Introduction to nursing practice: The nursing process

Question 1

Process

Answer 1

A series of steps or acts that leads to the accomplishment of some goal or purpose.

Question 2

Define the nursing process

Answer 2

A framework for providing professional, quality nursing care that directs nursing activities for health promotion, protection, and disease prevention that is used in every practice setting and speciality that invovlves overlapping steps that build on each other.

Question 3

Goal

Answer 3

An aim, intent or end written in a broad statement that describe the intended or desired change in the person’s behaviour.

Question 4

Expected outcome

Answer 4

Specific objectives related to the goals and are used to evaluate the nursing interventions, which must be measurable, have a time limit, and be realistic.

Question 5

Describe the importance of patient outcomes

Answer 5

They become cirteria for measuring the person’s progress in response to nursing interventions.

Question 6

Purpose of the nursing process

Answer 6

To provide care for people that is individualised, holistic, effective and efficient.

Question 7

Provide a brief overview of the nursing process

Answer 7

A framework for providing professional, quality nursing care that directs nursing activities for health promotion, protection, and disease prevention that is used in every practice setting and speciality. Involves overlapping steps that build on each other.

Question 8

List the five steps of the nursing process

Answer 8

Clinical assessment, problem identification, planning, implementation, and evaluation.

Question 9

Subjective data

Answer 9

Data from a person’s point of view and include feelings, perceptions and concerns.

Question 10

Method of subjective data collection

Answer 10

These data or symptoms are obtained through interviews with the person. They are called subjective because they rely on the opinions of the person experiencing them and cannot be readily observed by another.

Question 11

Objective data

Answer 11

Measurable data. These data or signs can be seen, heard or felt by someone other than the person experiencing them.

Question 12

Method of objective data collection

Answer 12

Obtained through observation, standard assessment techniques performed during the physical examination and laboratory and diagnostic testing.

Question 13

List the methods of data collection

Answer 13

Observation, interview, health history, physical examination, laboratory reports, diagnostic tests, symptoms, analysis, data verification, professional communication, medical records, and other patient literature such as medical-surgical texts, anatomy and physiology texts and pharmacology texts.

Question 14

Data verification

Answer 14

The process through which data are validated as being complete and accurate once reviewed for inconsistencies or omissions. Done by examining the congruence between subjective and objective data.

Question 15

Data organisation

Answer 15

A method used to organise, or cluster information together to identify areas of strengths and weaknesses. How data also termed cues are organised depends on the assessment model used.

Question 16

Assessment model

Answer 16

A systematic framework that provides a method for organising data. Ensures comprehensive and organised data collection through a guiding framework that provides direction for problem identification.

Question 17

List the principles of basic life support (BLS)

Answer 17

Dangers, responsive, send for help, open airways, normal breathing, start CPR, attach AED, and continue CPR until responsiveness or normal breathing returns.

Question 18

Clinical assessment (1)

Answer 18

Includes the collection, verification, organisation, interpretation and documentation of data. The completeness and correctness of the information obtained during clinical assessment are directly related to the accuracy of the steps that follow. A person should consider both primary and secondary sources of data and collect subjective and objective data in this stage.

Question 19

Problem identification (2)

Answer 19

Includes further analysis and synthesis of the data that has been collected. Problem identification focuses on an individual, family or community response to actual or potential health problems. Problem identification asks the questions: Are there specific problems here? What are some causes for the problems? What data are available to answer these questions?

Question 20

Actual problem

Answer 20

Indicates a problem exists and is composed of the diagnostic label, related factors, signs and symptoms.

Question 21

Potential problem

Answer 21

Indicated a problem does not yet exist but that special risk factors are present.

Question 22

Planning process (3)

Answer 22

Involves developing a proposed course of action in regard to the person’s health status.

Question 23

Implementation (4)

Answer 23

Involves the execution of the nursing plan of car derived during the planning phase. A continuation of assessing a person’s condition before, during and after the interventions. Assessment prior to the intervention provides you with baseline data, assessment during and after the intervention allows you to detect positive or negative patient responses.

Question 24

Evaluation

Answer 24

Involves determining whether patient goals have been met. An essential part of the discharge planning that allows you to work with people and families in deciding whether further health care is needed and then providing necessary referrals.