RN31 Final Exam – Study Guide
,
, RN31 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
,
, RN31 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
