Dimensions of nursing Concept Guide Exam #1 (Modules 1-3)

Dimensions Concept Guide Exam #1 (Modules 1-3) 1. Trait Approach (Chapter 1) a. High intellectual level b. • High level of individual responsibility and accountability c. • Specialized body of knowledge d. • Knowledge that can be learned in institutions of higher education e. • Public service and altruistic activities f. • Public service valued over financial gain g. • Relatively high degree of autonomy and independence of practice h. • Need for a well-organized and strong organization representing the members of the profession and controlling the quality of practice i. • A code of ethics that guides the members of the profession in their practice j. • Strong professional identity and commitment to the development of the profession k. • Demonstration of professional competency and possession of a legally recognized license4 2. Nursing Organizations and Their Importance (Chapter 5) a. The establishment of a professional organization is one of the most important defining characteristics of a profession. An association is a group of people banding together to achieve a specific purpose. By working together for a specific purpose, an association or organization amplifies its impact, and by developing a strategic plan, it focuses that impact to achieve certain results. Many professions have a single major professional organization to which most of its members belong and several specialized suborganizations that members may also join. Professions with just one major organization generally have a great deal of political power. 3. The Importance of Technique (Chapter 4) a. Orientation of the curricula in these programs is highly technical and emphasizes the learning of skills in the hospital or nursing home setting, with less emphasis on theoretical knowledge. Because they are technicians, it is much more important for practical/vocational nurses to learn how to do something rather than why they are doing it. 4. The Sanctity of Life (Chapter 2) a. The rise of Christianity, starting from AD 30, brought with it a strong belief in the sanctity of all human life. Christians considered practices such as human sacrifice, infanticide, and abortion—which had been common in Roman society—to be murder. Following the teachings of Jesus meant that caring for the sick, poor, and disadvantaged was of primary importance, and groups of believers soon organized to offer care for those in need. b. Early writings of the Christian period record women's important role in ministering to the sick and providing food and care for the poor and homeless. Wealthy Roman women who had converted to Christianity established hospitallike institutions and residences for these caregivers in their homes. The term nurse is thought to have originated in this period, from the Latin word nutrire, meaning to nourish, nurture, or suckle a child. The majority of care was still provided by a family member in the home. Most early Christian hospitals were roadside houses for the sick, poor, or destitute who were cared for by male and female attendants alike. The attendants learned from a process of trial and error and from observing others. 5. The Evolution of Symbols of Nursing (Chapter 2) a. The lamp has long been used as a religious symbol. It often represents the eternal flame that dispels darkness and evil. Commonly found in Christian symbolism is the “Lady of Light,” often depicted as radiant and glowing brightly and filled with goodness, purity, and wisdom. The lamp can also represent the flame of life, eventually extinguished by death. b. As schools and universities developed during the Middle Ages, many adopted the lamp as a symbol of learning. The burning of the lamp signified the continual seeking of knowledge. It also symbolizes the enlightenment that accompanies knowledge. The coats of arms or logos used by many universities contain the image of a lamp. 6. Nursing Leaders (Chapter 2) a. Florence Nightingale dedicated her long life to improving health care and nursing standards. Raised in England, Nightingale was considered highly educated for her time. Through travels with her family, she became aware of the substandard health care in many countries in Europe. In 1851, she attended a 3-month nurses’ training program at the church-run hospital in Kaiserswerth, Germany. She was impressed with the program but believed this brief training was insufficient. She later ran a private nursing home and realized that the only way to improve health care was to educate women to be reliable, high-quality nurses.3 7. Converting the Curriculum (Chapter 4) a. During the 1960s and 1970s, many diploma schools became associated with universities and converted their curricula into degree-granting programs. According to recent data published by the NLN, approximately 100 accredited diploma programs remain open in the United States. They are of universally high quality and meet all the standards necessary for NLN accreditation. The main emphasis remains on preparing nurses who are highly competent in technical nursing skills through extensive hands-on practice in the clinical setting, but elements of leadership, humanities, and general sciences are also included in the classroom setting. 8. Advance Practice Nurses (Chapter 1) a. NPs are prepared to provide direct client care in primary care settings, focusing on health promotion, illness prevention, early diagnosis, and treatment of common health problems. Their educational preparation varies, but in most cases individuals successfully complete a graduate nurse practitioner program and are certified by the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC) or an appropriate professional nursing organization. Depending on the individual state nurse practice act, NPs have a range of responsibilities for diagnosing diseases and prescribing both treatments and medications. A growing number of states now grant b. NPs direct third-party reimbursement for their services without a physician. c. Clinical nurse specialists usually practice in secondary- or tertiary-care settings and focus on care of individuals who are experiencing an acute illness or an exacerbation of a chronic condition. In general, they are prepared at the graduate level and are ANCC certified. d. Case managers coordinate services for clients with high-risk or long-term health problems who have access to the full continuum of health-care services. Case managers provide services in various settings, such as acute care facilities, rehabilitation centers, and community agencies. They also work for managed care companies, insurance companies, and private case management agencies. 9. Well-Organized and Strong Representation (Chapter 1) a. Professional organizations represent the members of the profession and control the quality of professional practice. The National League for Nursing (NLN) and the American Nurses Association (ANA) are the two major national organizations that represent nursing in today's health-care system. The NLN is primarily responsible for regulating the quality of the educational programs that prepare nurses for the practice of nursing, whereas the ANA is more concerned with the quality of nursing practice in the daily health-care setting. These and other organizations are discussed in more detail in Chapter 5. b. Both these groups are well organized, but neither can be considered powerful when compared with other professional organizations, such as the American Hospital Association, the American Medical Association (AMA), or the American Bar Association (ABA). One reason for their lack of strength is that fewer than 10 percent of all nurses in the United States are members of any professional organization at the national level.3 Many nurses do belong to specialty organizations that represent a specific area of practice, but these lack sufficient political power to produce changes in health-care laws and policies at the national level. 10. QSEN Competencies Guide for Nursing Curriculum (Chapter 4) a. Current leaders in nursing education have built on the Nightingale, Pew, and IOM principles and developed the QSEN competencies to help guide what is being taught in nursing programs.