Nursing staff work with patients from different cultural backgrounds. Consequently, one of the challenges facing nurses is the provision of care to culturally diverse patients. Hospitals and healthcare agencies must accommodate these needs by initiating diversity management and leadership practices" (Coe, 2011). Thus, in order to provide this crucial, soothing environment, nurses have a responsibility to engage in a fundamental education of cultural differences. Nurses need to be prepared and aware of the differences between cultures and how to relate to people from different cultures and what the expectations are. For example, so many cultures have very strict expectations about gender roles and what's appropriate and what isn't and while these thoughts might seem very old-fashioned or foreign to the modern nurse, violating these ideas will only make the patient uncomfortable.
Having such cultural competency requires active endeavors on my part, such as reading about different cultures, taking seminars in…...
mlaReferences
Coe, S. (2011). Cultural Competency in the Nursing Profession. Retrieved from Nursetogether.com: http://www.nursetogether.com/Career/Career-Article/itemid/1154.aspx
Hood, L. (2009). Leddy & Pepper's Conceptual Bases of Professional Nursing. Philadelphia: Lippincott, Williams, Wilkins.
Professional Nurse, My Evolutionary Journey
As my memory recalls the idea of becoming a nurse was with me when I was an 8-year-old and playing nursing in a makeshift hospital made of my toys. Nursing was being experienced at that time with caring of squirming kittens in my nursery, sleeping dolls in surgery room of my toy hospital. After lapse of a long period since then it is still a wonder that the patients completely unknown never feel reluctant to expose a personal corner of their lives and share with us their deepest threats. At their worst as well as at their best they trust us to be caring, confidential and skilled. Nursing profession is really a unique one and the nursing education is not just a viewer sports where the student listens, observes and understands rather they are required to really live what he or she learns by means…...
mlaREFERENCES
"Consensus Statement on Emerging Nursing Knowledge: A Value-Based Position Paper
Linking Nursing Knowledge and Practice Outcomes" (October, 1999) USA Nursing Knowledge Consensus Conference, Boston, Massachusetts. Retrieved from Accessed 26 October, 2005http://www.bc.edu/bc_org/avp/son/theorist/consensus2.html
'Compassionate Care Nursing with meaning: Incorporating Holism into Nursing Practice"
(November-December, 2003) Chart. Retrieved from / Accessed 25 October, 2005http://www.findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_qa3932/is_200311/ai_n9325377
org/about/mission.htm)."
The benefits to joining this and other professional nursing associations around the nation include having a strong voice and a fellowship with others who spend their careers helping patients and families during times of need.
There are several ways that affiliating with a professional nursing association can provide this including:
Federal lobbying on issues important to nursing and health care.
State lobbying through our State Nurses Associations and nationwide state legislative agenda on issues vital to your scope of practice.
epresenting nursing where it matters, including the Environmental Protection Agency, Department of Labor, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and many others, right up to the White House.
Speaking for nursing through the media including stories in the Wall Street Journal, Chicago Tribune, USA Today, 60 Minutes, NBC Nightly News, CNN, and NP to name a few (Your guide to the benefits of membership... (http://nursingworld.org/member2.htm)."
Throughout the nation there are approximately 61 professional nursing…...
mlaReferences
ANA's Statement of Purpose (accessed 3-20-07)
The work of Fink, Krugman, Casey and Goode (2008) entitled: "The Graduate Nurse Experience: Qualitative Residency Program Outcomes" reports a study which evaluated responses to the Casey-Fink Graduate Nurse Experience Survey which was administered to graduate nursing students at the University HelathSystem Consortium/American Association of Colleges of Nursing and states findings that graduate nurses "...experience role conflict and stress as they begin practice in work environments of high complexity, nurse shortages, and expectations to become competent rapidly." (Fink, Krugman, Casey, and Goode, 2008) the work of Spencer (2008) entitled: "Increasing RN-NS Enrollments: Facilitating Articulation through Curriculum Reform' states that increasing enrollments in nursing programs is one method to deal with the shortage of nurses. However, the majority of these new graduates will be educated at the associate degree in nursing level. The need to increase the number of nurses educated at the baccalaureate level is significant. Research has shown…...
mlaBibliography (Fink R, Krugman M, Casey K, Goode C. 2008)the graduate nurse experience: qualitative residency program outcomes. J Nurs Adm. 2008 Jul-Aug;38(7-8):341-8.
