1. INTRODUCTION
1.1 Introduction
Nurses and midwives are the largest group of health workers who provide a wide range of health services, which include promotive, preventive, curative, rehabilitative and supportive care to individuals, families and groups (World Health Organization 2006). Modern day nursing embraces growing technology, theoretical advancements and increasing accountability (Mason and Whitehead 2003). Their adequate representation and utilization in the health care system is very crucial to achieve the results for the services that are rendered in the community. However given that the nursing practice is profoundly dependent on the health policies and available resources in a country many developing nations fall back
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These observations shall form the base upon which suggestions regarding the rationalization of the professional practice can be made. With the education and training nurses receive it would be highly beneficial for the health system if their expertise is rightly tapped within the system.
1.2 Statement of the Problem
Nurses if optimally utilized in the health care system can have a great impact in the health outcomes of the population as well as on a larger note in bringing down the cost of health care in a system. However nursing remains a largely unexplored area when it comes to its actual utilization in India. The scenario remains largely the same, perhaps marginally better when it comes to the public health care sector in Kerala. There is a dire need to focus more on the comprehensive utilization of the nursing sector in order to ensure health care for all. This study attempts to understand the roles and responsibilities that are assumed by the nurses of different cadre within the public health care system of Kerala. The study will also try to find out the current qualifications and job profiles of various nursing cadre within the system. It is highly imperative to have a clear understanding about the roles assumed by the nurses in order to see how well they can be better utilized in the health care delivery system of the state.
1.3 Rationale and Scope of the Study
The World Development Report of 1993 suggests
Nurses worldwide are renown for their immense passion to care, and it is certainly not a profession embarked upon without serious consideration and commitment. Nursing in Australia is a highly regulated and regarded profession, offering enriching work environments with the latest technology at hand. In comparison, nursing in a developing country, such as Malawi, is extremely challenging. Malawi’s population of just over fifteen million people is amongst the poorest in the world and has the lowest number of nurses in the South African Developed Community (Maluwa, Andre, Ndebele & Chilemba, 2012). There are many factors compounding the severe nursing shortage in Milawi. The profession suffers from poor remuneration, and has been critically
This means recognizing each woman’s social, emotional, physical, spiritual and cultural needs. It also acknowledge that a woman and her newborn baby does not exist independently of the woman’s social and emotional environment. This includes incorporating an understanding in assessment and provision of health care (Yanti et al., 2015). The fundamental principles of women-centred care ensures a focus on pregnancy and childbirth as the start of family life, not just as isolated clinical episodes. These motherhood phases take into complete account the meaning and the values of each woman. Providing women centred care helps women make an informed choices, being involved in and having control over their own care, this also includes their relationship with their midwives (Johnson et al., 2003). This demonstrates that midwives are able to attend for women during pregnancy, childbirth and in early parenting years. In addition to this, midwives also provide education for women in order to have a healthy lifestyle (Woods et al.,
In this paper I will be informing on the scope of practice or the job description for a licensed practical nurse which includes medication administration and documentation just to name a few. I will also be discussing the future problems in in which licensed practical nurses with have to deal with in practice. And certifications that licensed practical nurses are able to obtain.
