Refusing treatment HCPOA disputes/living wills Mental illness and inability to sign own consents

This includes evidenced-based research, information technology, policies and procedures) Access data for client through online databases and journals Most hospitals have subscriptions to journals Professional organization journals have a plethora of information available, directly related to nursing Consistent review of these ensures staff if exposed to and using latest EBP to support their practice

Apply knowledge of facility regulations when accessing patient charts Ideal to do chart and enter orders in real time, however this is not always possible Important to document in real time or as close to real time as possible because … Continued

Each facility may have a different process Identify inappropriate and/or unclear treatments or medications A nurse must administer treatments unless they believe they are inappropriate or unclear If this occurs, you must contact the prescriber and discuss further, document appropriately, and follow hospital policies and procedures Ideal if ordering provider enters own order Know downtime […]

What is informed consent?  Basically the patient is giving permission for treatment and acknowledging that they understand the risks and benefits of the procedure as well as the consequences for not receiving the treatment. Wikipedia The patient must be an adult that is mentally and emotionally competent to sign their own consent Those that may […]

Two codes of ethics for nurses Last updated 2015 First developed in 1953 Last updated 2012 The American Nurses Association Code of Ethics The Code of Ethics for Nurses (International Council of Nurses) Remember, these codes are not laws Different state’s board of nursing can impose punishment for violating these codes

Basic definition of ethics: attempt to distinguish between right and wrong as it relates to knowledge as opposed to opinion This can get very challenging in medical situations, especially related to death, suffering, rights, and religion Examples of various kinds … Continued

While getting report, make sure to understand the overall goal(s) for each patient for that shift Examples Getting discharged today Remove feeding tube and start oral diet Get dialysis completed today Better pain control and adequate oral intake to discontinue … Continued

Prioritize the delivery of care ANA: Helping new nurses set priorities Nurse Eye Roll: For the Overwhelmed New Grad Nurse How to figure out prioritization ABC’s – if something is compromising their airway, breathing, or circulation then it is a … Continued

Issues arise frequently that require the nurse to address them and ensure the problem has been resolved Examples Lab problems: unable to get serum sample, sample obtained hemolyzed, came to draw lab and patient at another test Nutrition issues: patient received wrong food, need appropriate enteral feeding formula, food not received, diet order not in […]