Introduction to Medical Surgical Nursing
Lecture Notes
What is Medical Surgical Nursing? -Answer- AKA: Adult Health Nursing
"Where nurses promote, restore, or maintain optimal health for patients from 18 years to older
than 100"
Where Do We Practice? -Answer- Acute Care Facilities
Skilled Nursing Facilities
Home Care Agencies
Ambulatory Care Clinics
What is the Role of the Nurse? -Answer- Care Coordinator
Caregiver
Patient Education
Patient and Family Advocate
Why Must Nurses Have a Broad Knowledge Base? -Answer- Rapid Advances in Technology
Massive Increases in Available Knowledge
Dramatic Changes in Healthcare Delivery
Here is the Reality -Answer- 44,000-98,000 deaths resulting from preventable errors. (Institute
of Medicine, 2000)
According to the Joint Commission (2012) ineffective communication is the cause of 80% of
medical errors in healthcare settings.
Quality and Safety Education for Nurses (QSEN) -Answer- Provide patient centered care
Collaborate with the interdisciplinary team
Implement evidence-based practice
Use quality improvement in patient care
Use informatics
Safety
Family Centered Care -Answer- Speak up
- S: speak up if you have questions or concerns, and if you don't understand, ask again. It's your
body and you have a right to know.
- P: pay attention to the care you are receiving. Make sure you're getting the right treatments
and medications by the right health care professional. Don't assume anything.
- E: educate yourself about your diagnosis, the medical tests you are undergoing, and your
treatment plan.
- A: ask a trusted family member or friend to be your advocate
- K: know what medications you take and why you take them. Medication errors are the most
common health care errors.
- U: use a hospital, clinic, surgery center, or other type of health care organization that has
undergone a rigorous on-site evaluation against established state-of-the-art quality and safety
standards, such as that provided by TJC.
- P: participate in all decisions about your treatment. You are the center of the health care team.
Lecture Notes
What is Medical Surgical Nursing? -Answer- AKA: Adult Health Nursing
"Where nurses promote, restore, or maintain optimal health for patients from 18 years to older
than 100"
Where Do We Practice? -Answer- Acute Care Facilities
Skilled Nursing Facilities
Home Care Agencies
Ambulatory Care Clinics
What is the Role of the Nurse? -Answer- Care Coordinator
Caregiver
Patient Education
Patient and Family Advocate
Why Must Nurses Have a Broad Knowledge Base? -Answer- Rapid Advances in Technology
Massive Increases in Available Knowledge
Dramatic Changes in Healthcare Delivery
Here is the Reality -Answer- 44,000-98,000 deaths resulting from preventable errors. (Institute
of Medicine, 2000)
According to the Joint Commission (2012) ineffective communication is the cause of 80% of
medical errors in healthcare settings.
Quality and Safety Education for Nurses (QSEN) -Answer- Provide patient centered care
Collaborate with the interdisciplinary team
Implement evidence-based practice
Use quality improvement in patient care
Use informatics
Safety
Family Centered Care -Answer- Speak up
- S: speak up if you have questions or concerns, and if you don't understand, ask again. It's your
body and you have a right to know.
- P: pay attention to the care you are receiving. Make sure you're getting the right treatments
and medications by the right health care professional. Don't assume anything.
- E: educate yourself about your diagnosis, the medical tests you are undergoing, and your
treatment plan.
- A: ask a trusted family member or friend to be your advocate
- K: know what medications you take and why you take them. Medication errors are the most
common health care errors.
- U: use a hospital, clinic, surgery center, or other type of health care organization that has
undergone a rigorous on-site evaluation against established state-of-the-art quality and safety
standards, such as that provided by TJC.
- P: participate in all decisions about your treatment. You are the center of the health care team.
