Knowledge And Competitiveness Of Nurses Essay
Knowledge And Competitiveness Of Nurses Essay
Nursing practitioners, much like other professionals, have unique binding values, attitudes and behaviors. This paper outlines these values and their significance to nursing practitioners in their daily practice. Two theories of nursing form the basis of this project. These theories are important since despite the evolving nature of the nursing profession over time due to technological advancements, the underlying principle of caring still serves as the major motivation for all nursing practitioners.
In addition, professional values form the basis for acceptable behavior and attitude in the nursing profession. The development of these values is critical for every nurse in making important decisions in healthcare. Nursing practitioners must also exhibit certain attitudes and behaviors in their profession to carry out their major role of caring. It is evident that nursing is highly dependent on one’s morals and a sense of responsibility to the client. Nurses belong to associations that support and regulate their activities. Some major values of the nursing profession are altruism, accountability, commitment and human dignity. These professional values develop in response to culture, society and individual personality traits. Knowledge And Competitiveness Of Nurses Essay
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PROFESSIONAL VALUES, ATTITUDES, & BEHAVIORS OF NURSES
This paper focuses on Madeleine Leininger’s theory of trans-cultural nursing and Hildegard Peplau’s interpersonal theory of nursing. According to Leininger, the goal of nursing is to provide care consistent with cultural values, beliefs, and practices. Leininger states that care is the essence of nursing and the dominant, distinctive and unifying feature. She says there can be no cure without caring, but that there may be caring with curing. Health care personnel should therefore work towards understanding the values, health beliefs, and life-styles of different cultures, which will form the basis for providing culture-specific care. The concept of empathy is nowadays part of the professional curriculum in nursing regardless of the nursing student’s gender.
Peplau on the other hand, views nursing as a maturing force realized as the personality develops through educational, therapeutic, and interpersonal processes. Nurses enter into a personal relationship with an individual when a felt need is present. She defines the nurse-patient relationship as evolving through various stages of the caring process. Caring as an important component of human relationships is the basis of the nursing profession. Caring is informed concern with encompassing involvement that is more than benevolence, sympathy, or even compassion. Knowledge And Competitiveness Of Nurses Essay
According to Masters (2009), nursing as a profession requires prolonged and specialized learning to acquire the relevant knowledge. He further adds that it demands full commitment of the individual towards public service. This profession, much like others has specific values that govern all nursing practitioners. Nursing practitioners and their professional bodies define these professional values as standards of behavior for acceptable action. These professional values adopted by nurses’ act as the principles, ideals and standards held by nurses to give meaning and direction to their daily conduct. These values further provide a framework for evaluating nurses’ beliefs and attitudes.
Fry, Veatch & Taylor (2010) suggest that values are the desirable rational conceptions, and standards that guide behavior. By adhering to this set of values, nurses have developed a caring attitude towards their patients and families. These set values further provide the benchmark for critical thinking and decision making in the course of practicing nursing. Moreover, these values also aid in conflict resolution and in prioritizing actions concerning patient’s welfare.
Nursing values intensify as nurses grow through their career and face new challenges. Professional values influence behavior, therefore people lacking in values development, may lack direction, and critical thinking skills. The latter are is a very significant factor within the nursing field. In this sense, adherence to these principles in daily nursing practice can be a major problem for potential nurses who are not fully committed to the profession. The core values that form the foundation of the nursing profession are altruism, autonomy, human dignity, and social justice. Knowledge And Competitiveness Of Nurses Essay
Altruism
Altruism is the ability to be selfless and instead have a dedication to the welfare of others. In the nursing profession, the nurse provides love and shows kindness for not only her patient but also for herself. A nurse must maintain calmness within herself when with a patient in order to fully support and provide security for their patient. Moreover, this is important for the nurse to prevent burnout and stress which may hinder them carrying out their duty effectively. In order to obtain and secure these humanistic-altruistic values, the nurse must exhibit unending love, kindness and mental awareness at all times. Altruism is essential in unlocking a nurse’s compassion and empathy therefore creating a more positive and healing environment for the patient.
Nurses are ethically required to take care of patients and in some instances endangering their lives. For example, they intervene to stop a violent patient to protect other patients at the risk of suffering physical harm. Furthermore, they give medicine to patients with contagious diseases and endangering their own lives in the process. In nursing, altruism is the most important characteristic in the nurse-patient relationship to securing the most appropriate care and a conducive environment for healing their patient. If a nurse is not fully committed to their patient, the latter may be susceptible to a regressive healing environment causing a negative outcome for the patient. Knowledge And Competitiveness Of Nurses Essay
Autonomy
Autonomy in the nurse-patient relationship nursing gives the patient a right to informed consent. The nurse gives his patient the facts on his condition and advises him on the available healing options plus any underlying repercussions. The patient then has the right to choose to go through the procedure or not. Only in cases where the patient is mentally unfit is a health care surrogate or an attorney allowed to make for them these decisions. Therefore, competent adults have the capacity to consent to or refuse treatment and nurses have an obligation to respect the client’s wishes, even if they have a contrary opinion.
