Nursing students are often required to write nursing papers during their nursing coursework. This article shows you how to write a nursing paper about the nursing process. If you need any professional help, place your order. We will assign a qualified nursing paper writer to guide you.
Table of Contents
What is the nursing process?
The nursing process is a scientific method. It is a systematic approach to care using the fundamental principles of critical thinking, client-centered approaches to treatment, goal-oriented tasks, evidence-based practice (EDP) recommendations, and nursing intuition. The nursing process can also be referred to as a systematic, organized method of planning, and providing quality and individualized nursing care.
The nursing process was first used by Lydia Hall, a nursing theorist, in 1953. She first introduced it as a 3-step process. In 1958, Ida Jean Orlando improved/started the nursing process and described it as a four-stage process. However, with time it has evolved and now it is a six-stage process.
The nursing process functions as a systematic guide to client-centered care with six sequential steps. These steps include:
- Assessment.
- Diagnosis.
- Planning.
- Implementation.
- Evaluation.
- Outcome.
Characteristics of the Nursing Process.
1. The nursing process uses the GOSH approach.
Gosh is a mnemonic for:
G – Goal-oriented
O – Organized
S – Systematic
H – Humanistic care
The purpose of this approach is to ensure the efficient and effective provision of nursing care. In goal-oriented, the nurse makes their objective based on the client’s health needs. Most importantly, the humanistic care part of the GOSH approach ensures that plan to care is developed and implemented taking into consideration the unique needs of the individual client.
2. The nursing process is cyclic and dynamic in nature.
Information from each stage is used as input in the next stage. This becomes a sequence of events (cycle) that are constantly changing (dynamic).
3. It involves skill in decision making.
A nurse is required to make a decision involving patient care. This requires having decision-making skills.
4. It uses critical thinking skills.
If an unusual situation occurs, a nurse is required to make a decision using critical thinking.
Steps of the nursing process.
1. Assessment.
This is the first step of the nursing process. It involves critical thinking skills and data collection (subjective and objective). Critical thinking skills are essential to the assessment, thus the need for concept-based curriculum changes.
2. Diagnosis.
A nursing diagnosis is a clinical judgment about responses to actual or potential health problems on the part of the patient, family, or community.
The formulation of a nursing diagnosis by employing clinical judgment assists in the planning and implementation of patient care. A nursing diagnosis encompasses Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs. It helps to prioritize and plan care based on patient-centered outcomes
Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs:
- Basic physiological needs.
- Safety and security.
- Love and belonging.
- Self-esteem.
- Self-actualization.
3. Planning.
It is at this stage where goals and outcomes are formulated that directly impact patient care based on EDP guidelines. These patient-specific goals and the attainment of such assist in ensuring a positive outcome. Nursing care plans are essential in this phase of goal setting. Care plans provide a course of direction for personalized care tailored to an individual’s unique needs. Overall condition and comorbid conditions play a role in the construction of a care plan. Care plans enhance communication, documentation, reimbursement, and continuity of care across the healthcare continuum.
You should use the SMART approach when making goals. This approach requires goals to be:
- Specific.
- Measurable.
- Attainable.
- Realistic.
- Time-bound.
4. Implementation
Implementation involves action or doing and the actual carrying out of nursing interventions outlined in the plan of care. The nurse implements the nursing care plan and performs the determining interventions that were selected to help meet the goals that were established. This phase requires nursing interventions such as:
- Applying a cardiac monitor or oxygen.
- Direct or indirect care. medication administration.
- Standard treatment protocols and EDP standards.
5. Evaluation
This fifth step of the nursing process is vital to a positive patient outcome. Whenever a healthcare provider intervenes or implements care, they must reassess or evaluate to ensure the desired outcome has been met. However, reassessment may be needed depending upon the overall patient condition. The plan of care may adapt based on new assessment data.
Purpose of the Nursing Process.
- To establish a plan of care to meet identified needs.
- The nursing process helps to identify a client’s health status.
- To provide nursing interventions to meet those needs.
- To provide efficient and effective nursing care.
