Nursing Care
Nursing can be described as both an art and a science; a heart and a mind.
Published on: 2023-08-13
Maya
Author
21st Century nursing is the glue that holds a patient's health care journey together. Across the entire patient experience, and wherever there is someone in need of care, nurses work tirelessly to identify and protect the needs of the individual.
Beyond the time-honored reputation for compassion and dedication lies a highly specialized profession, which is constantly evolving to address the needs of society. From ensuring the most accurate diagnoses to the ongoing education of the public about critical health issues; nurses are indispensable in safeguarding public health.
Nursing can be described as both an art and a science; a heart and a mind. At its heart, lies a fundamental respect for human dignity and an intuition for a patient's needs. This is supported by the mind, in the form of rigorous core learning. Due to the vast range of specialisms and complex skills in the nursing profession, each nurse will have specific strengths, passions, and expertise.
However, nursing has a unifying ethos: In assessing a patient, nurses do not just consider test results. Through the critical thinking exemplified in the nursing process (see below), nurses use their judgment to integrate objective data with subjective experience of a patient's biological, physical and behavioral needs. This ensures that every patient, from city hospital to community health center; state prison to summer camp, receives the best possible care regardless of who they are, or where they may be.
Assessment - Nurses assess patients on an in-depth physiological, economic, social and lifestyle basis.
Diagnosis - Through careful consideration of both physical symptoms and patient behavior, the nurse forms a diagnosis.
Outcomes / Planning - The nurse uses their expertise to set realistic goals for the patient's recovery. These objectives are then closely monitored.
Implementation - By accurately implementing the care plan, nurses guarantee consistency of care for the patient whilst meticulously documenting their progress.
Evaluation - By closely analyzing the effectiveness of the care plan and studying patient response, the nurse hones the plan to achieve the very best patient outcomes.
Beyond the time-honored reputation for compassion and dedication lies a highly specialized profession, which is constantly evolving to address the needs of society. From ensuring the most accurate diagnoses to the ongoing education of the public about critical health issues; nurses are indispensable in safeguarding public health.
Nursing can be described as both an art and a science; a heart and a mind. At its heart, lies a fundamental respect for human dignity and an intuition for a patient's needs. This is supported by the mind, in the form of rigorous core learning. Due to the vast range of specialisms and complex skills in the nursing profession, each nurse will have specific strengths, passions, and expertise.
However, nursing has a unifying ethos: In assessing a patient, nurses do not just consider test results. Through the critical thinking exemplified in the nursing process (see below), nurses use their judgment to integrate objective data with subjective experience of a patient's biological, physical and behavioral needs. This ensures that every patient, from city hospital to community health center; state prison to summer camp, receives the best possible care regardless of who they are, or where they may be.
What exactly do nurses do?
In a field as varied as nursing, there is no typical answer. Responsibilities can range from making acute treatment decisions to providing inoculations in schools. The key unifying characteristic in every role is the skill and drive that it takes to be a nurse. Through long-term monitoring of patients' behavior and knowledge-based expertise, nurses are best placed to take an all-encompassing view of a patient's wellbeing.What is the nursing process?
No matter what their field or specialty, all nurses utilize the same nursing process; a scientific method designed to deliver the very best in patient care, through five simple steps.Assessment - Nurses assess patients on an in-depth physiological, economic, social and lifestyle basis.
Diagnosis - Through careful consideration of both physical symptoms and patient behavior, the nurse forms a diagnosis.
Outcomes / Planning - The nurse uses their expertise to set realistic goals for the patient's recovery. These objectives are then closely monitored.
Implementation - By accurately implementing the care plan, nurses guarantee consistency of care for the patient whilst meticulously documenting their progress.
Evaluation - By closely analyzing the effectiveness of the care plan and studying patient response, the nurse hones the plan to achieve the very best patient outcomes.