Nursing Theory

The self care theory, also known as the Dorothea E. Orem theory greatly influences my personal values and goals. This theory can be used to describe, explain and predict excellent nursing practices. Self care theory entails the aspect of individuals being their own managers of their emotional, physical, social and interpersonal health. Precisely, when one is concerned about his or her health, the behavior tends to influence and promote healthy behaviors. For example, when an individual is aware that smoking multiplies his or her risk of developing lung cancer, he is deemed to quit smoking as soon as possible. In addition, when a patient is aware of his health condition, it helps health professionals to be precise in their diagnosis, prescription and administration of other health care services and help with reducing medical errors.

Being a registered nurse, this theory helps me to sensitize and educate patients concerning the importance of being guardians of their health. In addition, it enables me first to ensure I am emotional, socially, physically and interpersonally healthy before proceeding to advocate for the health of the others. It enables me to interact with others in a stable mind.

Nursing Figures

There are numerous historical nursing figures who have greatly inspired my professional nursing practice. One of them is Florence Nightingale who is the founder of the modern nursing. Her decision of pursuing a nursing career was not highly welcomed by her parents since they wanted her to pursue another career that they deemed necessary to her during the late 19th and early 20th century. But Florence has the passion of helping those who are in need (Canfield, 2016). She made numerous achievements under her nursing belt, and some of these are not limited to reducing mortality rates of individuals by 40 percent through educating patients that their immediate environment contributes to their health status (she campaigned for hand-washing, clean water, and air), she implemented holistic healthcare approaches, she developed nursing education practice and process, and was the first researcher in the nursing profession. Lilian Wald also contributed greatly in the nursing practice. She championed the importance of maintaining equality between the rich and the poor in terms of accessing and affording quality health care services.

Florence focused on the importance of maintaining hygiene to prevent some communicable diseases such as typhoid and malaria, while Lilian focused on the importance of ensuring equality in terms of provision, accessibility, and affordability of health care services. Moreover, Lilian campaigned for the poor, especially those who lived in the slums where hygiene is maintained.

Florence and Lilian have sensitized me to treat patients without discrimination. In addition, I believe becoming a nurse was the best choice that I made, and I will as well be determined to leave a legally concerning my contribution to the nursing profession.

Differences between the State Board of Nursing and the America Nurses Association

The role of the State Board of nurses is to regulate the practice of nursing. Precisely, its core aim is to safeguard the health of the public by ensuring safe nursing practices within its jurisdiction. On the other hand, the American nurses’ association advocates for nurses in terms of their interests as well as guiding in the integration of new nursing practices.

Both the state Board of Nursing and the American Nurses Association influence the nursing practice in several ways. For example, both organizations ensure that nurses deliver quality health care services to the increasing number of health consumers. New ways of enhancing the nursing practice are also established and embraced by these bodies as effective measures of providing positive nursing outcomes.

The two organizations sensitize me as a nurse to be committed in the delivery of quality health care services to my clients. They enable me to be extra careful when dealing with patients, especially avoiding the aspect of committing medical errors, in order not to face disciplinary action from the state nursing board. In addition, the continuous development in the nursing practice enhances the quality of services that I deliver to patients.

Failure to maintain licensure requirements jeopardizes the nurse`s cancellation of his or her nursing license. Alternatively, a suspension may also be applied to a nurse who fails to achieve the nursing standards that have been established by the State Board. Precisely, when unethical practices are raised concerning a nurse, the State Board holds a meeting to discuss the fate of the respective nurse.

There are a myriad of rules that the ANA has provided concerning taking disciplinary actions to the nurses. For example, when a nurse renews or procures his or nursing license by bribery, being found guilty of nolo contendere to (I do not want to contend) a crime which relates to the nursing practice.

Nurse licensure compact allows a nurse to have one multistate license, in such a way that the respective nurse can practice in both his and her home state as well as in any other compact state. Currently, there are about 25 states that have passed the nurses’ licensure compact. A nurse whose country is not a member of the compact state can only have a license of practicing in his or her nursing skills and knowledge within his home state.

Regulatory Agencies

Patient`s safety is defined by the regulatory body as the freedom from instituting injury or harm to a patient by ensuring that the necessary diagnosis, prescription and delivery of quality health care services to patients. Patient advocacy entails the aspect of safeguarding the rights and wishes of the patients during the administration of health care services. Though the Federal Drug Administration and the Center for Medicare and Medicaid systems have varying types of regulators, the two regulatory bodies put into consideration of the to patients who request for an alternative therapy. The two bodies argue that patients are the managers of their health, and they can evaluate whether the health care services that they had initially received benefitted them or not. If not, patients have the right of requesting for alternative therapy, which they perceived to be necessary for their wellbeing. In my own career, I am always advocating for my patients. I give my patients the data that they need to make informed decisions. Sometimes while at work I am not the one giving my patients their medications and when I see the health aide giving them their medications incorrectly I step in and advocate for my patient so that no harm is being done to them. No matter how long I have been working as a nurse I always do my double and triple checks to ensure that my patients are safe from harm from mistakes that I could potentially make.

Nurse Practice Act Functions

All states have passed into law the Nurse Practice Act, which comprises of regulations of governing the nursing practice, education program standards, the requirements of licensing, power, authority and composition of a board of nursing, and others. The Nursing Practice Act of Florida and the state of California have numerous similarities and differences (Hamilton & Swan, 2014). Some of the similarities in both states are not limited to the aspects of nurses being subjected to an examination before being licensed, established grounds for disciplinary actions against nurses who violate the nursing standards, and requirements for licensure. On the other hand, in Florida, the board of nursing consists of 13 members while its California counterpart has nine members.

