Essential Concepts of Nursing Final

The Nurse Practice Act defines the legal scope of nursing practice. It excludes unlicensed people from practicing. Creates a state board of nursing and makes/ enforces rules and regulations. The act is obtained a state level in all 50 states.

National League of Nursing (NLN)

Drug or alcohol abuse, fraud, deceptive practice, criminal acts, gross or ordinary negligence, physical or mental impairment.

The nurse should first confront the doctor himself and ask. If he still tells her to do it but she is uncomfortable, she needs to make him aware of this. The nurse is responsible if she harms a patient. EVEN UNDER DOCTORS ORDERS!!

1. LPN - 1 year program2. RN - 2 or 4 year program (if want to get BSN)3. Graduate Nurse is a 4 year program. 4. Clinical Nurse Specialist (CNS) - Masters or Doctorate in specific area or nursing (Such as Peds)5. NP - Masters6. Nurse Anesthetist (CRNA) - Post bachelors certification of anesthesia education 7. Nurse Midwife (CNM) - Masters in Science of Nursing8. Nurse Educator - Masters9. Nurse Administrator - Need at least Bachelor's of Science in Nursing10. Nurse Researcher - Require' a PhD in nursing11. Nurse Entrepreneur - Usually at least a masters in Nursing

1. In 16th century nursing was a "bad job" cause criminals were recruited to do it.2. 18-19th century (after ww2) - nursing began to grow and be reputable, thanks to Florence Nightingale, who was considered the "lady with the lamp." She began the 1st school of nursing. Mother of nursing that established standards for hospital practice and identified personal needs of patient. She also stressed continued education of nursing. 3. Other big names include: a. Clara Barton: reorganized the Red Cross b. Dorothea Dix: Cleaned up mental institutions c. Linda Richards: Initiated individual medical records for each pt. d. Lillian Wald: "Public Health Nurse" e. Mary Elizabeth Mahoney: First African American nurse professionally trained. f. Harriet Tubman: gave critical care to black sold- iers in civil war. g. Lavinia Dock: wrote volumes that was used as a drug reference book. h. Mary Breckenridge: first midwife

The word nursing derived from latin word nutrix (to nourish). The patient is always the primary focus in the definition of nursing. IT is the promotion of health, the prevention of illness and collaborative care.
The primary goal of nurses is to not just get rid of someone's illness, but to get them back to the most optimal health condition they can reach.

Healthy People 2010 promotes health and disease prevention. It does this by more than just curing illness. Other factors include: Physical Activity, Obesity, Tobacco abuse, Substance abuse, Responsible sexual behavior, Mental Health, Injury and Violence, Environmental quality, Immunization, and Access to Healthcare.

A profession needs extensive training; an occupation does not. Nursing is a profession.

1. American Nurses Association (ANA): Sets standards and represents nurses legislatively2. National League of Nursing (NLN): Works on nurse education/ accredits schools3. American Association of Critical-Care Nurese (AACN): BSN voice4. National American Student Nurse Association (NASNA): Student Nurse Association5. Special practice and special interests

Maslow's Hierarchy: Level 1 - PhysiologicLevel 2 - Safety and SecurityLevel 3 - Love and BelongingLevel 4 - Self-esteemLevel 5 - Self-actualization
How this applies to nursing: The nurse must recognize unmet needs before they become healthcare needs.The levels are all interrelated and may require multiple levels of interventions at one time.

There are multiple structures of families:1. Nuclear - traditional family with 2 parents and their children.2. Blended - two parents and their unrelated children from previous marriages3. Binuclear - divorced parents with joint custody4. Single parents5. Cohabiting family - young people who live together but are not married6. Extended family - uncles, aunts, etc.
Functions: Physical, economic, reproductive. Affective and coping (helping each individual establish an identity), and socialization (teaches belief system, values, attitudes, problem solving, etc.)

Culture diversity is people of varying racial classification and national origin, religious affiliation, language, gender, sexual orientation, age, disability, socioeconomic status, occupation status, geographic location. Nurses must develop knowledge of culturally competent care.

Culture is shared system of beliefs, values, and behavioral expectations that provide social structure for daily living. Culture assimilation or shock may occur in healthcare setting. Culture affects healthcare in many ways: Physiologic characteristics, physiological characteristics, reactions to pain, mental health, gender roles, language and communication, orientation to space and time, food and nutrition, family support, socioeconomic factors.

Health: state of complete physical, mental, and social well-being (not just absence of disease).
Illness: Unique response of person to disease.
Wellness: Active state, oriented toward maximizing the potential of the individual.