Fundamentals of Nursing SUMMARY NOTES LATEST VERSION 2025
origination of the word "nurse" from the latin word "nutrix" meaning to nourish Interrelated
communicator, teacher, counselor, leader, researcher, advocate,
roles of nurses collaborator
nurses use optimal function of maximum strengths and potentials,
coping with disability and death refer to community support systems; provide care to families and patient
during end-of-life care, hospice
-one of major guidelines for nursing practice
-helps nurses implement their roles
The Nursing Process -integrates art and science of nursing
-allows nurses to use critical thinking and clinical reasoning
-defines the areas of care that are within the domain of nursing
-define legal scope of nursing practice
-create state board of nursing to make and enforce rules and
regulation
Nurse Practice Acts
-define important terms and activities in nursing, including legal
requirements and titles for RNs and LPNs
- established criteria for the education and licensure of nurses
5 vital signs respirations, pulse rate, blood pressure, temperature, and pain
-well defined body specific and unique knowledge
-strong service orientation
-recognized authority by a professional group (ANA)
Nursing is recognized as profession based on what criteria -code of ethics
-professional organization that sets standards
-ongoing research
-autonomy and self-regulation
defined nursing as both an art and science, differentiated nursing from
Florence Nightingale medicine, created freestanding nursing education, published books;
founder of modern nursing
established red cross; volunteered to care for wounds and feed union
Clara Barton soldiers during civil war; served as supervisor of nurses for the army of
James
-traditional ( passed down from generation to generation)
-authoritative- comes from an expert, accepted as truth based on person's
sources of knowledge
perceived expertise
-scientific (obtained through the scientific method-research)
objective you can see the object
subjective coming from that subject
-science (observing, identifying, describing, investigating, and ex- plainin
events and occurences that are perceived in world)
-philosophy (the study of wisdom, fundamental knowledge, and the
types of knowledge
processes used to develop and construct on perception on life)
-process (a series of actions, changes, or functions intended to bring
about a desired result)
-improve care in clinical setting
-study ppl and nurse process: education, policy development, ethics,
goals of nursing research nursing history
-develop greater autonomy and strength as a profession
-provide evidence-based nursing practice
deductive reasoning examines a general idea and then considers specific actions or
ideas
inductive reasoning one builds from specific ideas or actions to conclusions about
general ideas
a state of complete physical, mental, and social well-being, not merely t
health
absence of disease or infirmity
illness
1/9
, Fundamentals of Nursing SUMMARY NOTES LATEST VERSION 2025
the unique response of a person to a disease; an abnormal process
involving changed level of functioning
an active state of being healthy by living a lifestyle promoting good
wellness
physical, mental, and emotional health
differentiates nursing from other disciplines and activities in that
nursing theory it serves the purposes of describing, explaining, predicting, and
controlling desired outcomes of nursing care practices
a problem-solving approach to making clinical decisions, using the best
evidence available; blends both science and art of nursing so best
evidence-based practice (EBP)
outcomes are achieved; may consist of specific nursing interventions or
use guidelines established for the care of patients
Step 1: ask a question about a clinical area of interest or an
intervention
Step 2: collect the most relevant and best evidence Step 3:
steps in implementing EBP Critically appraise the evidence
Step 4: integrate the evidence w/ clinical expertise, patient prefer- ences,
and values in making a decision to change
Step 5: evaluate the practice decision or change
physical, intellectual, environmental, spiritual, sociocultural, and
human dimensions that compose the whole person
emotional
rapid onset of symptoms and lasts only a short time; examples: cold,
acute illness
diarrhea, pneumonia, appendicitis
slow onset, characteristics: permanent change, caused by change
in anatomy, requires special patient education, long period of care or
chronic illness
support; examples: heart disease, diabetes, lung diseases, and arthritis
Stage 1: experiencing symptoms Stage
2: assuming the sick role Stage 3:
stages-of-illness behaviors
assuming a dependent role
Stage 4: achieving recovery and rehabilitation
directed towards PROMOTING health and PREVENTING the de-
primary health promotion velopment of disease processes or injury; example: immunization clinic,
family planning services, accident prevention education
focus on SCREENING for early detection of disease with prompt
diagnosis and treatment of any found; example: assessing chil- dren
secondary health promotion
for normal growth and development and encourage regular medical,
dental and vision exams
after an illness is diagnosed and treated;
example: teaching a patient with diabetes how to recognize and prevent
tertiary health promotion
complications, refer woman to support group after removal of breast due
to cancer
provides a framework for nursing assessment and for understand- ing the
maslow hierarchy of needs needs of patients at all levels; many nursing interventions are aimed at
meeting patients' basic human needs
oxygen, food, water, sex, rest, physical activity; physiologic needs
Maslows level 1: physiologic needs
are highest priority
Maslows level 2: safety and security needs both physical and emotional components; being protected from
potential or actual harm
often called higher-level needs; understanding and acceptance
Maslows level 3: love and belonging needs of others in both giving and receiving love; feeling of belonging; unmet
needs produce loneliness and isolation
need for a person to feel good about oneself, to feel pride and a sense of
accomplishment, and to believe that others also respect and appreciate
Maslows level 4: self-esteem needs
those accomplishments; positive self-esteem fa- cilitates the person's
confidence and independence
