Phlebotomy is one of many subjects you have to study in nursing school – but there are also related career opportunities you can jump into after graduation. In this post, we’re diving into how to become a phlebotomist as your nursing career. Compared to other nursing-related professions, being a professional… Show
Read more Fidelity in Nursing: What You Need to KnowFidelity is defined as "unswerving adherence to duty," and it’s required for nurses to solidify patient care practices. “Fidelity” in nursing is one of the main characteristics of a nurse's ethical behavior. Nurses who are conscientious and loyal to their patients (and careers) are more likely to be recognized as… Written by SimpleNursing Editorial TeamRead more If there’s one thing you’ll need to understand while in nursing school, it’s the nursing process. The nursing process gives you a framework to care for patients, and is broken down into components. Since 1958, the systematic nursing process has guided nurses as they strive to provide patient-focused care. Well-known psychiatric health nurse Ida Jean Orlando developed the system to bring critical thinking, problem-solving skills, and evidence-based practices (EBP) together with the knowledge and experience of the nurses to create a holistic, patient-first method of care. Since then, the system has become fundamental in nursing. We’ll explore the nursing process and the five main components (or steps) you’ll rely on to help you navigate the nursing field. Here’s what you need to know as you prepare for nursing school and your future. What is the nursing process?The nursing process provides nurses with a rational and systematic way of evaluating their patients and delivering holistic care in a patient-first paradigm. This process is used to determine patients’ health problems and needs and identify the nursing interventions and processes that nurses can use to provide the best care for their patients. The process can also help nurses remain more organized as they determine the care they’ll provide. Another purpose of the nursing process is to outline how nurses should act, which can protect them if any legal problems or challenges arise due to the care a patient receives following the process. The 5 components of the nursing processThere are five main parts of the nursing process that you’ll need to know as a nursing professional: 1. Nursing AssessmentDuring the first step of the process, the registered nurse works to understand the patient’s condition and needs. They’ll do this by collecting a variety of data points, such as the patient’s health history, and using their critical thinking skills to collect observations. The types of nursing assessment data needed to complete this step include:
The information in these different categories can all be collected from primary, secondary, and tertiary sources. The primary source would be the patient themselves. You would note client responses to your questions as primary source data. Secondary sources are people with whom the patient might confide (such as family or close friends); tertiary sources might include textbooks or journals that provide an outside look at data points and data collection. As a nurse, you’ll collect this information through physical examinations and by speaking with the patient and those with them. You should carefully record all of the data collected for later reference. 2. Nursing DiagnosisDuring the diagnosis portion of the nursing process, a nurse brings together all the different data points they collected regarding their patient. Then, they’ll use their experience, clinical judgment, and expertise to understand how the different points relate to each other so they can provide a nursing diagnosis. This diagnosis will articulate the patient’s needs and condition. Sometimes, patients might even require more than one diagnosis. Nurses can consult the current list of nursing diagnoses offered by the North American Nursing Diagnosis Association (NANDA). These diagnoses follow Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs, helping nurses understand how to help patients improve their overall health. The diagnosis that the nurse lands on will then be used to guide them through the rest of the nursing process. 3. Nursing PlanningDuring the planning portion of the process, the nurse will now work to organize their thoughts and ideas surrounding the actions they’ll take to treat the patient. This care planning step helps everyone involved in nursing care know the course of action pursued, the team’s goals for that action, and what they expect to happen for the patient. It’s important to note that planning is an ongoing portion of the nursing process. There is an initial planning stage, which is conducted immediately after evaluating the patient. Then, there’s an ongoing planning stage that will regularly be conducted as the patient is cared for. The nurse will need to watch how the patient’s condition changes in response to their care, determine where to focus their attention on a given day, and set evolving goals based on the patient’s progress. Finally, when the patient is ready to be discharged, the nurse will need to set a discharge plan of care. These plans articulate the support that the patient should have as they leave the clinical care setting and explain how the patient should coordinate care with other health care professionals. The biggest thing is that the goals set by nurses should be SMART. A SMART goal