Professional nurse autonomy is reliant on the premise of the centrality of the client when making responsible discretionary decisions. These should reflect the best interests of the patient whether made independently or on advice of the nurse.
Autonomy is also a form of advocacy for the patient to ensure they make well-informed decisions. The most critical attributes for a nurse who regards autonomy is caring. Proactive advocacy and friendly relationships with patients also enhance patient discretion in decision-making.
Human Dignity
The nursing profession demands dignity for all patients. All people are equal and they warrant the same treatment regardless of any external factors. The principle of human dignity accords the nurse the responsibility to treat all patients as they would treat their own loved ones if they were to care for them. Therefore, a nurse regards all human beings as being worthy and deserving of unconditional respect, regardless of age, sex, health status, social or ethnic factors, political ideologies, religious affiliation, or criminal history. Knowledge And Competitiveness Of Nurses Essay
Integrity
Nurses conform to the principles of acting honestly, fairly, and ethically while sticking to their role of caring for the needy. They must hold each other to the highest standards of professionalism and ethical conduct. Nurses must further be honest to their colleagues in the profession and to those who rely on them. Nurses must also exhibit accountability in providing safe, quality care towards their professional bodies, colleagues and patients (Mc Sherry, Mc Sherry & Watson, 2012)
Social Justice
Nurses are required to uphold freedom of choice in their patients’ care, while not compromising their dignity. Nurses endeavor to promote their clients’ best interests and strive to achieve the best outcomes. Beneficence entails nurses promoting good for the patient. Nurses are also required to act in a non-maleficence manner to avoiding harm to their patient. Through acting competently and adhering to high levels of practicing, they avoid situations that may cause injury to those in their care. Knowledge And Competitiveness Of Nurses Essay
Attitudes and Behaviors of Nurses
Fry, Veatch & Taylor (2010) argue that personal values, such as respect, responsibility, and obligation are dependent on the moral attitude of the nurse. Professional attitudes in nursing comprise of inclinations, feelings and emotions that conform to their principles and serve as the basis for their behavior. Professional behavior or behavioral professionalism however is behaving in a manner to achieve optimal outcomes in professional tasks and interactions.
Nurses address complex ethical and human rights issues on a regular basis. The American Nurses Association Board of Directors and the Congress on Nursing Practice outlines the code of responsibilities and conduct expected of nurses in their practice. Nurses comply with some standards of ethical practice that guide their behaviors. A revision to the codes in 2001 sought to include issues of advancing nursing science and based on the opinions and experience of a wide range of nurses. The ANA approved nine provisions that address ethical practice issues such as compassion and respect, the nurse’s primary commitment to the patient, patient advocacy, responsibility and accountability, duties, participation in the healthcare environment, advancement of the profession, and collaboration.
Among the policies enforced by the nurses association is confidentiality of information provided by patients. In medical services, confidentially involves keeping the information relating to the patient private. Confidentiality agreements bind nurses to non-disclosure of patient information to third parties without their signed consent.
Nurses make use of their professional bodies as a major reference in cases where they are required to make major decisions regarding patient treatment. Their colleagues act as the major source of professional ideas and judgments in their practice.
Nurses hold a personal belief in service to the public. They therefore believe that their professional practice is indispensable to society and are inclined to do their best. They provide services wholeheartedly with little focus on the financial benefits but rather on making the society a better place to live in.
Nurses normally belong to nursing bodies of their home countries that serve as self-regulation authorities. In case of misconduct, the nursing body composed of peers in the profession passes judgment on their colleagues based on their governing principles. The nursing bodies also constructive conduct peer assessment on their members to improve competitiveness and performance. Constructive criticism is widely acceptable as a means of reducing recurrent errors of judgment. Knowledge And Competitiveness Of Nurses Essay
Nurses must possess a sense of calling to the field to carry out their duties appropriately. This field requires full dedication to patients regardless of extrinsic rewards. Their selfless activities during warfare where they commit themselves to alleviating suffering of innocent victims are enough evidence to this.
Nurses are autonomous to the extent that they make professional decisions without external pressures from clients, non-professionals, and employers. By abiding to the basic principles of nursing, they are able to make critical decisions regarding their patients’ welfare. However, in cases where they are not sure, they may consult with their peers. The final decisions must serve the best interest of the patient in case of conflicting interest from external parties.