Int J. Nurs Educ Scholarsh. 2008;5:Article32. Epub 2008 Aug 22.
Lee JM.(2008) Articulation of undergraduate and graduate education in public health. Public Health Rep. 2008;123 Suppl 2:12-7.
Public Health Rep. 2008;123 Suppl 2:12-7.
Schuldt HAArd U, Ohlen J, Gustavsson PJ. (2008) Generic and professional outcomes of a general nursing education program -- a national study of higher education. Int J. Nurs Educ Scholarsh. 2008;5:Article32. Epub 2008 Aug 22.
They represent nurses in New Jersey and are a federation member of the American Nurses Association, and are organized for individual professional nurse members through its regions to participate in activities for the advancement of nurses and nursing and to promote the profession as an essential, independent and distinct social service. Their stakeholders are all the member nurses in New Jersey.
The American Association of Nurse Anesthetists (AANA) is an organization made up of certified egistered Nurse Anesthetists, who are advanced practice nurses who specialize in anesthesia care. AANA is the professional association representing more than 30,000 Certified egistered Nurse Anesthetists (CNAs) nationwide and was founded in 1931. Their Mission Statement is as follows: Advancing patient safety and excellence in anesthesia. (March 2004) Their goals and objectives are integrity, professionalism, advocacy and quality. Their motto is "Supporting our members ~ Protecting our patients, with the goal of becoming recognized leaders in…...
mlaReferences
American Association of Nurse Anesthetics. Retrieved October 3, 2006 at http://www.aana.com/Default.aspx
American Nurses Association. Retrieved October 3, 2006 at http://www.nursingworld.org/about/
New Jersey State Nurses Association. Retrieved October 3, 2006 at http://njsna.org .
Professional Nursing
It is necessary and important for any professional to understand the differences and applications of theory, practice and research. Within the nursing profession these concepts are highly regarded and the AACN has identified this process of distinguishing between as Essential #3. The purpose of this essay is to explain and indentify practice discrepancies that may adversely affect patient outcomes. This essay will suggest that leadership and purpose are necessary in order to truly understand the synthesis of these concepts.
Theories are simply theories and not laws and it is possible to accept theories as infallible. This is not ideal for the nursing profession. Theories are used to guide and model behavior and not replace it. Such ideas as the theory of gravity or the nuclear theory of the atom are often accepted as true fact but in reality there are many problems with those theories that prevent them from…...
mlaReferences
Hall, L.M., Doran, D., & Pink, G.H. (2004). Nurse staffing models, nursing hours, and patient safety outcomes. Journal of Nursing Administration, 34(1), 41-45.
TITLER, M.G., Kleiber, C., STEELMAN, V., GOODE, C., Rakel, B., BARRY-WALKER, J.E.A.N., ... & BUCKWALTER, K. (1994). Infusing research into practice to promote quality care. Nursing Research, 43(5), 307-313.
Ethics
Nursing Ethics
Professional Nursing Ethics
It is not a good idea, but it is possible to become a nurse today without knowing what the Nightingale Pledge is and more important, what it represents. The reason it is not a good idea is simple; nursing is a field that carries with it a great social, moral and ethical responsibility. This accountability is now guided by the Code of Ethics with Interpretive Statements; however, the original blueprint was the Nightingale Pledge. We could consider that original pledge as nursing's equivalent to the physicians' Hippocratic Oath. In other words, the modern version of the Nightingale Pledge, the Code of Ethics with Interpretive Statements, is a thorough guide that helps both new and old nurse's alike carry out their responsibilities in a way that also meets all ethical duties required by the profession. The Nightingale Pledge has evolved for more than a century and over that…...