Professional nursing practice has been developing for several centuries. Nursing as a profession can be traced back to the early Christian era. Since then the perception of nursing practice has changed significantly. “Nursing is caring, commitment, and dedication to meeting the functional health needs of all people” (Craven &
“Nursing encompasses autonomous and collaborative care of individuals of all ages, families, groups and communities, sick or well and in all settings. Nursing includes the promotion of health, prevention of illness, and the care of ill, disabled and dying people. Advocacy, promotion of a safe environment, research, participation in shaping health policy and in patient and health systems management, and education are also key nursing roles” (ICN 2010)
Nurses must display a knowledge of skills by portraying a functional ability to assess, treat, and prevent illness in the clinical setting. “The nurses are obliged to gain specialized knowledge, skills and training through the rigorous study of biological, physical and behavioral sciences and then use this knowledge to diagnose and treat patients suffering from different ailments. The patients treated must be under the supervision of skilled medical practitioners and the nurse must be equally directed by the expert medical practitioner. The prevention and management of illnesses, injury and ailments also forms some of the major tasks that have to be carried out by nurses. Politeness in expression, compassion for patients and proper uniform are also some of the main parts of professionalism in nursing.” (professonalism in nursing http://www.buzzle.com/articles/professionalism-in-nursing.html)
Nurses have been successful advocates for improvement of the individuals, communities and indeed Nations. However much more work needs to be done to reduce health disparities, improvement of quality and safety in the health system. As well as improve access to care and formulate policies in organization that focus on the need of patients. In my opinion, nurses sometimes believe in a common mistake that nurses lack the power to be effective in the legislative arena. However, I just want to emphasize that nurses are the largest group of health care providers, and we can generate enough power to successfully reform the health care system based on numbers
“Autonomous nursing practice as defined as full command of expert knowledge and allowing for accountability and authority in decision making” (Creasia & Friberg, 2011, pg. 47). A doctor will more likely see a nurse as a professional once they show competence and autonomy, which in turn, will provide a positive nurse-physician relationship due to the trust built between professionals. A physician must be able to trust a nurse’s judgment and assessment skills to be able to provide a collaborative care for the patient. The wheel of professionalism is designed to compare nurses' professional behavior with other professions, which places university-based education as central to professionalism, which then leads to a strong code of ethics, professional recognition and continuing education to maintain nursing competence (Yam, 2004). As a nurse achieves a status of professionalism, a nurse will view oneself as an equal partner in the health care team, which in turn will boost confidence and support for a more proactive and confident nurse.
The Institute of Medicine has thoroughly analyzed the Future of Nursing and submitted report. The Institute of Medicine (IOM) is a nonprofit organization that works independently, provides unbiased and authoritative advice to general public as well as government. In this essay we would discuss about the significance of report and recommendations of IOM. In 2010 the IOM has advised the Government and the public by submitting an action -oriented blueprint and a detail report about the future of nursing in the country. The report has insisted the suitable changes needed for implementations.
Nursing care is focused on the assessment, nursing diagnoses, planning, implementation, and evaluation of patients. This nursing process can also be implemented in aspects outside of nursing and on the nursing field as a collective group. The nursing role is evolving, following the process the outcomes have to be evaluated and put into perspective. Research is being completed the conclusions are all the same, the higher education of nursing care the better the patient outcomes.
Nurses develop professional skills through a process called “Professionalization.” Ghadirian uses four factors to describe this; cognitive dimension, attitudinal dimension and psychomotor dimension. They then further describe the cognitive dimension as the “professional knowledge” a nurse must have (2014). Without knowledge of illness or the human body, a nurse can not practice professionally. Ghadirian then suggests that even with extensive professional knowledge, a nurse can not be professional without the ideals and ethics of a nurse, or the ability to provide care (2014). A nurse can not be professional without all the dimensions. A nurse must have the values of a nurse, knowledge of a nurse and the ability to provide care.
Frequently, nurses are considered the foundation of the healthcare industry and the stakes are high when certain qualities must be possessed when working with patients and providing quality care. Nurses have a profound ability to apply strong skill-based knowledge with a caring and compassionate attitude that can improve patient outcomes. They also play an important role that can positively or negatively affect the way patients and family members view healthcare as a whole. Professional nursing practice is an art and science when both elements are integrated together to form a unique way of practice, but what does that really mean? The purpose of this paper is to define nursing as an art and science and explain how these two concepts come together to form an extraordinary way to perform professional nursing practice that contributes to the well-being of the patient.
Attaining a high level of education will improve the healthcare system only if nurses are fully utilizing their knowledge and abilities. Many times nurses face challenges in exercising their abilities and knowledge due to institutional policies or government regulations,
Since its establishment as a profession more than a century ago, Nursing has been a source for numerous debates related to its course, methods and development of nursing knowledge. Many nursing definitions and theories have evolved over time. Furthermore it is in a constant process of being redefined.
Nursing is one of the most popular professions in healthcare. To become a professional nurse, one must acquire certain level of education, whether it is at associate or baccalaureate degree level. Once becoming a nurse a number of professional standards must be maintained to stay abreast with the profession. In that respect, the Institute of Medicine (IOM) in its 2010 report had suggested many recommendations focusing on the future of nursing. The aim of the report is to put forth recommendations that allow nurses to “(1) ensure that nurses can practice to the full extent of their education and training (2) improve nursing education, (3) provide opportunities for nurses to assume leadership positions and to serve as full