With the advancement of new technology, nurses have been generally receptive to new ideas in healthcare. They have been at the foremost in adoption of improved medical equipment to assist in care giving. Nurses also value new experiences and have therefore taken on more challenging tasks to work in the most hostile places on earth.
Ethical responsibilities that guides nurses’ behavior
A nursing practitioner must show compassion and respect for the dignity of the individual. He or she is therefore unrestricted by economic status, personal attributes, or the nature of the disease. For example, a nurse might not be comfortable with caring for an alcoholic client. However, she is ethically obligated to provide the best and most compassionate care possible. Knowledge And Competitiveness Of Nurses Essay
Nurses must always be committed to the client at all times. In case the family and community are included in decision-making, she must be accommodative to their ideas whether even in cases where she does not agree. After giving any due advice expected of them, nurses must respect the client’s wishes in the matter.
The nurse must always serve as an advocate for the client. The nurse also is responsible for protecting the health, safety, and rights of the client. The principle of non-maleficence may require the nurse to move a patient from a poorly ventilated room or a congested hospital ward. The nurse should also report suspected abuse to prevent further victimization of patients.
The nurse is responsible and accountable for delegating tasks consistent with optimal patient care. She must therefore work in collaboration with other healthcare workers to ensure patients receive the best treatment even in her absence. Any irregularities in the course of hospitalization are avoidable if she properly coordinates with the doctors and other nurses.
Nurses ought to preserve their own integrity and act competently at all times. Advancing educational qualifications and keeping abreast with new technology are vital to achieving both personal and professional growth. Nurses are therefore required to take additional course units regularly to keep their practicing licenses and remain relevant. Continuous participation in the advancement of the profession through research further raises the profile of committed nurses.
The nurse is responsible for maintaining the reputation of nursing through her practice. She is therefore carries out her roles with dignity and avoids scandals that destroy the reputation of the profession.
High membership and active participation in their professional body raises the profile of the nurses in the society. Through promoting activities that foster ethical values in nursing the professional body is able to build a formidable block to sway public opinion. The professional organizations can therefore push for social policy reforms that better their work environment. Knowledge And Competitiveness Of Nurses Essay
Conclusion
Nurses need to distinguish between their personal values and professional ethics. Personal values are what nurses hold significant and true for themselves, while professional ethics involve principles that have universal applications and standards of conduct that apply in all situations. Nurses must remember these core values and follow them to the best of their ability. During the good and bad times, they need to remember why they decided to become a nurse and their vision as to what they want to achieve. They must always remember to put the care of others first and to treat everyone equally. A person who chooses nursing as a profession makes a choice that will affect them for a lifetime. Nurses thus avoid allowing personal judgments to cloud their decisions regarding client care. They are honest and fair with clients and act in their best interest while showing utmost respect for them. New graduates entering the workforce also need to be prepared to engage in the complex critical thinking skills and develop sufficient socialization skills to deal with the enormous growth in technology and responsibilities expected in the profession.
According to Olade (2004) nursing practice using observed phenomena and evidences is an example of education which refers to formalized experiences designed to enlarge the knowledge or skills of nursing educators or practitioners. Through experiences and evidences, the ability to learn actual clinical practice and the orientation in health care protocols and policies in handling patients’ needs will be achieved. This is method is also termed as Evidence-based practice. It involves a combination of many disciplines, including aspects of multidisciplinary sciences to promote the restoration and maintenance of health in our clients (Davies, 2005). Much literature has been published on this topic in recent years, an evolving subject and concept for specific practices that promote more effective, safer and more efficient ways of caring (Drenkard & Cohen, 2004). While maintaining and improving high satisfaction and job retention for nurses’ job is important area to discover (Ebell, 2008). To achieve this, we need workforce to continually strive for excellence, be responsible and flexible enough, have the confidence to face the challenges, and inspire everyone with a shared vision. These are strengths needed by nursing staffs to motivate others health care provider to fulfill their potential and achieve goals (Littlefield, 2005). Researches, studies and articles were utilized and analyze in gathering the necessary information needed. Clinical education, skills and practices are the key concepts used in this paper. Knowledge And Competitiveness Of Nurses Essay
Challenges
Possession of knowledge and competency in performing skills and interventions which can be acquired in hands on training is essential in practicing the profession especially in Medical-surgical unit where I supervise. As nursing professional, tangible skills and knowledge in a hospital setting is very important in managing clients and supervising clients (Burns & Foley, 2005). Evidences were identified through thorough assessment and researches. The challenges discussed below identified through gathering of recent information in my Medical-Surgical unit and data that focuses on the subject.
