1. Basic Nursing Procedures and Techniques:
- Vital Signs Monitoring:
- Temperature: Measured using oral, rectal, axillary, tympanic, or temporal methods, with each having specific indications based on patient condition and age.
- Pulse: Assessed at various sites like radial, brachial, and carotid arteries; includes evaluating rate, rhythm, and strength.
- Respiration: Monitoring the rate, depth, and effort of breathing, ensuring it is within normal ranges.
- Blood Pressure: Measured using a sphygmomanometer and stethoscope, or automated devices, important for assessing cardiovascular health.
- Oxygen Saturation: Checked using a pulse oximeter to ensure sufficient oxygenation in the blood.
- Hygiene and Personal Care:
- Bathing: Including bed baths, showering, or tub baths, to maintain skin integrity and patient comfort.
- Oral Care: Essential for preventing oral infections, particularly in patients who are NPO (nothing by mouth) or ventilated.
- Perineal Care: Vital for preventing infections, especially in incontinent patients or those with indwelling catheters.
- Skin Care: Prevents pressure ulcers through regular repositioning and use of pressure-relieving devices.
- Hair and Nail Care: Maintains hygiene and supports patient dignity.
- Mobility and Transfers:
- Ambulation Assistance: Helping patients walk safely, with or without assistive devices like walkers or canes.
- Transfer Techniques: Using proper body mechanics and equipment like transfer boards or lifts to safely move patients.
- Range of Motion Exercises: Aids in preventing contractures and maintaining joint mobility, particularly in bedridden patients.
- Fall Prevention: Implementing measures like bed alarms, non-slip footwear, and clutter-free environments to reduce fall risk.
- Wound Care:
- Dressing Changes: Using sterile techniques to prevent infections, assessing wound healing, and selecting appropriate dressings.
- Debridement: Removing dead tissue to promote healing, which can be done surgically, enzymatically, or mechanically.
- Pressure Ulcer Prevention: Regularly repositioning patients and using special mattresses or cushions to reduce pressure.
- Advanced Wound Care Techniques: Using methods like Negative Pressure Wound Therapy (NPWT) to enhance healing in complex wounds.
- Medication Administration:
- Routes of Administration: Including oral, topical, subcutaneous, intramuscular, and intravenous methods, each with specific indications.
- Five Rights of Medication Administration: Ensuring the right patient, drug, dose, route, and time to minimize errors.
- Adverse Reactions: Monitoring for and responding to potential negative effects of medications.
- Medication Reconciliation: Verifying that all prescribed medications are correctly documented and reconciled during patient transitions.
- Infection Control:
- Hand Hygiene: Regular and thorough washing or sanitizing to prevent the spread of infections.
- Use of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE): Gloves, masks, gowns, and eye protection used appropriately based on the level of exposure.
- Isolation Precautions: Implementing standard, contact, droplet, or airborne precautions as needed.
- Sterilization and Disinfection: Ensuring all instruments and equipment are properly sterilized to prevent cross-contamination.
- Aseptic Technique: Essential in procedures to maintain a sterile environment and prevent infections.
2. Nursing Ethics:
- Confidentiality and Privacy: Upholding patient privacy by safeguarding medical information and only sharing it with authorized individuals.
- Informed Consent: Ensuring patients are fully aware of the procedures or treatments they will undergo and voluntarily agree to them.
- Autonomy: Respecting patients’ rights to make informed decisions about their healthcare.
- Nonmaleficence: Committing to avoid causing harm to patients.
- Beneficence: Acting in the best interest of the patient to promote their health and well-being.
- Justice: Providing fair and equitable care to all patients without discrimination.
- Fidelity: Keeping promises and commitments to patients to build trust.
- Advocacy: Supporting patients’ rights and interests, particularly when they cannot advocate for themselves.
- Ethical Decision-Making: Utilizing frameworks like the four-box method to resolve complex ethical issues.
3. Communication:
- Therapeutic Communication: Engaging with patients using empathy, active listening, and open-ended questions to build trust and encourage dialogue.
- SBAR (Situation-Background-Assessment-Recommendation): A standardized communication tool to effectively convey important information between healthcare providers.
- Non-Verbal Communication: Understanding and using body language, eye contact, and tone of voice to communicate empathy and understanding.
- Documentation: Accurately recording patient information, treatments, and any changes in condition in medical records to ensure continuity of care.
- Cultural Sensitivity: Being aware of and respecting diverse cultural backgrounds and communication styles.
- Conflict Resolution: Managing and resolving disputes within the healthcare team or with patients and families in a constructive manner.
4. Patient Care:
- Holistic Approach: Considering the physical, emotional, psychological, social, and spiritual needs of patients in care planning.
- Patient-Centered Care: Involving patients in decision-making and tailoring care to their specific needs and preferences.
- Continuity of Care: Ensuring consistent and coordinated care as patients move between different healthcare settings or providers.
- Care Coordination: Collaborating with other healthcare professionals to provide comprehensive care and avoid gaps in treatment.
- Chronic Disease Management: Providing long-term support and education for patients with chronic conditions like diabetes or hypertension.
- Pain Management: Utilizing both pharmacologic and non-pharmacologic methods to manage and alleviate patient pain.
- Palliative and End-of-Life Care: Focusing on comfort, symptom management, and quality of life for patients with serious illnesses, and providing support to their families.
- Patient Education: Teaching patients and families about health conditions, treatments, and self-care practices to empower them in their care.
- Cultural Competence: Understanding and respecting cultural differences in healthcare beliefs, practices, and communication.
Additional Considerations
- Nursing Theories: Understanding nursing theories like Florence Nightingale’s Environmental Theory or Jean Watson’s Theory of Human Caring can guide practice and enhance patient care.
- Evidence-Based Practice (EBP): Integrating the best research evidence with clinical expertise and patient values to ensure high-quality care.
- Patient Safety: Implementing safety protocols and practices to minimize the risk of errors, falls, and infections in healthcare settings.
- Technology in Nursing: Utilizing tools like electronic health records (EHRs), telehealth, and other technologies to improve patient care, efficiency, and communication.
- Professional Development: Engaging in lifelong learning and continuing education to stay updated with the latest nursing practices and standards.