Maslows level 5: Self-Actualization
2/9
origination of the word "nurse" from the latin word "nutrix" meaning to nourish Interrelated
communicator, teacher, counselor, leader, researcher, advocate,
roles of nurses collaborator
nurses use optimal function of maximum strengths and potentials,
coping with disability and death refer to community support systems; provide care to families and patient
during end-of-life care, hospice
-one of major guidelines for nursing practice
-helps nurses implement their roles
The Nursing Process -integrates art and science of nursing
-allows nurses to use critical thinking and clinical reasoning
-defines the areas of care that are within the domain of nursing
-define legal scope of nursing practice
-create state board of nursing to make and enforce rules and
regulation
Nurse Practice Acts
-define important terms and activities in nursing, including legal
requirements and titles for RNs and LPNs
- established criteria for the education and licensure of nurses
5 vital signs respirations, pulse rate, blood pressure, temperature, and pain
-well defined body specific and unique knowledge
-strong service orientation
-recognized authority by a professional group (ANA)
Nursing is recognized as profession based on what criteria -code of ethics
-professional organization that sets standards
-ongoing research
-autonomy and self-regulation
defined nursing as both an art and science, differentiated nursing from
Florence Nightingale medicine, created freestanding nursing education, published books;
founder of modern nursing
established red cross; volunteered to care for wounds and feed union
Clara Barton soldiers during civil war; served as supervisor of nurses for the army of
James
-traditional ( passed down from generation to generation)
-authoritative- comes from an expert, accepted as truth based on person's
sources of knowledge
perceived expertise
-scientific (obtained through the scientific method-research)
objective you can see the object
subjective coming from that subject
-science (observing, identifying, describing, investigating, and ex- plainin
events and occurences that are perceived in world)
-philosophy (the study of wisdom, fundamental knowledge, and the
types of knowledge
processes used to develop and construct on perception on life)
-process (a series of actions, changes, or functions intended to bring
about a desired result)
-improve care in clinical setting
-study ppl and nurse process: education, policy development, ethics,
goals of nursing research nursing history
-develop greater autonomy and strength as a profession
-provide evidence-based nursing practice
deductive reasoning examines a general idea and then considers specific actions or
ideas
inductive reasoning one builds from specific ideas or actions to conclusions about
general ideas
a state of complete physical, mental, and social well-being, not merely t
health
absence of disease or infirmity
illness
1/9
, Fundamentals of Nursing SUMMARY NOTES LATEST VERSION 2025
the unique response of a person to a disease; an abnormal process
involving changed level of functioning
an active state of being healthy by living a lifestyle promoting good
wellness
physical, mental, and emotional health
differentiates nursing from other disciplines and activities in that
nursing theory it serves the purposes of describing, explaining, predicting, and
controlling desired outcomes of nursing care practices
a problem-solving approach to making clinical decisions, using the best
evidence available; blends both science and art of nursing so best
evidence-based practice (EBP)
outcomes are achieved; may consist of specific nursing interventions or
use guidelines established for the care of patients
Step 1: ask a question about a clinical area of interest or an
intervention
Step 2: collect the most relevant and best evidence Step 3:
steps in implementing EBP Critically appraise the evidence
Step 4: integrate the evidence w/ clinical expertise, patient prefer- ences,
and values in making a decision to change
Step 5: evaluate the practice decision or change
physical, intellectual, environmental, spiritual, sociocultural, and
human dimensions that compose the whole person
emotional
rapid onset of symptoms and lasts only a short time; examples: cold,
acute illness
diarrhea, pneumonia, appendicitis
slow onset, characteristics: permanent change, caused by change
in anatomy, requires special patient education, long period of care or
chronic illness
support; examples: heart disease, diabetes, lung diseases, and arthritis
Stage 1: experiencing symptoms Stage
2: assuming the sick role Stage 3:
stages-of-illness behaviors
assuming a dependent role
Stage 4: achieving recovery and rehabilitation
directed towards PROMOTING health and PREVENTING the de-
primary health promotion velopment of disease processes or injury; example: immunization clinic,
family planning services, accident prevention education
focus on SCREENING for early detection of disease with prompt
diagnosis and treatment of any found; example: assessing chil- dren
secondary health promotion
for normal growth and development and encourage regular medical,
dental and vision exams
after an illness is diagnosed and treated;
example: teaching a patient with diabetes how to recognize and prevent
tertiary health promotion
complications, refer woman to support group after removal of breast due
to cancer
provides a framework for nursing assessment and for understand- ing the
maslow hierarchy of needs needs of patients at all levels; many nursing interventions are aimed at
meeting patients' basic human needs
oxygen, food, water, sex, rest, physical activity; physiologic needs
Maslows level 1: physiologic needs
are highest priority
Maslows level 2: safety and security needs both physical and emotional components; being protected from
potential or actual harm
often called higher-level needs; understanding and acceptance
Maslows level 3: love and belonging needs of others in both giving and receiving love; feeling of belonging; unmet
needs produce loneliness and isolation
need for a person to feel good about oneself, to feel pride and a sense of
accomplishment, and to believe that others also respect and appreciate
Maslows level 4: self-esteem needs
those accomplishments; positive self-esteem fa- cilitates the person's
confidence and independence
Maslows level 5: Self-Actualization
2/9
