Reflections and Projections on Nursing

Abstract

The author looks at the environment within which nurses work and the services that are being delivered in the health care delivery system. These observations serve as the background for predictions about what nursing must do and become to honor its stewardship to the public. Today's environment is consumer driven, multicultural, and multigenerational. The consumer expects information and reserves the right to make decisions on his or her own behalf. It remains up to nursing to read the cues correctly and use the resources that the consumer brings to the nurse-patient relationship. Nurses have the innate skills to fill this role, turning dependency to self-care. Care in the new millennium is characterized by integrated systems, electronic and computer technology, specialization, and inter/transdisciplinary practice. The transition to more community-based services makes independent decision making essential.

Levels of autonomy of nurse practitioners in an acute care setting

“…The introduction of the NP role in primary care and then in acute care settings greatly improved professional autonomy in nursing practice (Brown & Draye, 2003). As the NP role continued to evolve, the autonomy to practice to the full extent of knowledge and skills coupled with complete accountability for decisions and actions was necessary in order to be regarded as important players in a reformed healthcare system (Institute of Medicine Quality Initiative, 1995; Joel, 2002; Pruitt, Wetsel, Smith, & Spitler, 2002).…”

Νοσηλευτικό Προσωπικό Στα Κέντρα Υγείας Της Κρήτης

“…Until today, the international community has not been able to reach consensus in regards to the minimum knowledge and skills required in the specialty field of community health nursing. This deficit presents a major obstacle in comparing professional practice across countries, as well as measuring the quality and effectiveness of primary health care nursing (Joel, 2002). As a result, continuing education needs of PHC professionals are quite elusive to assess and the use of a universally accepted measuring tool presents a challenge.…”