Changes in the Scope of Nursing
Introduction
The growing trend and improvements in the nursing profession have brought significant improvements in nursing practices. They have given the nurses ability to regulate and contribute to inter-professional groups. Changes in education and disciplinary activities have transformed healthcare giving nurses the ability to assess problems rapidly, come up with, and implement solutions. They can critically think and supporting their evidence-based practice, which has resulted in positive outcomes for the nursing practice. Demographic knowledge has helped to create the most urgency, which calls for the use of evidence-based practice and changes in the style of delivery of nursing care. The changes in social organization, sophistication, and changes in disease type and the process has further led to a transformation in the nursing process.
Evolution Change of Nursing Practice
Evolution changes the scope of nursing practice by pushing the nurse’s professionals to change in efforts to adapt quickly to modern trends in the industrial revolution and thus introducing different changes in nurse’s education at all levels. Nurses can now take leadership positions in various organizations. Salmond & Echevarria (2017) note the scope is fighting to educate young nurses to think thus critically are now taking leadership roles which had been previously handled by doctors. The entire population continues to change in various aspects such as industrialization and occupational health, leading to a change in the healthcare needs of patients. Hence, the scope of nursing practice continues to change. Another aspect of evolution is information technology sophistication. Improvements in information technology play a vital role in the evolution of nursing practice as research can be efficiently conducted, and documentation of nursing processes made easy (Salmond & Echevarria, 2017). These evolution changes have impacted a positive dynamism in the field of nursing.
Comparison between Proficiency of Baccalaureate and ADN
Both BSN and ADN nurses have ready to embrace the change in the nursing profession and are prepared for the accepted professional standards of evidence-based nurses. For instance, the BSN program has incorporated research and informatics in their curriculum to improve the bachelor’s degree in nursing. Other than that, the bachelor of science in nursing is now engaging their students in clinical rotations in various health sectors, including community-based health institutions, to equip them with relevant evidence-based knowledge (Grand Canyon University, 2018). An associate registered nursing level is elementary compared to the baccalaureate nurse. In ADN, the nurses’ role mainly includes recording and evaluation of patients’ signs and symptoms as well as taking relevant patients’ medical history. They are also expected to support the patients’ families and to provide education concerning preventable disease control measures.
BSN nurse is required to undertake complex functions compared to the associate level registered nurses. Grand Canyon University (2018) says that they take medical procedures mostly with the doctors’ directions or alone when competent enough. Most of them are in charge of the administrative role of the specific facility and coordinates other staff members. The BSN is expected to be comfortable taking a position as a nurse educator, advanced practice nurse, and a public health nurse. However, all nursing stuff regardless, are required to collaborate in the patients’ care provision activities such as drug administration, comprehensive assessment of the patient, documenting their findings and activities as well as updating patients’ medical records.
Comparison of Approaches to the Patients Situation between ADN and BSN
Though both BSN and ADN nurses show differences in a few aspects of clinical skills, they both can practice and function in various situations using their skills based on the setting. Grand Canyon University (2018) notes the existence of a perceived difference in leadership skills, which they acquired through long training and different levels of critical thinking, provision of evidenced-based care, ability to understand and make use of medical terms and management skills. It is therefore evident that BSN can perform at more competent levels compared to an Associate Registered nurse.
During the provision of patient care, the level of knowledge regarding skills, and competencies, there are minimal differences. However, a BSN uses evidence-based and critical thinking skills for caring for the patient other than everyday practical skills, which may not benefit a patient fully (Grand Canyon University, 2018). For instance, a patient is brought in with a respiratory emergency. A BSN is likely to administer oxygen therapy first to prevent complications, then look for drug therapy such as nebulizers, conduct respiratory interventions such as intubation or provide basic life support like mechanical ventilation when indicated by the physician. BSN will continue with monitoring the patient’s vital observations such as oxygen saturation in the blood and, finally, the collection of samples for the laboratory to aid further both medical and nursing diagnosis. On the other hand, an ADN will also apply evidence-based care and critical thinking but will finish at placing the patient in a high fowlers position to maintain airway patency, apply oxygen, and provide patient care. According to Grand Canyon University (2018) acknowledges that fewer medication errors, lower mortality rates, a decreased risk for other complications such as pulmonary embolism, and decubitus ulcers when a patient is under a nurse prepared as BSN and has had a graduate degree.
Application of Evidence-Based Practice in Nursing
Evidence-based practice concept has been most useful and successful in enhancing patient outcomes, provision of holistic quality care with efforts to reduce healthcare costs, and to eliminate outdated practices that have proved ineffective. Salmond & Echevarria (2017) notes that the nurses’ education incorporates EBP, which is vital in routine nursing practice process. Evidence-based care enables a nurse to apply critical thinking skills taught throughout the clinical rotations as a part of the coursework to minimize medical errors and to allow them to handle complex cases. Majority of the nursing teaching institutions are practicing and teaching their students the EBP, which enable them to release to the community safe nurses with enough exposure to clinical setting (Salmond & Echevarria, 2017). They have improved practical nursing knowledge and end up making ADN and BSN independent professionals, unlike what nursing has always been taken as doctors’ assistance.
Communication and Collaboration with Interdisciplinary Teams
There is a need for well-structured communication patterns between nurses and other health care professionals like doctors, support staff, and laboratory professionals. Arnold & Boggs (2019) says that interdisciplinary teamwork with proper communication channels improves the diagnosis and prognosis of various conditions compared to when one is working alone. Information technology is improving the nursing profession, making it collaborate with other healthcare sectors well. Healthcare sectors are improving communication by introducing electronic medication, online appointments, point of care, online appointments, mobile laboratories, which now provides relevant computerized solutions to the nurses (Arnold & Boggs, 2019). Therefore, a good patient outcome id dependent on better interdisciplinary communication
Conclusion
Nursing care remains an essential part of health care as the people in need of this in the community still surpass the number of qualified nursing staff. The number of aged people with chronic conditions and other comorbidities is still increasing. Therefore, highly skilled nurses are always in high demand to support the patients. We should acknowledge the nursing profession is dynamic; hence as nurses, we are required to be flexible in accepting changes.
References
Arnold, E. C., & Boggs, K. U. (2019). Interpersonal Relationships E-Book: Professional Communication Skills for Nurses. Elsevier Health Sciences.
Salmond, S. W., & Echevarria, M. (2017). Healthcare transformation and changing roles for nursing. Orthopedic nursing, 36(1), 12.
Grand Canyon University (Ed). (2018). Dynamics in nursing: Art & science of professional
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