Significance of Nursing Process - Essay Example

NURSING PROCESS Introduction The nursing process entails an organized system where patients access health care from nurses, based on nursing theoretical perspectives. The process begins with the nurse identifying the problem based on medical history, physical exams on the patients and making proper diagnosis before treating and managing the illness (Lipe, 2003). The process initiates critical thinking, decision making, and solving problems in patients while the patient forms the focal points (Lipe, 2003). According to clinical theorists, nursing process is focused on set goals of care provision which forms a foundation to nursing (Rajesh, 2010). The process irrespective of patient and condition has basic components which are that the process is standard and is applied universally, the process is system-wide, patients forms the first priority, the nursing processes are goal oriented, the nursing process forms a cycle, is effective if the nurses form close relationships with patients and the process ends whenever solutions are found (Kozier, 2008). This report shall critically analyze the nursing process on Mr. Robbins. During his young adulthood and middle years Mr. Robbins had only seen a GP infrequently, and had been hospitalized only once, as a child. However, his recent illnesses have necessitated a range of outpatient treatments and now a hospital admission for a chest infection and intravenous antibiotics. The report will highlight how I would apply the principles of the nursing process, how I would organize and prioritize my care of Mr. Robbins while he is in hospital. Moreover, highlight whether the nursing process promotes critical thinking. Nursing process The nursing process is essential in enhancing nurses and patients to think critically which initiates attitudes and values such as self independence, confidence, taking risks, solving problems, integrity among other values (Lipe, 2003). The process provides an avenue to have wider perspectives to solving problems, helps nurses to remain focused on what is important, allow patients to be first priority, allow proper diagnosis which leads to effective management and treatment thus having satisfied patients and improve quality of health and life (Werner, 2000). The process entails five stages namely; 1. assessing 2. diagnosing 3. formulating plans 4. intervening 5. evaluating Assessment of Mr. Robbins The fact that he has chest infections and is under intravenous antibiotics is not enough. When assessing the problem, it entails collecting information as proposed by models such as hierarchy of needs by Maslow, functional health patterns by Gordon and adaptation models by Roy among others (A.N.M.C, ). When assessing him, I will ask him questions of what he is feeling, where there is pain if any, his medical history since he had not regularly frequented GP. Moreover, observe him and do a physical exam which consists of measuring his heart rate, breathing patterns, chest congestion, and collect cough samples if any. Diagnosis The process entails an analysis of what has been assessed and data collected and establishing what a patient may be suffering from as presented by NANDA (Kozier, 2008). NANDA is an organization that was formed by nurses that was created to promote nursing diagnosis through doing research and analysis, developing, refining and disseminating on its classification, systems of principles and criteria (NANDA International, 2008). Since Mr. Robbins is not recuperating even after receiving antibiotics, the most probable cause of the chest problems may be Bronchitis, or Tuberculosis based on life threatening and health threatening problems presented. This is because the patient has had a dry cough for more than 2 weeks, sometimes he coughs blood, and his air way passage is usually clogged. High priority diagnosis is coughing blood, intermediate priority diagnosis is the dry coughs and headaches and low priority diagnosis is tiredness and dry mouth. Planning This consists of setting goals based on diagnosis formed and focusing on the patient. The stage allows patients and nurses collectively to improve the patient’s quality of life and health (Wingard, 2005). Additionally, it entails what the patient should do to improve and achieve the anticipated outcomes, and recording the ways in which the plans will be implemented in such a way that the patient understands (A.N.M.C, 2005). For Mr. Robbins, I will set the immediate goals to be to stop him coughing blood, reduce the chest pains associated with the dry coughs, and ease his breathing by decongesting his chest and airway. Intervention This stage is when the goals and plans formed at the planning phase are implemented, interventions are developed and patients are able to recover and take decisive actions to avoid a recurrence (Lipe, 2003 pp 132). The stage is categorized into interventions that are nurse initiated, doctor initiated and interventions formed from collaboration of the nurse and the doctor. For Mr. Robbins, I will offer him medications to help ease the pain, stop the dry coughs which causes him to cough blood and put him on medication based on the lab test results. I will Show him breathing exercises that will help him breath well. Further, I will advice him to avoid dust, cold and encourage him to stay in well ventilated room. Evaluation This stage entails evaluating and analyzing whether the goals set were achieved, whether correct diagnosis was made and if the patient benefited from the interventions given (Rajesh, 2010). For Mr. Robbins, I will evaluate how he is responding to the