NURSING NUR2407A-Dimensions of Nursing Exam 1 study guide
EXAM 1 STUDY GUIDE
Chapters 1 2 4 5 14 17
Chapter 1
Define evidence-based practice
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. Simply stated, evidence-based practice
is the practice of nursing in which interventions are based on data from research that demonstrates that
they are appropriate and successful. It involves a systematic process of uncovering, evaluating, and using
information from research as the basis for making decisions about and providing client care. 7 Many
nursing practices and interventions of the past were performed merely because they had always been done
that way (accustomed practice) or because of deductions from physiological or pathophysiological
information. Clients are now more sophisticated and knowledgeable about health-care issues and demand
a higher level of knowledge and skill from their health-care providers.
“Evidence-based practice is the practice of nursing in which interventions are based on data from
research that demonstrates that they are appropriate and successful.”
The development of information technology has made evidence-based practice in nursing a reality. In the
past, nurses relied primarily on units within their own facilities for information about the success of
treatments, decisions about health care, and outcomes for clients. Nursing education now requires
nursing students to perform Web-based research for papers and projects so that by the time of graduation,
they feel comfortable accessing a wide range of the best and most current information through electronic
sources. Of course, one of the key limiting factors of evidence-based practice is the quality of the
information on which the practice is based. Evaluating the quality of information on the Web can be
difficult at times.
The first step in developing an evidence-based practice is to identify exactly what the intervention is
supposed to accomplish. Once the goal or client outcome is identified, the nurse needs to evaluate current
practices to determine whether they are delivering the desired client outcomes. If the current practices are
unsuccessful or if the nurse feels they can be more efficient with fewer complications, research sources
need to be collected. These can be from published journal articles (either electronic or hard copy) and
from presentations at research or practice conferences, which often present the most current information.
,NURSING NUR2407A-Dimensions of Nursing Exam 1 study guide
Then a plan should be developed to implement the new findings. This process can be applied to changing
policy and procedures or developing training programs for facility staff. Research data should always be
used when initiating new practices or modifying old ones.
Review difference between roles: position, job, occupation, profession, professional, and what is
professionalism
• Position: A group of tasks assigned to one individual
• Job: A group of positions similar in nature and level of skill that can be carried out by one
or more individuals
• Occupation: A group of jobs similar in type of work that are usually found throughout an
industry or work environment
• Profession: A type of occupation that requires prolonged preparation and formal qualifications
and meets certain higher level criteria (discussed later in this chapter) that raise it to a level above
that of an occupation1
• 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.”)
• Professionalism: The demonstration of high-level personal, ethical, and skill characteristics of a
member of a profession2
Identify the traits that define a profession
Trait Approach
Of the many researchers and theorists who have attempted to identify the traits that define a profession,
Abraham Flexner, Elizabeth Bixler, and Eliza Pavalko are most widely accepted as the leaders in the
field. These three social scientists have determined that the following common characteristics are
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
,NURSING NUR2407A-Dimensions of Nursing Exam 1 study guide
• • 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 the 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 license4
Review how nursing compares with other
professions NURSING AS A PROFESSION
How does nursing compare with other professions when measured against these widely accepted
professional traits? The profession of nursing meets most of the criteria but falls short in a few areas.
High Intellectual Level
In the early stages of the development of nursing practice, this criterion did not apply. Florence
Nightingale raised the bar for education, and graduates of her school were considered to be highly
educated compared with other women of that time. However, by today's standards, most of the tasks
performed by these early nurses are generally considered to be menial and routine.
On the other hand, 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.
High Level of Individual Responsibility and Accountability
Not too long ago, a nurse was rarely, if ever, named as a defendant in a malpractice suit. In general, the
public did not view nurses as having enough knowledge to be held accountable for errors that were made
in client care. This is not the case in the health-care system today. 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.5
The concept of accountability has legal, ethical, and professional implications that include accepting
responsibility for actions taken to provide client care and for the consequences of actions that are not
, NURSING NUR2407A-Dimensions of Nursing Exam 1 study guide
performed. Nurses can no longer state that “the physician told me to do it” as a method of avoiding
responsibility for their actions.
Specialized Body of Knowledge
Most early nursing skills were based either on traditional ways of doing things or on the intuitive
knowledge of the individual nurse. As nursing developed into an identifiable, separate discipline, a
specialized body of knowledge called nursing science was compiled through the research efforts of
nurses with advanced educational degrees.6 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.
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. Simply stated, evidence-based practice
is the practice of nursing in which interventions are based on data from research that demonstrates that
they are appropriate and successful. It involves a systematic process of uncovering, evaluating, and using
information from research as the basis for making decisions about and providing client care. 7 Many
nursing practices and interventions of the past were performed merely because they had always been done
that way (accustomed practice) or because of deductions from physiological or pathophysiological
information. Clients are now more sophisticated and knowledgeable about health-care issues and demand
a higher level of knowledge and skill from their health-care providers.
“Evidence-based practice is the practice of nursing in which interventions are based on data from
research that demonstrates that they are appropriate and successful.”
The development of information technology has made evidence-based practice in nursing a reality. In the
past, nurses relied primarily on units within their own facilities for information about the success of
treatments, decisions about health care, and outcomes for clients. Nursing education now requires
nursing students to perform Web-based research for papers and projects so that by the time of graduation,
they feel comfortable accessing a wide range of the best and most current information through electronic
sources. Of course, one of the key limiting factors of evidence-based practice is the quality of the
information on which the practice is based. Evaluating the quality of information on the Web can be
difficult at times.
