Core Nursing Objectives and Professional Competencies

Introduction: Synthesizing Knowledge in Nursing

By synthesizing knowledge from the natural and behavioral sciences, as well as the humanities, into nursing practice, a nurse can provide much more value when it comes to the proper level of care for all patients (Fitzpatrick & Kazer, 2011). In order for nurses to synthesize knowledge from all of these areas, nurses must first obtain this knowledge. One of the best ways to do that is through continuing education. Nurses who return to school to obtain bachelor's degrees and higher are helping themselves, but they are also helping their current and future patients (Judd, 2009).

It is generally never a bad thing to gain knowledge, and being good at nursing is more than just focusing on the physical aspects of patient care. There is also a significant mental aspect to the career. With that in mind, nurses must learn more than just nursing skills. Both natural and behavioral science skills are needed, along with a number of areas contained within the humanities (Judd, 2009). That is because nurses are moving toward a model of treating the whole patient, instead of just treating physical needs.

Patients can struggle with the emotional and mental aspects of an injury or illness, and nurses really cannot—and should not—ignore that. Nurses are compassionate and caring people, and they need to make sure they use those abilities to the fullest extent with all their patients. That is not easy to do at times, and some patients are very challenging, but it is still a vital skill that must be cultivated so that every patient gets the best care possible.

Leadership and Decision-Making in Clinical Practice

It is vital to apply leadership concepts, skills, and decision-making in the provision of high-quality nursing care in a variety of settings. This means the nurse has to pay close attention to everything that needs to be done, instead of simply trying to take orders all the time (D'Antonio, 2010). That is not to say that nurses should not do as they are told by their superiors, but only that they have to understand that they also have the opportunity to do more with the skills they have. In many ways, nurses are leaders. They have to make decisions for their patients, along with deciding what they are going to say to that patient and how they are going to react to what a patient may say and do.

If nurses cannot use proper decision-making skills, especially during stressful times, patients can end up with substandard and unacceptable levels of care (Longe, 2013). That is something that should always be avoided. Patients have the right to the best care possible, from any and every nurse they come into contact with during their hospital stay (Longe, 2013). If the nurse is meek and unable to be confident and take charge, the situation with the patient may not be handled as well as possible.

That is unfortunate for the patient and can also be harmful to the nurse, his or her peers, and others in the medical profession who are involved in the care of that particular patient. In short, nurses have to step up in any and every situation, and use the leadership and other skills they have learned in order to provide the highest quality of care (Fitzpatrick & Kazer, 2011).

Clinical Judgment and Evidence-Based Practice

There are a number of ways to demonstrate clinical judgment based on evidence-based practice for individuals, families, and groups. Nurses must do this to show that they have internalized what they have been taught, and then can use that teaching in a proper clinical setting (Judd, 2009). Clinical judgment can seem difficult and stressful at first, because it requires a nurse to take the information he or she has learned and apply it in a setting where actual patients are affected (Longe, 2013).

Despite the worries, though, nurses must learn how to do this correctly, so they can use their judgment to care for patients without the need to ask for help or guidance all the time. This judgment has to be extrapolated past the individual patient and to that patient's family and cultural group. Evidence-based practice is a big part of what nurses do, and how they learn to follow specific guidelines and procedures in order to make sure that patients are cared for properly (Fitzpatrick & Kazer, 2011).

The more a nurse learns, the better he or she will do when it comes to caring for patients, but only if the nurse is able to take the knowledge gained and apply it correctly. That can be difficult for some nurses and is an issue that has to be overcome. That is true not just from a single patient perspective but also from the perspective of groups and culture. Nurses must understand how to address various cultural issues, because those are the kinds of issues they will face more and more as society becomes more diverse (Judd, 2009).

Technology and Information Management

A nurse should always be able to demonstrate proficiency in information management and patient care technology in the delivery of quality health care. This can be done by using the latest systems and inputting information properly so as to make sure patients get the right care (Fitzpatrick & Kazer, 2011). Nurses have to learn all they can about technology and patient information management in the health care setting, because there are so many changes taking place in that technology each and every year.

