Category: Nursing

Most of us know that what we consume tremendously impacts our health, productivity, and happiness. High blood pressure, acne, weariness, night blindness, stress, anxiety, and osteoporosis are some nutritional deficiency diseases resulting from low-quality food and insufficient nutrition. Common Nutritional Deficiencies for Nursing Students:

Diet is generally one of the first areas to examine if a patient’s physical,
mental health
, or emotional health exercises are not providing a desirable outcome. Some of the epidemics in modern society are nutritional deficiency diseases. Many people who strive to adapt to healthy choices opt for the convenience of processed and refined foods. Let’s dive into details by discussing what a nutritional deficiency is, the most prevalent dietary disorders, and different nutritional deficiency diseases.

Definition of a nutritional deficiency

What are the repercussions of not maintaining a healthy diet? It refers to the consequences of not providing your body with enough of any one of the nutrients it needs to function properly. This reckless lifestyle leads to malnutrition. The term “nutritional deficiency” refers to a state in which the body does not receive enough of one or more basic nutrients.

A well-balanced and healthy diet is important for optimal health. A variety of nutrients are essential for cellular health and normal bodily function. Nutritional deficiency occurs when the body does not get enough of a nutrient from the diet or does not absorb any nutrient. An illness can develop from a chronic lack of any vitamins. A lack of proper nutrition can lead to several different health issues.

What are the different forms of nutritional deficiencies?

Here are the three main types of nutritional deficiency that you need to understand as a nursing student:

1.      Vitamin deficiency

Vitamin D deficiency, a lack of vitamin B12, and a lack of folate are the three most common forms of vitamin deficiency. Vitamin B is essential in converting food into energy which is crucial for maintaining bodily processes. Adopting a nutritious diet is the best way to combat their deficit.

2.      Mineral deficiency

Iodine, iron, calcium, zinc, and magnesium deficiencies are all examples of mineral deficiencies. Lack of minerals can lead to fatigue, weakening of the bones and muscles, anaemia, bone density loss, and lack of appetite. It all depends on how much of that mineral is missing.

3.      Protein deficiency

There is a strong correlation between low protein intake and low-calorie consumption. Proteins help with various things, including immunity, wound healing, blood sugar regulation, and muscular growth. The body will begin to rely on protein as a source of energy if there is a calorie deficit in the diet. They can do their jobs well if they get enough to eat.

Protein deficiency causes a variety of symptoms in the body, including weakness in the muscles, hair loss, and a slowed healing rate for wounds. Avoiding nutritional deficiency disorders is typically as simple as eating a balanced diet rich in various nutritious foods.

What are the 3 most common nutrient deficiencies?

1.     
Vitamin D

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention state that vitamin D is essential for bone health and may aid in the prevention of diseases such as cancer and Type 2 diabetes (CDC). Research suggests it may also increase stamina and performance. Sunlight is a key factor in the body’s natural production of vitamin D; thus, those who reside in areas with insufficient solar radiation may be at increased risk for nutritional deficiency diseases.

2.     
Calcium

According to the
National Institutes
of Health, calcium is a mineral in greater quantities than any other mineral. It plays an important role in vascular contraction, muscular function, neuronal transmission, hormone secretion, and many other fundamental processes. The majority of the calcium in your body is found in your skeleton and teeth.

Most adults between the ages of 19 and 70 require between 1,000 and 1,200 mg of calcium daily, as stated by the National Institutes of Health. Milk, yoghurt, cheese, and green leafy vegetables like Chinese cabbage, kale, and broccoli are all good sources of the nutrients you need.

The loss of calcium from the body can lead to osteoporosis, a condition characterized by the fragility of bones. Calcium carbonate tablets may assist postmenopausal women in preventing this disease and restoring calcium levels.

3.     
Iron

Haemoglobin is a component of red blood cells that requires iron to be synthesized. According to the Centres for Disease Control and Prevention, an estimated 10% of U.S. women suffer from iron deficiency. According to the National Institutes of Health, people with low iron might develop iron-deficiency anaemia, resulting in symptoms like exhaustion, shortness of breath, and chest pain.