EXAM 1 STUDY GUIDE
Chapters 1 2 4 5 14 17
Chapter 1
Define evidence-based practice
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. Simply stated, evidence-based practice
is the practice of nursing in which interventions are based on data from research that demonstrates that
they are appropriate and successful. It involves a systematic process of uncovering, evaluating, and using
information from research as the basis for making decisions about and providing client care. 7 Many
nursing practices and interventions of the past were performed merely because they had always been done
that way (accustomed practice) or because of deductions from physiological or pathophysiological
information. Clients are now more sophisticated and knowledgeable about health-care issues and demand
a higher level of knowledge and skill from their health-care providers.
“Evidence-based practice is the practice of nursing in which interventions are based on data from
research that demonstrates that they are appropriate and successful.”
The development of information technology has made evidence-based practice in nursing a reality. In the
past, nurses relied primarily on units within their own facilities for information about the success of
treatments, decisions about health care, and outcomes for clients. Nursing education now requires
nursing students to perform Web-based research for papers and projects so that by the time of graduation,
they feel comfortable accessing a wide range of the best and most current information through electronic
sources. Of course, one of the key limiting factors of evidence-based practice is the quality of the
information on which the practice is based. Evaluating the quality of information on the Web can be
difficult at times.
The first step in developing an evidence-based practice is to identify exactly what the intervention is
supposed to accomplish. Once the goal or client outcome is identified, the nurse needs to evaluate current
practices to determine whether they are delivering the desired client outcomes. If the current practices are
unsuccessful or if the nurse feels they can be more efficient with fewer complications, research sources
need to be collected. These can be from published journal articles (either electronic or hard copy) and
from presentations at research or practice conferences, which often present the most current information.
,NURSING NUR2407A-Dimensions of Nursing Exam 1 study guide
Then a plan should be developed to implement the new findings. This process can be applied to changing
policy and procedures or developing training programs for facility staff. Research data should always be
used when initiating new practices or modifying old ones.
Review difference between roles: position, job, occupation, profession, professional, and what is
professionalism
• Position: A group of tasks assigned to one individual
• Job: A group of positions similar in nature and level of skill that can be carried out by one
or more individuals
• Occupation: A group of jobs similar in type of work that are usually found throughout an
industry or work environment
• Profession: A type of occupation that requires prolonged preparation and formal qualifications
and meets certain higher level criteria (discussed later in this chapter) that raise it to a level above
that of an occupation1
• 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.”)
• Professionalism: The demonstration of high-level personal, ethical, and skill characteristics of a
member of a profession2
Identify the traits that define a profession
Trait Approach
Of the many researchers and theorists who have attempted to identify the traits that define a profession,
Abraham Flexner, Elizabeth Bixler, and Eliza Pavalko are most widely accepted as the leaders in the
field. These three social scientists have determined that the following common characteristics are
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
,NURSING NUR2407A-Dimensions of Nursing Exam 1 study guide
• • 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 the 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 license4
Review how nursing compares with other
professions NURSING AS A PROFESSION
How does nursing compare with other professions when measured against these widely accepted
professional traits? The profession of nursing meets most of the criteria but falls short in a few areas.
High Intellectual Level
In the early stages of the development of nursing practice, this criterion did not apply. Florence
Nightingale raised the bar for education, and graduates of her school were considered to be highly
educated compared with other women of that time. However, by today's standards, most of the tasks
performed by these early nurses are generally considered to be menial and routine.
On the other hand, 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.
High Level of Individual Responsibility and Accountability
Not too long ago, a nurse was rarely, if ever, named as a defendant in a malpractice suit. In general, the
public did not view nurses as having enough knowledge to be held accountable for errors that were made
in client care. This is not the case in the health-care system today. 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.5
The concept of accountability has legal, ethical, and professional implications that include accepting
responsibility for actions taken to provide client care and for the consequences of actions that are not
, NURSING NUR2407A-Dimensions of Nursing Exam 1 study guide
performed. Nurses can no longer state that “the physician told me to do it” as a method of avoiding
responsibility for their actions.
Specialized Body of Knowledge
Most early nursing skills were based either on traditional ways of doing things or on the intuitive
knowledge of the individual nurse. As nursing developed into an identifiable, separate discipline, a
specialized body of knowledge called nursing science was compiled through the research efforts of
nurses with advanced educational degrees.6 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.
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. Simply stated, evidence-based practice
is the practice of nursing in which interventions are based on data from research that demonstrates that
they are appropriate and successful. It involves a systematic process of uncovering, evaluating, and using
information from research as the basis for making decisions about and providing client care. 7 Many
nursing practices and interventions of the past were performed merely because they had always been done
that way (accustomed practice) or because of deductions from physiological or pathophysiological
information. Clients are now more sophisticated and knowledgeable about health-care issues and demand
a higher level of knowledge and skill from their health-care providers.
“Evidence-based practice is the practice of nursing in which interventions are based on data from
research that demonstrates that they are appropriate and successful.”
The development of information technology has made evidence-based practice in nursing a reality. In the
past, nurses relied primarily on units within their own facilities for information about the success of
treatments, decisions about health care, and outcomes for clients. Nursing education now requires
nursing students to perform Web-based research for papers and projects so that by the time of graduation,
they feel comfortable accessing a wide range of the best and most current information through electronic
sources. Of course, one of the key limiting factors of evidence-based practice is the quality of the
information on which the practice is based. Evaluating the quality of information on the Web can be
difficult at times.