mlaAn area where being a nurse can become difficult in regard to ethics is in the area of personal values vs. professional ethics. Nurses must maintain their competence even if they do not live by the same values of their patients. A client's race, sex, or religion, for example, must not interfere with the understood obligations of the nursing community. Everyone should be treated equally. What comes to mind about this ethical obligation is the poor judgment that was shown by some healthcare workers throughout the nation immediately following September 11, 2001. This date is famous for the terrorist attacks that were perpetrated on the nation by individuals of the Muslim faith and of Middle Eastern decent.
For several weeks after that tragic day, however, many Muslim and Middle Eastern families, and anyone who looked like they could be of Middle Eastern decent, became the victims of blatant profiling and racism. What was worst about this news is that in some of these cases of obvious hate crimes, the racism was performed by hospital emergency room staffs because they refused to treat potential terrorists (as they were considered). When performing nursing duties, nurses must have a blind eye to the differences of the client's life values. A homosexual male should not be treated poorly because of his sexual orientation. A black woman who has been raped must not be judged to be immoral anymore than a white woman. Nurses must exercise sound ethical judgment and accept the responsibilities of the profession.
Nurses provide services that include respect for human dignity and they should not change their responsibility to the patient because of some social or economic status, personal attributes, or the nature of the medical condition. This scenario of personal values and professional ethics then can also be tested when it comes to working in an extremely hazardous environment. Nurses are exposed to communicable diseases on a daily basis and there are often patients who are violent or show other ideals of noncompliance. "It was an opportunity to learn about the challenges nurses encounter in their everyday practice -- health and social inequalities, HIV / AIDS, TB, poverty and compromised
Professional Nursing Associations: ationale
A professional association refers to "an organization of practitioners who judge one another as professionally competent and who have banded together to perform social functions which they cannot perform in their separate capacities as individuals" (Merton, as cited in Matthews, 2012). Nursing has, over time, developed to professional status and is at present characterized by numerous national professional associations. Whether or not these associations add value to their professions and whether or not there is need to have so many of them have been subjects of debate in recent years. This context gives an in-depth demonstration of the rationale behind professional nursing associations, and illustrates why there is need to have them in greater numbers.
The ationale behind Professional Nursing Associations
Nursing is built upon the concept of advocacy; nurses not only advocate for their profession, but for their patients as well (Gregg-McQuilkin, 2005). Professional associations, motivated by ethical…...
mlaReferences
Day, L. (2006). Advocacy, Agency and Collaboration. American Journal of Critical Care, 15(4), 428-430.
Gregg-McQuilkin, D. (2005). Why Join a Professional Nursing Organization? Nursing 2014, 35(8), p.9.
Mason, D.J., Leavitt, J.K. & Chafee, M.W. (2013). Policy and Politics in Nursing and Healthcare -- Revised Reprint. St. Louis, Missouri: Elsevier Health Sciences.
Matthews, J.H. (2012). Role of Professional Organizations in Advocating for the Nursing Profession. The Online Journal of Issues in Nursing, 17(1), p. 3.
Professional Nursing Organization Comparison
Choose two professional organizations. These can be organizations you are a member of or that are known in the nursing profession.
Create a table comparing the two organizations.
American Nurses Association
When Established
The organization has roughly 490 chapters throughout 85 countries.
American Nurses Association was established in 1896 as the Nurses Associated Alumnae and was renamed the American Nurses Association in 1911.
Support of Nursing Leadership
STTI provides opportunities for nurses to participate in leadership programs and mentoring opportunities, and take advantage of career development resources.
The ANA provide programs and offerings for nurses, nursing leaders, and all stages of the nursing career trajectory.
Leadership Opportunities
Members can ask career-related questions and get responses from STTI volunteer Career Advisors.
