Download The Evolution and Future of Nursing Practice and more Lecture notes Accounting in PDF only on Docsity! Running head: NURSING EVOLUTION CONTINUUM 1 NRS-430V Nursing Evolution Grand Canyon University: NRS-430V Nursing Evolution Continuum One of the fastest growing and changing professions is the field of Nursing. The roles of the nurse are vastly different from that of the most famous nurse, Florence Nightingale. Nurses are responsible for much more than giving patients their medications or giving out band aids. Nurses are becoming more educated and the way nursing is practiced is more scientific and evidence based than ever before. The Nursing scope of practice also involves multi-disciplinary areas to not only address the patient's illness but also to maintain their health in a more efficient manner. “While the past relates to the present in regard to nursing practice, the scope and status of nursing education have changed over time” (Grand Canyon University, 2018 chp.2). Nurses have made major strides through the years to become a leading force for patient care. Nursing is no longer just at the bedside but can range from case management, developing nursing policies and procedures, as well as nurse practitioners helping diagnose, treat, and prescribe medications. Nursing practices are no longer dictated for staff convince, but for patient safety. An example of this can be found in the nurse’s daily routine of a medication administration. One of the seven rights of medication administration is asking the patient for their full name, date of birth and matching the information to the patient’s wristband and EMAR. This was implemented to ensure we have the right patient before we can proceed with the rest of the rights of the medication pass 2 NURSING EVOLUTION CONTINUUM to ensure patient’s safety (Callen, S., 2013). Due to this nursing practice change from before, nurses are able to prevent many medication errors before they ever happen. As nursing practices have evolved over time, so has the educational requirements and background of the nurses. Early nurses started out from a certificate to take care of patients and now, there’s emerging degrees like Doctorates of Nursing. This show’s nursing is ever growing and evolving and require the nurses to adapt. The major difference between the most popular degrees, ADN and BSN, would be time. Most ADN programs can be finished in 2 to 3years while the traditional BSN requires 4years (Grand Canyon University, 2018) but that’s not the only major difference. Their approach to the patient’s care differ as well. One study found “BSN graduate seemed to think ahead with respect to patient teaching and was more inclined to join hospital committees. There was a more holistic perspective from the BSN student, who also transitioned more easily with change and understood the reasons behind the change.” (Leroy & Laplante & Patterson & deRuyter, 2014, p. 173). Both the ADN and BSN nurse may be clinically similar, however, the BSN nurse would be more inclined to incorporate Evidence Based Practice policies and research/studies to the patient’s care. ADN nurses are prepared to be technically competent to take care of patients but BSN nurses are taught to broaden their thinking to care for the patient. The most common example would be the Foley catheter and indication for insertion. For example, the ADN nurse will see the order for the Foley and insert and monitor output while the BSN nurse will do the same but use EBP and do the proper Foley care for the patient to ensure the patient doesn’t catch a CAUTI while the Foley is in place. Because of this skill and others, the BSN education is designed to improve analytical and critical thinking, and therefore better equipped to handle