A lack of iron in the body is a common consequence of living in a toxic environment, such as a region with lead-tainted water. It may also run in families or be related to what you eat. There is also a higher risk for women who have particularly heavy periods.

What are some examples of nutritional deficiencies?

Due to a lack of enough vitamins and minerals, your body will have to function at its most fundamental level as it suffers from a common nutritional deficiency. The food we eat provides the nutrients necessary for the development and upkeep of these incredible devices. As soon as a nutrient is lacking in the diet, the body begins to show signs of distress
.

Below is a list of nutritional deficiencies that you might suffer from due to a lack of nutrients:

·         Essential fatty acids

Omega-3 fatty acids are crucial for a variety of bodily functions, and there are three main ones: alpha-linolenic acid, eicosapentaenoic acid, and docosahexaenoic acid. Small amounts of ALA can be transformed into the other two. You must make preparations to obtain these through diet or dietary supplements.

Building fragile membranes that perform vital tasks all over the body requires omega-3s. DHA is essential for many body parts; the brain, retina, and sperm are just a few examples. The optimal functioning of the cardiovascular, respiratory, circulatory, endocrine, and immunological systems is made possible by these nutrients.

Omega-3 fatty acid requirements vary by age and gender; thus, only a trained nutritionist can determine the optimal dosage and delivery method. Seafood, nuts, seeds, plant oils, and fortified meals are all ideal sources of Omega-3.

·         Folic acid

Folic acid, a vitamin B, is essential to properly functioning red blood cells. Pregnant women need this vitamin. Folic acid deficiency increases the risk of birth abnormalities like spina bifida in pregnant women.

It is common for those who do not consume fresh vegetables or overcook their vegetables to be deficient in folic acid. Risk factors for this insufficiency include chronic alcohol intake and the use of certain medications and substances. Products such as vegetables, fruits, sunflower seeds, and liver all excellent recommendations for your patients looking to increase their folic acid intake.

·         Magnesium

Several different metabolic processes rely on magnesium, making it an essential nutrient. Magnesium is an essential mineral, yet few people understand its role or know where it originates.

Magnesium plays a crucial role in how our muscles and nerves work. Magnesium deficiency can cause various symptoms, including cramping, tingling, elevated blood pressure, and irregular heartbeats. Cashews, pumpkin seeds, oats, spinach, peanuts, chia seeds, almonds, and soymilk are all excellent choices for attaining the recommended daily allowance of magnesium.

What are 5 nutritional diseases?

The medical staff at Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia is trained to help kids who are dealing with gastrointestinal (GI) problems due to nutritional issues. Find out more about nutritional problems:

Malabsorption of Carbohydrates

Amino acid metabolism problems

Diseases Associated with Fat Absorption

Diseases Linked to Improper Metal Absorption

Proteolysis Disorders

Causes of nutritional deficiency

Insufficient intake, inadequate absorption, and an increased requirement for a nutrient that is not satisfied are the fundamental reasons for nutritional insufficiency.

Inadequate intake of vitamins and minerals

Lack of essential nutrients, including B vitamins, C, zinc, and iron, can occur when one adheres to a restrictive or fad diet. Food processing can leech out vitamins and minerals, so an unhealthy or imbalanced diet, or eating too much processed and junk food, can leave you deficient in these nutrients.

The risk of protein insufficiency increases with vegetarian or vegan diets

Dairy products are an excellent source of calcium and protein; thus, vegetarians and vegans who abstain from these foods may be at risk for nutritional deficiencies.

Vitamin deficiencies and eating overcooked food

Overcooking food regularly can also destroy vitamins. Vitamins in food are destroyed when it is overcooked.

High demand for nutrients periods

Sometimes your body demands more nutrients than usual; protein, iron, and folic acid are very important during pregnancy. A shortage of certain nutrients in the diet leads to nutritional insufficiency.

Substitute medications and drugs that cause deficiencies

A few prescription drugs can prevent the body from absorbing essential nutrients, including vitamins. Vitamin absorption may be impaired by anticonvulsant medication. Several medications for treating type 2 diabetes and gastrointestinal conditions, such as antacids, may prevent the body from absorbing B-12.