is: Specific Measurable Attainable Realistic Time-oriented Goals that follow these criteria can be easily evaluated, with nurses being able to tell how well they achieved their aim. Health professionals need to set both long-term goals and short-term goals. Of course, all of this should be articulated in a nursing care plan, which explains the care needed and the risk factors the patient faces. A well-outlined plan can help ensure good communication between different nurses and members of the patient’s health care team. 4. Nursing ImplementationDuring the implementation stage, the nurse involved in patient care puts the plan into action. Based on the diagnosis and plan outlined in the above steps of the nursing process, the nurse will have predetermined medical nursing interventions that they’ll take to try to achieve their patient-related goals. A part of this process also often involves informing the patient about the care they’re receiving (and why they’re receiving it) so they can do a better job of articulating whether the interventions work. The interventions taken by nurses typically fall under a few different types of classifications:
The Nursing Interventions Classification (NIC) publication helps create a standardized process for describing the problems that patients face. This can help nurses easily use the notes produced by other nurses, see the nursing diagnosis, and apply the recommended nursing interventions because everyone has a common vocabulary to work worth. This can aid communication between nurses and provide more consistent care for patients. 5. Nursing EvaluationFinally, nurses will need to continually monitor and evaluate the success of the interventions they’re taking to make sure they’re effectively helping the patient. During the evaluation phase, nurses should compare the patient outcomes they see with the desired outcomes they identified as goals during the planning portion of the nursing process. This means regularly reassessing patients to determine if a new type of care is needed or if the plan needs to be adjusted. Make Studying Easier for Your Nursing CareerAs a nursing student, you must understand the nursing process so you can apply it during your nursing career and give your patients the best care possible! Fortunately, SimpleNursing makes it easy to prepare for your upcoming exams and assignments on the nursing process, with a wealth of content that includes fun videos, comprehensive study guides, and a large quiz bank. Make the most of your nursing education with SimpleNursing and pass the NCLEX the first time around. Share Most Recent PostsHow to Become a Phlebotomist + Salary ExpectationsPhlebotomy is one of many subjects you have to study in nursing school – but there are also related career opportunities you can jump into after graduation. In this post, we’re diving into how to become a phlebotomist as your nursing career. Compared to other nursing-related professions, being a professional… Written by SimpleNursing Editorial TeamRead more Fidelity in Nursing: What You Need to KnowFidelity is defined as "unswerving adherence to duty," and it’s required for nurses to solidify patient care practices. “Fidelity” in nursing is one of the main characteristics of a nurse's ethical behavior. Nurses who are conscientious and loyal to their patients (and careers) are more likely to be recognized as… Written by SimpleNursing Editorial TeamRead more Where to Find Pulse Points on Your PatientsIn your daily practice as a nurse, you will complete client assessments. And one of the components of an assessment is checking their pulse in their pulse points. Pulse points are the areas on the body where you can feel the heartbeat. Assessment of pulses is a vital fundamental skill… Written by SimpleNursing Editorial TeamRead more Travel Nurses Get the Best Salaries in These U.S. StatesHowever close you are to graduating from nursing school, it’s always a good time to consider which specialty to get into afterward. One career path to consider is travel nursing across the US. Pay is a major factor in considering which state to work in, so stick around to find… What is the most important stage in the nursing process?The planning stage is where goals and outcomes are formulated that directly impact patient care based on EDP guidelines. These patient-specific goals and the attainment of such assist in ensuring a positive outcome. Nursing care plans are essential in this phase of goal setting.
What is the most important part of nursing?The most important part is that the nursing staff should strive to make patients feel comfortable. Effective nurses are reliable and responsible. They complete all their tasks accurately, diligently, and demonstrate attention to detail. The process of assessing and treating patients has little room for error.
Why assessment is the most critical phase in the nursing process?The assessment phase is a critical component of the nursing process. Information gathered in this phase is used to establish a foundation upon which all patient care moving forward is established.
What is the most important nursing priority?Because of the importance of recognizing clinical deterioration in a client, a nurse must always be attuned to the set of physiological needs that are important to maintain life and prevent death. These priorities of care are related to the ABCs – airway, breathing, and circulation – introduced above.
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