Exam (elaborations) NUR2058 Dimensions Of Nursing Exam 1 Study Guide

Exam 1 Study Guide Chapter 1  Define evidence-based practice: The selective and practical use of the best evidence, as demonstrated by research, to guide health-care implementation and decisions (found under terms)  Review difference between roles: (pg. 4) o Position: A group of tasks assigned to one individual o Job: A group of positions similar in nature and level of skill that can be carried out by one or more individuals o Occupation: A group of jobs similar in type of work that are usually found throughout an industry or work environment o Profession: A type of occupation that requires prolonged preparation and formal qualifications and meets certain higher level criteria that raise it to a level above that of an occupation o Professional: A person who belongs to and practices a profession (The term professional is probably the most misused of all these terms when describing people who are clearly involved in jobs or occupations, such as a “professional truck driver,” “professional football player,” or even “professional thief.”) o Professionalism: The demonstration of high-level personal, ethical, and skill characteristics of a member of a profession  Identify the traits that define a profession: (pg. 4 & 5) o Process approach: The process approach views all occupations as points of development into a profession situated along a continuum ranging from position to profession. Using this approach, the question becomes not whether nursing and truck driving are professions but where they are located along the continuum o Power approach: The power approach uses two criteria to define a profession: 1) How much independence of practice does this occupation have? And 2) How much power does this occupation control? Using this determinant, law and politics would clearly be considered professions. o Trait approach: 3 theorists (Abraham Flexner, Elizabeth Bixler, and Eliza Pabalko) are most widely accepted researches when it comes to identifying traits that define a profession. They determined these characteristics to be important:  High intellectual level  High level of individual responsibility and accountability  Specialized body of knowledge  Knowledge that can be learned in institutions of higher education  Public service and altruistic activities  Public service valued over financial gain  Relatively high degree of autonomy and independence of practice  Need for a well-organized and strong organization representing the members of the profession and controlling the quality of practice  A code of ethics that guides members of the profession in their practice  Strong professional identity and commitment to the development of the profession  Demonstration of professional competency and possession of a legally recognized license  Review how nursing compares with other professions: (pg. 5 & 6) o High Intellectual Level: as health care has advanced and made great strides in technology, pharmacology, and all branches of the physical sciences, a high level of intellectual functioning is required for even relatively simple nursing tasks, such as taking a client's temperature or blood pressure using automated equipment. On a daily basis, nurses use assessment skills and knowledge, have the ability to reason, and make routine judgments based on clients’ conditions. Without a doubt, professional nurses must function at a high intellectual level. o High Level of Individual Responsibility and Accountability: Nurses are often the primary, and frequently the only, defendants named when errors are made that result in injury to the client. Nurses must be accountable and demonstrate a high level of individual responsibility for the care and services they provide o Specialized Body of Knowledge: As the body of specialized nursing knowledge continues to grow, it forms a theoretical basis for the best practices movement in nursing today. As more nurses obtain advanced degrees, conduct research, and develop philosophies and theories about nursing, this body of knowledge will increase in scope and quantity. o Evidence-Based Practice: In professional nursing today, there is an increasing emphasis on evidence-based practice. Almost all of the currently used nursing theories address this issue in some way o Public Service and Altruistic Activities: The public service function of nursing has always been recognized and acknowledged by society's willingness to continue to educate nurses in public, tax-supported institutions and in private schools. In addition, nursing has been viewed universally as an altruistic profession composed of selfless individuals who place the lives and well-being of their clients above their personal safety.