While some of the systems used may be in place for a long time, they are still generally upgraded and changed frequently. Nurses must keep up to date with these changes, and that can require continuing education classes (Longe, 2013). These classes are important for a variety of reasons, but they provide the opportunity to make sure the current technology is correctly and efficiently used to the best of the ability of those who have access to it. Nurses who do not take the time to make sure they are using the technology to its fullest may end up not providing enough information about their patients. That can mean a lower quality of care for those patients, which can be avoided.

Nurses must be able to demonstrate knowledge of health care policy and regulations to assist individuals, families, and groups, and to identify and mobilize resources that can be used to meet health care needs. There are several ways to do this, including educating individual patients, coordinating extra care for families, and organizing community events that can provide help and insight into cultural concerns that groups may have (Fitzpatrick & Kazer, 2011).

Healthcare Policy and Regulatory Knowledge

These are all great ways for nurses to show that they have knowledge when it comes to regulations and policies, so they are better able to assist patients and others with concerns they have based on medical issues. The more a nurse knows about health care policy and regulations, the more he or she can protect himself or herself as well. There are many HIPAA regulations and other policies that have to be followed, and nurses who fail to do this can end up with both employment and legal issues. Fortunately, these can easily be avoided with proper knowledge and continuing education that addresses any changes (Fitzpatrick & Kazer, 2011).

Health Promotion and Disease Prevention

Because of that, the nurse must make it his or her business to work with consumers and other health care professionals, so that everyone the nurse has the opportunity to care for can get the best possible help. Collaboration helps because it provides the nurse with a number of new ideas, some of which he or she would not have thought of otherwise. Those ideas may be just the thing a particular patient needs or a cultural group can use in order to get better care and have a healthier life.

The integration of health promotion and disease prevention strategies is very important to nursing and helps improve the outcomes for individuals, families, and groups. Nurses should focus on these issues, especially in group settings where they have a real opportunity to make a difference in the lives of large numbers of people (Longe, 2013). Many nurses have the opportunity to teach classes to the public or to focus on continuing education. When they have those opportunities they should take them, because it allows them to help a lot of people all at once. However, that does not mean they should avoid treating one patient at a time. There are many patients in need of help when it comes to how to prevent disease or live healthier lifestyles (Longe, 2013).

These patients are often at a loss for where to get the information they need, or they may have false information they believe to be true. By teaching them the facts, they can be better prepared to make the right decisions on their health care. These can include things like eating healthier, losing weight, getting more exercise, and taking control of any diseases or conditions they may have (Judd, 2009). These things may not be easy, but they are much more likely to take place if they are backed up by good information from a nurse or other health care professional the patient feels he or she can trust (Judd, 2009). While trust does not always come easy, nurses who give good, factual information are better able to help their patients succeed at being healthier people overall.

Professional Ethics and Legal Responsibilities

Professional, ethical, and legal responsibilities matter during nursing practice, and a nurse can demonstrate these by always ensuring he or she is complying with HIPAA and other regulations (Fitzpatrick & Kazer, 2011). Nurses have codes of conduct and sets of standards to which they must adhere. These are not always easy to follow, and they can change and need to be updated from time to time. With that in mind, nurses must be diligent in keeping up with these responsibilities, so they remain within the law and focus on the value of professionalism and ethics when it comes to giving their patients the best care possible. Nurses may not always see how these issues tie together, but they are all part of the core of being a nurse. Medical professionals are held to a high standard and must be very careful about how they treat their patients.

Without that level of care and the requirements that are in place, nurses could provide incorrect information or give patient information out to people who are not authorized to receive it (Longe, 2013). That would compromise the patients' privacy and could put them at risk for everything from identity theft to difficulties getting insurance. Nurses must also treat patients with the utmost care and consideration, because many patients are very frightened in addition to being ill. Caring for them means treating them ethically, being professional, and making sure that legal matters are attended to properly, so the patient has a caring experience in which he or she can trust the health care professionals taking care of him or her.