered a teaching format for the medical or surgical sector of nursing and developed "The 4 Conservation Fundamentals." "She clearly connected wellness to the procedure of conservation design and viewed wellness as one of its necessary elements" (Levine, 1991).

The 3 significant ideas of the Conservation Model are 1) wholeness, 2) adaption, and 3) conservation. "Whole, wellness, hale all are sourced from the Anglo-Saxon word hal" (Levine, 1973, p. 11). Myra Levine formulated her take of wholeness as an open system, which meant checking out the components of the…

nursing should be classified as a profession.

ebster's Dictionary defines a profession as "a type of job that requires special education, training, or skill." In addition to education, to be considered a profession, the person has to have a particular skill set which is specific to their chosen field. For nursing, a person must have education and specialized training, but they also must have an innate sense of ethics, knowing the difference between right and wrong while being able to make the right call in high-pressure situations. Just as a lawyer must have a the ability to read people and teachers must have enthusiasm for learning, nurses must be dedicated to the preservation of life as well as an attitude which instills hope and comfort in the patients under their care. If to enter a profession, someone must have special training and specified skills as well as a personality which…

nursing, despite some early events in my life that might have derailed my career. I was studying for my R.N. degree when my husband became ill and I had to return to full-time work. However, I was able to earn my LPN through the Army Reserve. Recently, it has been my privilege to offer support and assistance to the families of troops deployed in Iraq with the Army Reserve 801st Combat Support. The sometimes-sad nature of this work is balanced by my work within the Aurora Health System in Pediatrics. Although the children have health challenges, working with young people is a truly joyful aspect of a nursing career. I also teach Heartsaver classes for new parents with special needs before their discharge from the hospital.

In my spare time, I work with battered mothers and children in Lake County, and help at the village food pantry. I teach CPR…

The trust from volunteers on the research is set to bring about an understanding of the relevance of the study to the nursing environment. The participants will have a certificate of confidentiality, so they can have their identities and input towards the research concealed throughout the study period and after (Schelbred & Nord, 2007).

eferences

Berman, A., Snyder, S.J., Kozier, B., & Erb, G. (2008). In Kozier & Erb's Fundamentals of Nursing (8th ed.). Upper Saddle iver, NJ: Prentice Hall (Publishing Co.)

Black, N., (2009). N, Obstetrics Department, Mat Su egional Medical Center, Personal

interview conducted and recorded via telephone on September 12, 2009. Free dictionary.

(n.d.). MerriamWebster online dictionary. etrieved from Merriam Webster website:

http://www.merriam webster.com/dictionary/essence.

Law, M., Stewart, D., Letts, L., Pollack, N., Bosch, J., & Westmorland, M. (1998) Guidelines for Critical Form -- Qualitative Studies, etrieved September 23, 2009 from the World Wide

Web: http://fhs.mcmaster.ca/rehab/ebp/pdf/qualguidelines.pdf.

Lilley, L.L.,…

Nursing Experience

After spending a semester in the Newborn Intensive Care Unit (NICU) as a student nurse in training, I can report that I have learned a great deal about the vital issues and practices that are involved in the intensive care unit for newborns, and about the duties and responsibilities of a nurse in that area of healthcare. Part of my training involved treating wounds and the therapeutic communication that is involved in wound care; also, I became well familiarized with the family centric care that is part and parcel of the NICU.

Family Centered Care at the NICU

hat can be more important for a family that has just been on the emotional roller coaster of giving birth prematurely to a new member of the family than being made to feel welcomed and to be treated with a great deal of professionalism and respect? There are a number…

It is not the patients themselves that get impacted but the families of these patients as well. There is a certain connection that nurses make with the families of loved ones admitted in hospitals since these nurses are the one the ones in frequent care of their loved ones.

Just the other day, as I was unloading some shopping from my car, a woman from across the road came up to me and asked me if I was a nurse to whom I replied that I was. She expressed that she had recognized me and that I was the nurse who had taken care of her husband at a time when he was admitted at the hospital. She was grateful that I was very caring and showed such compassion that she would always remember. These kind words from patients that are grateful and their family members are just a sample…

Nursing Staff Levels Affect Patient Mortality

Managing unnecessary variability in patient demand to reduce nursing stress and improve patient safety.

Litvak, E., Buerhaus, P.I., Davidoff, F., Long, M.C., McManus, M.L. & Berwick, D.M.

Date of publication: June 2005

Examination of the operational issues affecting health care delivery, including patient driven peaks in demand and effects of nursing shortages or inadequate staffing on clinical outcomes for patients.

esearch question and/or hypothesis:

In this study the researchers propose that increases in adverse clinical outcomes occur when hospital nurse staffing is inadequate. Further the researchers suggest that increases in census rates increase the potential for serious stresses for patients and nurses working in the field. Lastly the researchers suggest that if hospitals reduce unnecessary variability of staff levels in a hospital, the hospital can reduce the probability of negative patient outcomes, improve safety for patients and improve the overall quality of care.

Sample…

nursing client relationships and how the study is a valid research for practitioners. It has 26 sources in Harvard Style.

esearch titles must be limited to fifteen words. In this case the author has exceeded the limitation by one count which is negligible. The importance of relevance of the title to the body of the research is that it must collaborate with the core study area. In the first line the author has already specified the relationship of the nurse-client at the beginning and categorizes it as a "partnership" whereas the title of the study must not reveal the results or even the anticipated results.

Authors and Abstracts

The authors T. Hostick and F. McClelland both the authors indicate in their abstract that the article aim in establishing nursing behavior when they are engaged in a nurse-client relationship. The abstract though is limited in expressing the content of the study…