Need For Change Within The Nursing Practice

A study was done at a 1,300 bed urban facility over a 13-week period. The purpose of the study was to describe the causes of inpatient falls in hospitals (Hitcho, et al., 2004). All falls were reported except falls in the psychiatry service and during physical therapy sessions. During the 13-week period, a total of 183 patients at an average age of 63.4 years old fell. Of the total number of falls 79% were unassisted, 85% happened in the patient room, 59% occurred during the evening or overnight shift, 19% were while walking, and 50% were elimination related (p. 732). In this study it was identified that many patients did not use their call bell before getting up because they did not believe they needed assistance. It was stated that, “perhaps patients need to be better educated on the effects that a new environment, decreased activity, medications, tests, and treatments can have on patients’ energy and ability to ambulate safely” (p. 737). The findings of this study showed that falls not only happen in the elderly, but in the younger population as well. Patients that fall in hospitals are often unaided and are due to elimination needs. To prevent falls and decrease injury rates, more studies need to be done.

The facility my change project has potential impact upon is a teaching hospital which is known for promoting, supporting, and encouraging clinical research and implementing latest evidence-based practice. Erlanger serves as the region's only academic teaching hospital and strives to employ healthcare professionals who are knowledgeable in the latest skill, technique, and evidence based practice (EBP) (Erlanger Health System, 2017). This serves as both a strength and opportunity for the facility. A major strength for the hospital is the support that is has for research and implementation of all change processes. In 2013 the Institute for Clinical Research (EICR), was developed to solidify unity of two objectives, providing patients’ access

Record-keeping and documentation are a hugely important part of nursing practice that unfortunately is often overlooked. Good record-keeping is in fact an essential element of being a good nurse. This assignment will discuss the importance of record-keeping in the healthcare setting. Record-keeping is vital for three main functions of nursing. It facilitates communication, promotes safe and appropriate nursing care and meets professional and legal standards (CRNBC 2008). These purposes and other important functions of record-keeping will be described in this assignment. The professional and legal implications of poor record-keeping will also be outlined. The topics will only be briefly and broadly discussed due to word count

The need for innovation in medical care becomes a priority in a growing world, with the world population growing at an alarming rate, from 3.036 Billion to 7.125 Billion in just half a century from 1960 to 2013. The rapid increase in population has translated to congestion in urban centers leading to enormous waste production; a lot of pollution made due to excessive fumes from vehicles on roads and even water pollution due to a rapid increase in industrial activities in the quest to satisfy production. All these effects are increasingly resulting to higher frequency within which people acquire infections leading to the need for specialized medical care.

In the healthcare facility there are many things that can benefit from change. Bedside rounding with the inclusion of the entire care team would be a beneficial change to any healthcare facility. By doing bedside rounding it promotes patient and family involvement in the exchange of information and planning of their care. This also allows for the interdisciplinary team to be completely involved rather than picking up bits and pieces of information throughout the day from multiple different people. This is also a great opportunity for the patient and their family to ask questions with the entire care team available for answers.

The Institute of Medicine (IOM) 2010 report examines the role of the nurse in this rapidly changing complex health care system as well as the responsibilities and education of nurses to meet the need of an aging population. The IOM Report made many recommendation that affect nurses and nursing profession. I did not realize how much the Institute of Medicine Future of Nursing report would affect me, especially recommendation 4, 5, and 6. I returned back to school in 2012, but I got discourage and overwhelm with work and school, therefore, I stopped after the first class. But as changes where occurring in health care delivery, and these changes were affecting my current position at work, I decided to return back to school since the hospitals

While there is a learning curve associated with moving from paper charting to on line documentation of nursing care, there are a few measures that can decrease the amount of time spent in front of the computer. In order to avoid time spent frequently logging into the system there are security features that can be used such as finger print technology and employee badge swipe technology. Instead of writing notes on paper and then recording in the computer nurses are encouraged to complete documentation at the patient bedside at the time of patient care