Communicating effectively at all levels is a common barrier in the implementation of change among health care in various settings (Kleinman, 2004). As a member of the hospital workforce, nurse must have the capability to communicate effectively in a non judgmental way and stimulate other colleague to critically think. They must also arouse enthusiasm and quicken thinking and imagination. Demonstrate resourcefulness and professionalism with infinite patience, understanding, confidence and perseverance are also challenges (Bryar et al, 200).
According to Kleinman (2004) Health care professionals are striving constantly to improve and develop the standards of care. Meeting the challenges require health care providers to be an effective leaders who foster a culture and develop partnerships and that embraces innovation (Salsberg, 2008). Organizational culture and leadership style are resulted to staff satisfaction, increased productivity, improved patient care well-functioning teams (Drenkard & Cohen, 2004). Getting health information about new knowledge is also a critical case or situation, but we have to look at how to make the system on healthcare execute its purpose better for certain facility, so that the provided care is more efficient, accessible and effective (Pravikoff et al., 2005).
Recent studies has reported gaps between nursing practice and researches (Brancato 2006) and identified different challenges that prevent the evidence to clinical practice to translate into clinical settings (Olade 2004). These challenges in applying evidence-based practice in nursing have been consistent across researches. One challenge is that, in the generation and development of new medical and nursing knowledge, the resistance of profession has often been incorporated with the new ways of practice (Young, 2004). Knowledge And Competitiveness Of Nurses Essay
The study suggests that much recent practices are based frequently on tradition, experience and intuition, rather than validation of science (,Pravikoff et al., 2005, Egerod & Hansen 2005). Furthermore, the growing numbers of nurse studies and researches designed to develop and improve nursing practice at the staff nurse level cannot make nurses improve their skills, research knowledge and understanding. They frequently lack nurses formal training such as scientific inquiries (Fink et al. 2005, Melnyk 2005, Melnyk et al. 2004, Pravikoff et al. 2005, Olade 2004). Institutional challenges to Evidenced-based Practice have also been identified.
Moreover, challenges according to Melnyk (2005) were also found such difficulty gaining support financially for the programs and trainings for ensuring the effectiveness of skills, practice, leadership and integration of the program with existing practice of care through trainings and seminars; and sustainable momentum during the shift of culture. Study also revealed that these limited to those who implement the program (Young, 2004).
In general, the main role of nurses is focused on providing effective, quality care. Hence, more advanced and competent means of preparing nurses to supervise and manage their patient is important (Briggs et al., 2004). These challenges must be address properly by implementation of appropriate approach and programs to increase the knowledge and experience. Skill development for the nursing educators must constantly be framed within the context of individualized patients. Nursing educators should make themselves aware of every situation happening in the field and make it a motivational means to improve the profession by proper preparation and education (Welk, 2007). Therefore, the need for implementing evidenced-based approach to nursing practice is essential in addressing these issues. Knowledge And Competitiveness Of Nurses Essay
Strategies for Implementing an Evidence-based Approach to Nursing Practice
The nursing profession enters a new era not knowing what to expect. Yes, patient care is the “same” everywhere, but they must be comfortable with the environment they are placed in. Adaptation is crucial in the clinical arena (Kleinman (2004). Evidenced-based practice and clinical experience may become a highly useful and effective strategy in clinical practice. The nurse becomes less apprehensive about the clinical environment and becomes more client focused, therefore increasing the effectiveness of care. This also provides the nurse an opportunity for role modeling as the client and family maintains and develops standards of practice and competent care in a familiar environment (Foster, 2007).
In implementing an evidenced-based approach to nursing practice, nursing professionals must learn the ability to have excellent learning and communication skills, exhibit organizational and leadership ability (Salsberg, 2008). The particular problem which is the main issue of the study conducted by Rosswurm and Larrabee (2005) suggests that the ability of nurses to perform their responsibilities and duties by exhibiting clinical skills and professional abilities are important. Nurses must possess good assessment skills and have good insight and judgment skills in order to anticipate or interpret the needs of the client in health care practice (Hewson, 2006). This evidenced-based model can be use to accommodate change process for the observed facts and laws that can be relate to a particular aspect of nursing practice (Burns & Foley, 2005). Knowledge And Competitiveness Of Nurses Essay
Communication practices must be address to identify and effectively set the goals. Communicating effectively at all levels is a common barrier in the implementation of change among health care in various settings (Henderson, 2009). In addition to that Littlefield (2005) strongly agree that effective communication is the major factor in the success of effective learning outcome for the implementation of new approaches, especially in a multicultural environment. As nurses play a different role at different time period and should be considered in my Medical-Surgical unit in order to maintain the effectiveness and quality for the future improvement. It plays essential role in enhancing clinical learning environment. Hallin & Danielson (2009) describe the communication role is more concerned with the development of clinical competency by using strategies such as role modeling, feedback and questioning, within a supportive, safe and welcoming manner.
