Nursing care plans are written tools that outline nursing diagnoses, interventions, and goals. Care plans are especially useful for student nurses as they learn to utilize the nursing process. By creating a nursing care plan based on patient data, the nurse learns how to prioritize, plan goals and interventions, and evaluate outcomes related to specific … Read more
It is common to encounter ethical dilemmas in nursing practice. Fidelity is a moral principle integrally tied to nursing professional practice due to the importance of maintaining trust and integrity in the nursing profession. Nurses must be familiar with the ethical principles that guide the nursing profession. When ethical dilemmas arise, ethical principles established by … Read more
Medical-surgical nursing is often colloquially called “med-surg nursing.” Due to the breadth of settings and subspecialties covered under med-surg nursing, there is a common misconception that med-surg is not a nursing specialty. On the contrary, med-surg nursing is one of the largest nursing specialties.1 As the Academy of Medical-surgical nurses stated, “medical-surgical nursing is what … Read more
Although nursing documentation may at times seem overwhelming, it is a key part of nursing practice. Colloquially known as “charting,” nursing documentation provides a record of nursing care provided to a patient, family, or community. Charting and, more specifically, nursing notes, allow nurses to demonstrate that the care they provided was ethical, safe, and informed … Read more
The term “diagnosis” is defined as an agreed-upon clinical judgment. When we think of a diagnosis, it is often thought of as a medical diagnosis, such as hypertension. In its simplest form, a nursing diagnosis is determined by nurses based on their scope and clinical judgment to guide patient care. Nursing diagnoses encompass individuals, families, … Read more
While many acute care settings use electronic pumps to calculate IV flow rates, there are many scenarios in which nurses need to know how to calculate drip rates manually! For example, when working in rural or low-resource environments, electronic intravenous pumps may not be available. Even when electronic pumps are available, nurses should know how … Read more
Places on the body where it is possible to feel the arterial pulse are also commonly called pulse points. You can feel the pulse of the artery at some places on the body where the artery is close enough to the surface of the skin that you can feel the pulse of blood as the … Read more
Why is it important to know the difference between subjective and objective data in nursing? Both types of data are essential pieces of the clinical story, each with different strengths. However, it is important to differentiate the types of data not only for charting purposes, but also to communicate with others on the care team. … Read more
What first comes to mind when you think of a “nursing intervention?” For many, especially newer nurses, administering medication or evaluating vital signs may come to mind. However, nursing interventions encompass the holistic nature of the nursing profession. Defining what a nursing intervention is important to empower nurses to work at their full professional scope. … Read more