More than 900 nurse researchers, students, clinicians and leaders attend the International Nursing esearch Congress to learn from evidence-based research presentations. The theme of the 26th International Nursing esearch Congress held this year (2015) is: Question Locally, Engage…...
mlaReferences
American Nurses Foundation. Retrieved from http://www.anfonline.org
American Nursing Association. Retrieved from http://nursingworld.org
Sigma Theta Tau International School of Nursing. Retrieved from http://www.nursingsociety.org/Pages/default.aspx
Integration Evidence-Based Practice Professional Nursing Practice
The concept of evidence-based practice -- EBP is becoming growingly significant in the sphere of nursing. (Stiffler; Cullen, 2010) Evidence-based practice is not entirely a novel concept; it is the manner in which nurses cater to the norms of care and practice efficiently. (Nysna, 2006) According to Linda Burnes Bolton, DrPH, N, FAAN, vice president and chief nursing officer in the Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles, evidence-based practice -- EBP in reality it is only an alternative mode of viewing the conventional theme of the nurses maintaining their sanctified reliability with society. (Wessling, 2008) David Sackett, MD, a Canadian physician, is regarded the father of evidence-based practice. According to Sackett, "evidence-based practice is the conscientious, explicit and judicious use of current best evidence in making decisions about the care of individual patients. . .[by] integrating individual clinical expertise with the best available external clinical…...
mlaReferences
Adams, Susan; McCarthy, Ann Marie. (2005) "Evidence-Based Practice and School
Nursing" The Journal of School Nursing, vol. 21 no. 5, pp: 258-265.
Ciliska, Donna. (2006) "8. Evidence-based nursing: how far have we come? What's next?"
Evid-Based Nurs, vol. 9, no. 2, pp: 38-40.
Vital Role of Professional Nursing Organizations in Canada and British Columbia
According to the society of Registered Nurses Association of British Columbia (RNABC), which will be renamed College of Registered Nurses of British Columbia (CRNBC), effective after May 2005, (Seale, 2005) the primary purpose of having professional nursing regulatory bodies and nursing associations for nurse practitioners in Canada and British Columbia are to ensure that all nurses have the basic competencies required of nurse practitioners expected by the public. Although nursing as a profession is regulated in virtually all estern, industrialized nations in some shape or form, in Canada and British Columbia, registrant participation through chapters has long been a particular cornerstone of the governance processes of the profession of nursing and expanded the profession's ability to evolve and serve the changing physical and mental needs of the public. (Nursing BC, 2004)
Nursing Organizations -- Establishing Professional Standards, Contributing to Professional Enrichment
Professional…...
mlaWorks Cited
C.N.A. (2004) Official Website. Retrieved 24 May 2005 at http://www.cna-nurses.ca/CNA/practice/advanced/initiative/default_e.aspx
CNPI. (15 Apr 2005) "Nurse Practitioner Role to Strengthen Canada's
Primary Health-Care System" Retrieved 24 May 2005 at http://www.cnpi.ca/documents/pdf/CNPI_news_conference_April_15_e.pdf
CNPI. (2005) Official Website of Canadian Nursing Practioners. Retrieved 24 May 2005 at http://www.alden-bugden.ca/cnp/modules/news/
oles of Professional Nursing Associations
Conduct a web search of at least two professional nurses' associations and describe how each organization defines its respective role at local, state, and national levels.
Identify the organization and its website. What are some examples on the website demonstrating that the organization addresses policy and politics?
The website for the American Nurses Association (ANA) can be found at www.nursingworld.org, and by reviewing the wealth of content provided by the ANA through this interactive forum it is evident that the organization actively addresses both public policy and political issues. Through the auspices of its American Nurses Association Political Action Committee, or ANA-PAC, the ANA seeks "to promote the improvement of the healthcare system in the United States by raising funds from & #8230; members and contributing to support worthy candidates for federal office who have demonstrated their belief in the legislative and regulatory agenda of the American Nurses…...