The registered nurses in Florida and California have the mandate of altering and monitoring drug therapies, initiating effective therapies for certain conditions and ordering physical and diagnostic tests and occupational therapy. However, unlicensed assistance personnel have the role of monitoring the progress of patients, dressing of fractures as well as assisting the other senior nurses in the health facility. In addition, it is also within the scope of practice of registered nurses in both states to supervise nursing home facilities. However, for the nurses to do this, they must have completed a 30-hour post basic supervisory education course as well as to have an experience of not less than six months.

In both states, registered and licensed nurses can delegate their duties to their juniors if the latter has been operating within the facility for a period of not less than one year (California Board of Nursing, 2015). In addition, these nurses can delegate roles to nurses who are about to receive their licenses. Moreover, the nurses are not allowed to delegate duties during the odd hours such as at night. In addition, in both countries, licensed and registered nurses’ delegates duties to CAN under several conditions. For example, the activity being delegated must be within be within the jurisdiction of the nurse delegating the duty as well as being of repetitive or routine nature in such a way that it would not require the CAN to undergo extensive training, skill, knowledge or judgment.

In both states, the aspects of central venous anatomy and physiology site assessments, flushing, blood drawing and fluid assessment are considered as safe practices. In these practices, registered nurses can train those in the industrial placement with them. In addition, both states address safety as a system property. Precisely, both states perceive safety as one of the organizational culture than defines the nursing practice.

Advocacy Roles

Registered nurse, a licensed practical nurse/vocational nurse, and nursing assistant/assistant personnel have the mandate of advocating for the role of scientists. Precisely, these nurses ought to conduct extensive research to identify ways of enhancing the nursing practices in order to meet the demands of the extensively evolving world. For example, in the contemporary world where numerous technological innovations are being developed, these nurses have the role of advocating for technological inventions that influence the health sector, such as the use of electronic medical records.

In addition, these nurses have the role of advocating for detective measures of various communicable and non-communicable diseases that are affecting most individuals in the modern world. Moreover, these nurses have the mandate of advocating for a healing environment manager in order to ensure that patients receive a healing process in the most necessary way.

The aspect of advocating in various spheres such as scientific, detective and healing sensitizes me to be also vigilant in advocating the wellbeing of patients. Precisely, I will be conducting extensive research in order to identify more effective ways of ensuring that I do not only meet the expectations and needs of my patients, but also extend them.

Provisions of the Code of Ethics

There are numerous provisions that have been provided by the American Nurses Association concerning the code of ethics for nurses. Provision one entails the aspect of nurses to dedicate primary commitment to the patient, whether a group, individual, community, family or population. This provision sensitizes nurses to serve all categories of patients without discrimination and to the best of their knowledge. In addition, nurses are supposed to practice with compassion and respect for the inherent worth, dignity, and unique characteristics of every individual. This sensitizes nurses to consider the aspects of gender, religious beliefs, age, culture, and wishes of every patient while attending to them.

These two provisions sensitize me to treat and honor each individual patient based on his or her personal characteristics. In addition, I am ought to serve all patients equally, and to deliver the highest possible quality of service to them.

I remember one time I failed to attend to an elderly man who belittled me for my age. According to him, I was equivalent to the age his grandson, and I didn`t have the necessary skills to handle his case. He was later convinced that I am more than qualified since I was fresh from nursing school, but I failed to attend to him. I think the AMA ethical provisions would have charged be for discrimination.

Que. H

There are numerous leadership qualities that represent excellence in nursing. Some of these qualities are not limited to integrity, showing empathy, acting as a mentor, and learning to listen (Meliniotis, 2015). As a leader in the bedside, I need show empathy to the patients who have been hospitalized, encouraging them to have hope of living their normal live within the nearest time possible.

Within the nursing team, these leadership qualities will enable me to listen to the contribution of the other team members as well as mentoring them concerning ways of achieving the best in the nursing profession. Within the inter-disciplinary team, these leadership qualities will enable me to give the truth of the matter to those who have been presented to me, listen to their points of argument, as well as mentor them on ways of being maintaining ethics and patient safety.

The organizational structure impacts the leadership, decisions and development of nurses in several ways. For example, when the organizational structure is characterized by teamwork as its organizational culture, most nurses are deemed to develop personally and professionally through interacting with other diverse nurses. In addition, when the organizational structure considers nurses as valued asset of the organization, quality and patient satisfaction tends to be met.

References

California Board of Nursing, (2015). Nursing Practice Act. Retrieved from, http://www.rn.ca.gov/practice/npa.shtml

Canfield N. (2016). History of Modern Nursing: The Pioneers of Nursing. Retrieved from, https://owlcation.com/humanities/History-of-Modern-Nursing-The-Pioneers-of-Nursing

Hamilton M., & Swan J., (2014). Florida Nursing Laws and Rules. Accessed from, https://wildirismedicaleducation.com/courses/fl-nursing-laws-and-rules

Meliniotis C., (2015). Effective Nursing Leadership. Retrieved from, http://nursing.advanceweb.com/Features/Articles/Effective-Nursing-Leadership.aspx