interventions, how well he is recovering based on the goals set, what barriers have hindered his full recovery if he is still unwell. From the evaluation stage, I will be able to proceed with the interventions, form new diagnosis, plans and interventions or alter the initial priorities. All this will be dependent of how Mr. Robbins recuperate and progresses. The evaluation stage does not only highlight how effective or ineffective the nursing process as a whole was, but help give details and light on which changes can be effected to improve the quality and effectiveness of the process. Does nursing process promote critical thinking? Nursing process does promote critical thinking. Critical thinking compounds nurses having cognitive skills that influence their mental processes in making decisions, solve problems and reason (Wingard, 2005). Through critical thinking, health care providers have empirical evidence, facts and knowledge in solving health problems when diagnosing, intervening and managing patients (Kozier, 2008 pp37). Through the nursing processes, nurses are able to be open- minded, are not judgmental, and understand the need for having a close relationship with the patient (Lipe, 2003). The process supports critical thinking and development of cognitive skills since nurses are made accountable for any plan of action taken, and they give the best quality care for patients (NANDA International, 2008). This is so since nurses are allowed to be deliberate, committed, and curious to learn, are careful in whatever step they take, and the healthcare they offer is goal oriented. Moreover, the process demands nurses to learn how to ask the right questions, search for alternatives, they learn to be flexible in making decisions, and use prior knowledge and experience to make present diagnosis and treatment (Lipe, 2003. The nursing process cannot work if critical thinking is not integrated (Werner, 2000). This is illustrated where nurses do not rely on physical signs only, but evaluates psychological, biological, environmental and social factors, and put aside personal attitudes and are within set standards of nursing practice when making diagnosis and treating (A.N.M.C, 2005). Nursing process just as critical thinking allows nurses to identify the health problem, collect data necessarily to form diagnosis, identify assumptions, initiates interpersonal relationship, translating collected data, in order to plan and intervene, come up with conclusions based on evaluations, work on the conclusions received, failed interventions are redefined and accurate decisions and judgments are made (Rajesh, 2010). Conclusions Nursing process entails an organized system where patients access health care from nurses, based on nursing theoretical perspectives. The process irrespective of patient and condition has basic components which are that; the process is standard and is applied universally, the process is system-wide, patients forms the first priority, the nursing processes are goal oriented, forms a cycle, is effective if the nurses form close relationships with patients and the process ends whenever solutions are found. The process is characterized by five phases namely assessment, diagnosis, planning, intervening and evaluation. The nursing process is an initiative of NANDA. .NANDA is an organization that was formed by nurses that was created to promote nursing diagnosis through doing research and analysis, developing, refining and disseminating on its classification, systems of principles and criteria. Nursing process has benefits, which amount to initiating nursing efficiency, allow nurses to record care given which can be used for future references, allows nurses to be accountable, improves the quality of life and health of patients, and initiates interpersonal relationships between n nurses and patients. Moreover, it promotes quality of care by allowing collaboration, use of standard of nursing practice, is based on patients, care is continuous, and help nurses to avoid future mistakes done previously. In every phase, critical thinking is essential since it allows nurses to form accurate plans of actions. The process propels critical thinking since nurses are made accountable for any plan of action taken, and they give the best quality care for patients. This is so since nurses are allowed to be deliberate, committed, and curious to learn, are careful in whatever step they take, and the healthcare they offer is goal oriented. References Australian Nursing Council (ANMC). 2005. National competency standards for the registered nurse. Canberra. ANMC. Kozier, B. 2008. Fundamentals of nursing: concepts process and practice. London: Pearson Education. Lipe, S.K. 2003. Critical thinking in nursing: a cognitive skills workbook. New York: Lippincott Williams & Wilkins. NANDA International. 2008. NANDA-I nursing diagnoses; definitions and classifications. Philadelphia. NANDA-I (available at http://www.nanda.org) Rajesh, C. 2010. Steps of the nursing process. Melbourne: Helium publishers. Available at http://www.helium.com/items/745987-steps-of-the-nursing-process [Accessed 27th October 2010] Werner, J.K. 2000. Pharmacology: a nursing process approach. Nephrology nursing journal. Sidney: Health Publications. Available at http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m01CF/is_6_27/ai_n18611025/ [Accessed 27th October 2010] Wingard, R. 2005. Patient education and the nursing process: meeting the patient’s needs. Sidney: Health Publications. Available at http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_ m01CF/is_2_32/ai_n17209187/ [Accessed 27th October 2010] Read More