Nursing can be defined as the use of clinical judgment to deliver care that helps people achieve the highest possible quality of life, manage health problems and maintain or regain their health. This definition, although generic, is important because it covers aspects that are applicable to all types of nursing. There are many different opinions on what constitutes a good nursing practice, depending on who you consult or the theories that they use.
A nurse with the appropriate qualifications should provide you with personalized care, and understand how your illness affects you. It means listening to your opinion and respecting it. The nurse will discuss with you if your family, your job or any other aspect of your life could affect your health, or your ability to take care of and care for yourself. The nurse should ask about your medical history and previous hospital visits. They should inquire about your worries and concerns, talk to you about your mood, offer support, if needed, and discuss them with you. How can we be sure that this is done in a role so fast-paced and demanding? It is best to begin by instilling these traits and elements in the aspiring nurses studying to become qualified nursing professionals.
The largest profession in healthcare, registered nurses (RNs), are expected to continue experiencing job growth and influence, as well as a demand for leadership. It is important for hospitals and healthcare systems to understand the qualities of a competent nursing staff, especially given the projected growth of RNs on a national or international scale.
Hospitals and health systems can also better identify nursing candidates to hire, and which nurses are already on staff who would be excellent leaders. For example, those who have completed online accelerated BSN programs. The full-time post-baccalaureate BSN program combines online classes, clinical and laboratory experiences, and interactive hybrid learning courses to teach. These programs provide nurses with the essential elements they need to deliver good patient care.
What makes good nursing practice?
In 2016, it was estimated that there were 2,86 million RNs working in the US. This number is increasing every year. In this context, it’s important to think about the traits that can help nurses succeed.
Critical Thinking
Nurses are taught the five-step nursing procedure, which includes assessment and diagnosis, planning, implementation, and evaluation. Nurses can make safer and more effective clinical decisions by organizing their information in a systematic way. This component of critical thinking is crucial for maintaining high-quality nursing care and safe nursing procedures. Critical thinking requires not only logic but also an open-mindedness and tolerance for the unknown. Critical thinking is more than just an analytical approach to problems. As a result, critical thinking has developed naturally.
Care
Caring is defined as a pattern of behavior which exemplifies a nurse-patient relationship. It is important to be able to listen to the experiences of others, to build trusting relationships with patients and those close to them, to accept differences and to maintain dignity. Communication with patients is one of the core skills of a nurse. This is done by the nurse introducing themselves to the patient, explaining the purpose of the interaction and using touch with patients who are unable to speak. This also includes being attentive, responsible, and responsive to the needs of co-workers and clients.
Autonomy
Autonomy is the recognition of each patient’s self-determination. Nurses must act as patient advocates to ensure patients have access all medical information and education, including options, to make the best decision. This will help you make informed decisions. After they have all of the information, medical and nursing staff can develop a plan that is in line with patient’s medical wishes. The nurses must be supportive of the patients’ medical wishes and make sure that medical staff are aware of them. Nurses may need to advocate for patients even when they verbally express their wishes, because the medical staff may disagree.
Competence
Technical and knowledge competence is required for professional practice. This requires not only a wide knowledge base but also a depth of knowledge within a specific field, as well as the capacity and desire to share your knowledge with others and the ability of making critical decisions. Professional nursing practice also involves working with other medical professionals and nurses to provide care for clients, being organized and able to handle multiple tasks at once.
Professionalism
A nurse who is outstanding will always display professionalism. Successful nurses, regardless of the degree they hold in nursing, demonstrate compassion, understanding and commitment. They also devote their careers to personal and professional growth. Professional nursing is about providing excellent care to patients while displaying traits such as integrity, accountability and respectfulness. Being a professional means showing your commitment to the nursing industry, and consistently providing the highest quality of care for patients. The team’s communication improves as a result. Patients receive better care. Staff are more accountable. And the work environment is improved.
These elements need to be developed continuously
In challenging situations such as COVID-19, healthcare executives may lose sight of how important professional development is as a support system for nurses. Organizations must make sure that their staff has the necessary support to provide safe and effective treatments, especially when dealing with pandemics and crises. Professional development is also a great way to gain knowledge about complex patient populations and novel disease processes.