For experienced nursing practitioner in hospital setting such as Medical-Surgical unit, financial support and educational programs should provide resources to maintain theoretical and clinical competence (Hagger & McIntyre, 2007). The key to successful client management is communication in caring for patients. Some of the activities being practiced in a hospital setting are the provision of the most current information possible for the nurses and nursing educators using the evidence-based practice and through collaborative approach of health care professionals (Lichtman, 2008).
It is also useful to have and possess general skills needed to be competent in educating and training nursing personnel in health facility (Welk, 2007). I can share my ability to have excellent teaching and communication skills, exhibit organizational and leadership ability in my unit. The particular factor which is the main issue in improving the knowledge to perform their responsibilities and duties through exhibiting clinical skills and professional abilities is really important. Nursing practitioners must also support the possession of good assessment skills and have good insight and judgment skills in order to anticipate or interpret the needs of the client in health care practice (Foster, 2007). Knowledge And Competitiveness Of Nurses Essay
Lastly, trainings, workshops or programs should be properly planned and outlined to provide information and instruction for nurses in the principles of teaching and learning different skills, pedagogical styles, and valid evaluation techniques. According to Hewson (2006), workshops for nurses would impart knowledge and skills essential for success in the clinical setting. Embracing the knowledge and acquired skills in a familiar environment provides the practitioner with an increased level of confidence in the educational development of nursing professionals (Salsberg, 2008).
To properly accommodate the strategies mentioned above, the conceptual model for translating evidence into clinical practice authored by Rosswurm and Larrabee (2005) will be helpful to promote change process. This model recognized that translation of research into practice requires a solid grounding in change theory, principles of research utilization, and use of standardized nomenclature. The model has the following six phases: Assess the need for change in practice, link the problem with interventions and outcomes, synthesize the best evidence, design a change in practice, implement and evaluate the practice, and integrate and maintain the practice change. The model provides a pragmatic, theory-driven framework for empowering clinicians in the process of evidence-based practice. The first phase is assessing the need for change in practice which searches for evidence to support the change. The second phase is linking the problem, interventions, and outcomes by using standardized nursing classification systems and nomenclature to identify the problem, and the desired outcomes .The third phase is synthesizing the best evidence by organizing systematic and critical strategies. The fourth phase is designing the practice change by identifying strategies to explore the original issue further and to implement it into practice. The fifth phase is the implementation and evaluation of change in practice by building and fortifying systems identifying problems, communicating and managing changes. The last phase is integrating and maintaining the change in practice, this step of the model is pending further evaluation and consideration (Rosswurm and Larrabee, 2005). This model is applicable to the subject because of its nature in terms of change process and method. Behavior, skills, competency, personal traits and knowledge can be addressed through the utilization of this model (Lichtman, 2008). Knowledge And Competitiveness Of Nurses Essay
As agreed by Freiburger (2004) that learning style in practice can be changed according to the situation such as when going through a new experience and at different maturation. Towards the end she/he was confident and started to discover new things by her self which showing evidenced-base approach of learning (Young, 2004).
Conclusion
Knowledge and competitiveness is a product of evidenced-based practice, experience and effective learning process which is essential in actual clinical practice of nursing profession. To be an effective nurses in the profession, it should begin with the individual appraisal of one’s self competency and enhanced education based on practices and trainings taken previously during undergraduate and graduate studies, workshops, trainings, continuing education, and preparation for teaching seminars or modules including the conceptual, academic and clinical orientation (Foster, 2007).It is largely based on innate potentials and motivations afforded by the familiarity of a learning environment. I believe the richness or intensity of the inculcation of knowledge, positive values and skills of a person is not simply based on the innate capacity of one to evaluate, think, reason and interact in a learning situation. It also equally depends on the quality of the nursing experiences which are either limited by the nurses’ ability and will to choose or by what is desirable to her which is readily accessible in the environment. Nursing education, concepts and programs for improving the knowledge in health facility should also be provided to maintain theoretical and clinical competence of health setting and facilities. From what I have learned in my own area of practice, I think the key to successful knowledge development is competent learning and effective communication during the practice to achieve the goal of competency. This will determined the path of being effective and competent nursing professional. Knowledge And Competitiveness Of Nurses Essay