mlaReferences
American Nurses Association (2010). Position statement: Registered nurses' roles and responsibilities in providing expert care and counseling at the end of life. Silver Spring,
MD. Retrieved from
The decade-old system that specifies least standards for staffing in nursing homes need to be restructured, the report says. The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services must call for nursing homes to have at least one N within the facility during all times. Based on the departments' 2001 report to Congress on minimum staff-to-patient ratios for nursing homes, the HHS should mention the staffing levels that increased with the number of patients. Central and state report cards on nursing homes should give information on levels of nursing staff, and measuring of staffing levels should be developed for hospital report cards. The healthcare facilities should avoid using nurses from temporary agencies to fill the vacancy. (Substantial Changes equired in Nurses Work Environment to Protect Patients from Health Care Errors)
Working for long hours on the part of the nurse's makes them fatigue since it decreases their energy and reduces their…...
mlaReferences
ANA Commends IOM Report Outlining Critical Role of Nursing Work Environment in Patient Safety" (November 5, 2003) Retrieved at Accessed on 11 February 2005http://www.nursingworld.org/pressrel/2003/pr1105.htm .
Hallmarks of the Professional Nursing Practice Environment" (January, 2002) AACN White Paper. Retrieved at Accessed on 11 February 2005http://www.aacn.nche.edu/Publications/positions/hallmarks.htm .
Statement of the American Nurses Association for the Institute of Medicine's Committee on Work Environment for Nurses and Patient Safety" (September 24, 2002) Retrieved at Accessed on 11 February 2005http://www.nursingworld.org/pressrel/2002/iom924.htm .
Substantial Changes Required in Nurses Work Environment
Professional Association
Professional Organization for Nursing
In the past, a number of individuals inside every society started delivering care and nutrition for all those who had been struggling to look after themselves. Because these people became 'care specialists,' they started to express to other individuals the procedures that helped them and also to train other individuals as apprentices who would probably at some point continue their function. The advancement of contemporary nursing starting from some sort of vocation, towards the profession and discipline of nursing, started during the later part of the 1800s when Florence Nightingale stated her perspectives on the way nurses ought to be taught and schooled and just how patient care ought to be offered (Hegge, 2011).
The very first schooling institution for nurses within the U.S. established during 1873. Two decades afterwards nursing school managers sensed the moment had arrived to interact as well as discuss their best practices…...
mlaReferences
American Nurses Association. (2010). Nursing: Scope and standards of practice, (2nd ed.). Silver Spring, MD: Nursesbooks.org.
American Nurses Association. (2009). Historical review of nursing and the ANA. Retrieved from www.nursingworld.org/FunctionalMenuCategories/AboutANA/History.
Bureau of Health Professions. (2011). The registered nurse population: Findings from the 2008 National Sample Survey of Registered Nurses. Retrieved from http://bhpr.hrsa.gov/healthworkforce/rnsurvey2008.html.
Fowler, M. D .M. (Ed). (2008). Guide to the code of ethics for nurses: Interpretation and application. Silver Spring, MD: Nursesbooks.org.
The Shared Governance arrangement:
offers an apparatus for registered nurses to show guidance in the development of practice decisions authorizes all nursing staff to add to work redesign advances the quality of patient and family outcomes.
In the shared governance arrangement, the staff nurses are a big piece of the course, designated and chosen from their units to stand for an area of practice on one of many councils. it's all about shared choice making and authorizing staff nurses to affect their practice atmosphere and have a say in unit choices (Shared Governance at Henry Ford Hospital, 2011).
A new nursing deficiency is revitalizing shared governance. This pioneering organizational model gives staff nurses power over their practice and can expand their affect into administrative areas formerly controlled solely by managers. But nursing shared governance is tough to describe. Its configurations and procedures are dissimilar in every business. Shared governance, is an organizational…...
mlaReferences
Drenkard, Karen. (2010). Going for the gold: The value of attaining Magnet recognition.
Retrieved February 18, 2011, from Web site:
http://www.americannursetoday.com/article.aspx?id=6378&fid=6276
Estlund, Sarah. (2010). List of Nursing Labor Unions. Retrieved February 17, 2011, from Web
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