RN31 Final Exam – Study Guide

RN31 Final Exam – Study GuideRN31 Final Exam – Study Guide 1. Definition of nursing and the implementation of the nursing process Nursing is Caring: a compassion, a respect for each client’s dignity Four Broad Aims of Nursing Practice: 1. To promote health 2. To prevent illness 3. To restore Care 4. To facilitate coping with disability or death Definition: The protection, promotion, and optimization of health and abilities, prevention of illness and injury, alleviation of suffering through the diagnosis and treatment of human response, and advocacy in the care of individuals, families, communities and populations Nursing process: systematic, rational method of planning and providing individualized nursing care Assessment Diagnosis Planning Implementation Evaluation 2. Difference between the Nurse Practice Act and Standards of Practice The Nurse Practice Act is the most important law affecting the nursing practice. Each state has a nurse practice act that protects the public by broadly defining the legal scope of nursing practice. Obtain a copy from your state’s BRN. Each nurse is expected to care for patients within defined practice limits. Practicing beyond those limits can put the nurse at risk for violating the state nurse practice act. Voluntary standards, developed and implemented by the nursing profession itself are not mandatory but are used as guidelines for peer review. Professional organizations reassess the functions, standards, and qualifications of their members. Examples of voluntary standards: American Nurses Association (ANA) standard of practice, professional standards for accreditation of education programs and service organizations, standards for certification. Legal standards: developed by legislature and implemented by authority granted by state to determine minimum standards for nursing education, licensure requirements, determining when a license should be suspended or revoked. 3. The health illness continuum A model that helps with understanding a person’s level of health. Views health as a constantly changing state with high-level wellness and death at opposite ends of the continuum. It illustrates the ever-changing state of health as a person adapts to changes in internal and external environments. ex: patients w/cancer may view themselves at different points on the continuum at any given time, depending on how well they are functioning with the illness. (Fig 3-3, pg. 60) 4. Know the “chain of infection” and the inflammatory process Chain of Infection · Infectious agent - (the microorganism itself) Some of the more prevalent agents that cause infection are bacteria, viruses, and fungi · Reservoir - (where the organism lives) The reservoir for growth and multiplication of microorganisms is the natural habitat of the organism. Possible reservoirs that support organisms pathogenic to humans include other people, animals, soil, food, water, milk, and inanimate objects. · Portal of exit -(how the microorganism exits the reservoir - ex: sneezing, coughing) The portal of exit is the point of escape for the organism from the reservoir. The organism cannot extend its influence unless it moves away from its original reservoir. · Means of transmission- An organism may be transmitted from its reservoir by various means or routes. Some organisms can be transmitted by more than one route. Organisms can enter the body by way of contact transmission, either directly or indirectly. o Direct ▪ person to person, Ex: kissing, hugging, touching o Indirect ▪ vehicle born - ex: objects, food, water ▪ vector born- ex: animals, insects o Airborne ▪ through droplets in the air · Portals of entry- (How does the microorganism get into the host? ex: mouth, eyes, nose, blood, impaired skin.) The portal of entry is the point at which organisms enter a new host. The organism must find a portal of entry to a host or it may die. The entry route into the new host is often the same as the exit route from the prior reservoir. · Susceptible host- Microorganisms survive only in a source that provides shelter and nourishment (a host), and only if the microorganisms overcome any resistance mounted by the host’s