Today’s healthcare is changing, and more hospitals are commencing to go paperless using computers for both medical records and charting. Computers are widely accepted, in personal and professional settings. It is an essential requirement for computer literacy. Numerous advances in technology during the past decade require that nurses not only be knowledgeable in nursing skills but also to become educated in computer technology. While electronic medical records (EMR’s) and charting can be an effective time management tool, some questions have been asked on how exactly this will impact the role and process of nursing, and the ultimate effects on patient safety and confidentiality. In order to

The impact of the Affordable Care Act has had a direct effect on tackling barriers that are deterring quality of care. Healthcare providers are now looking at the existing ways of delivering care and improve the system. Nurses, being the largest group of healthcare providers, has begun to assess and change how care is delivered. This change has begun to alter the methods of teaching and curriculum development. Transformation is a complex process that includes redesigning of the current clinical education model that provides nursing students with learning experiences in a patient-centered environment (Halstead, 2012).

According to the IOM report, the nursing profession is undergoing fundamental changes within the underlying operations of the field. A new regulatory environment coupled with increased scrutiny of the profession will dramatically impact the nursing profession. As the report indicates nurses, in the near future, will have job requirements that are business oriented. Nurses will need to have a better understanding of quality management methods in addition to overall concepts of management. As the health care system continues its rapid reform nurses must also be cognizant of the effects these changes will have on their overall roles and responsibilities. This involves a transformation of the roles and responsibilities of nurses as they enter the profession. As the health care landscape continues to change, so too must the nurses of the future. A dedication to continual learning is therefore needed to help diminish the influence of antiquated and obsolete knowledge regarding the profession.

Accurate nursing documentation is paramount to increased level of care for a patients that are admitted into hospitals, referred to other providers or discharged from care. An accurate medical record is by far the most reliable source of information on the care of a patient. The proper documentation by nurses prevents errors and facilitates continuity of care.

Dr. Patricia Benner is responsible for the idea that a nurse begins her career as a novice, having a sound educational base, and eventually develops into an expert nurse after a multitude of experiences in the field (“From Novice to Expert”, 2013). This paper will explore Benner’s five stages to becoming clinically competent. This paper will also discuss the use of information technology in the clinical setting, including potential benefits of electronic health records to nurses and the impact of health information technology on consumer health.

Ineffective nursing documentation compromises patient safety and can result in serious or even fatal errors. Nursing documentation is essential to practice and is defined as everything entered into a patient’s electronic health record or written in a patients’ record (Perry, 2014). The goal of effective nursing documentation to ensure continuity of care, maintain standards and reduce errors (Perry, 2014). Nurses are accountable for their professional practice which requires documentation to effectively reflect the care that clients receive. The College of Nurses of Ontario (CNO) states that nursing being regulated health care professionals are accountable for ensuring that their documentation is accurate and meets the practice standards (College of Nurses of Ontario, 2009). Effective documentation strategies to reduce errors include; documenting in a timely fashion, using correct abbreviations and spelling, correcting documentation errors appropriately and ensuring that handwriting is legible. The purpose of this paper is to explore these strategies in greater detail with the goal of improving the care nurses provide to their clients to enhance safety.

There have been many changes (major and minor) in the nursing profession and the medical field, as a whole, over the years. Some of these changes include changing demographics and increasing diversity, technological explosion, the cost of health care, and significant advances in nursing science and research. Major socioeconomic changes created this drive to make transformations in nursing and institutions. These institutions are the ones that are responsible for educating the next generation of nurses, such as West Coast University.

In the healthcare field, nursing leaders and managers face consistent issues in their respective practices that force them to alter the way they work and the way they think. In taking on a role as a leader within the field, nursing leaders and managers also take on the role of ensuring that work within an organization runs smoothly regardless of new issues that may arise in the healthcare arena. For instance, in today's healthcare environment, the issues of nurse shortage and nurse turnover have the capacity to alter the healthcare field and many of its respective branches and organizations should these problems not be managed properly by the leaders in the field. In viewing the issue at hand and in discovering how nursing leaders and managers are expected to act, and do act, in order to approach this issues, along with pinpointing the best approach possible to aid this issue, one can better understand which leadership styles are necessary for leaders to function.