What is the necessary nutritional deficiency treatment?

Different types and levels of nutritional deficiencies require different treatment approaches. Once the proper diet is adopted, or the deficient vitamin is replaced, the symptoms of nutritional deficiencies typically disappear. People suffering from anaemia, for example, would benefit from consuming more meat, eggs, poultry, green vegetables, and iron-rich grains to correct their nutritional deficiencies and alleviate their symptoms.

A visit to a Dietician and a series of follow-up appointments can be unexpectedly beneficial if the level of the deficiency is severe. According to dietary standards, it is best to acquire the majority of your nutrients from food, but there may be times when you need to take a supplement. For example, calcium and vitamin D are often combined as supplements because they enhance each other’s absorption.

It will be necessary to adjust the supplement schedule and dosage based on the degree of insufficiency. Your doctor or nutritionist is in charge of making this call. Parenteral feed, or feeding into the veins and muscles, may be required when a nutritional deficiency is particularly severe and does not respond to oral drugs or vitamins. It is often performed in a medical facility.

Process of nutritional deficiency test

Normal testing can confirm or disprove your suspicions that your patient has one of these common dietary deficits. A blood test that can pinpoint exactly which nutrients and vitamins your patient is deficient in will greatly help. It can provide targeted intervention for reversing malnutrition by establishing a new norm.

Many key areas for health enhancement are revealed using BioScan technology. In as little as 10 minutes, you’ll have all the information you need to help put your patients on the road to health and wellness.

Closing remarks

From the information provided in this article, only a select few foods, such as fatty fish, mushrooms, egg yolks, and liver, naturally contain vitamin D. Vitamin D is added to many American dairy and plant milk products. Sunlight is a major vitamin D source, but sunscreen might reduce your body’s ability to absorb it. Vitamin D supplements are sometimes recommended for people with severe nutritional deficiencies.

Our professionals are always available to help you understand more about the nutritional deficiency you might be suffering from. At
onlinenursingpapers.com
, we can help you understand the various steps to take when treating nutritional deficiency diseases. We are considered the home of professional nurses.

Clinical nursing education helps students achieve professional nursing qualities and prepare them for the future workforce. Professionalism is the most aimed practice in nursing education. Nursing education aims to raise students’ awareness of nursing; this process involves complementary and integrated areas.

This article will help you understand clinical nursing education by providing step-by-step guidelines. You will also learn about the challenges related to clinical education and why clinical nursing education is essential in society and to you as a nursing student. This article also discusses the challenges that nursing instructors experience in clinical education.

What is clinical nursing education?

Clinical nursing education is basically the knowledge and skills taught to students to improve their clinical nursing practices. Due to the growth of technology, nursing is continuously developing and changing, with clinical nursing education following the steps. Nursing education must follow and keep up with the current trends in nursing.

As a clinical nursing student, you must ensure that you are aware of every change in the nursing field. Many clinical nursing universities emphasize educating nursing students about the current ways of treating and caring for patients. Through extensive study, you will be able to get into the profession that is developed to meet the challenges of clinical nursing education of the modern-day.

Clinical nursing education is one of nursing students’ most important educational experiences. This is a permanent part of the educational process in all the stages of clinical nursing education. Clinical education helps you to have a chance to learn more about physical conditions.

The roles of clinical nursing education

Clinical nursing education offers higher education programs such as bachelor’s and master’s degrees and specialized training programs for practicing nursing students. Clinical nursing education also focuses on the values and attitudes a
nursing profession
should practice to improve patient care and the hospital performance

The goals of nursing education clinical are to guide the next generation of nurses on the new healthcare trends. For this reason, all clinical nursing educators must fully understand the latest trends affecting healthcare delivery. As an aspiring clinical nursing educator, you must have in-depth knowledge and good leadership skills to teach in nursing institutions and hospitals.

Many clinical nursing institutions offer various nursing programs to students. The following are the major clinical nursing education programs that clinical
nursing schools
focus on; they include:

Advanced pharmacology

Assessment and evaluation of strategies

Curriculum design in nursing

Advanced pathophysiology

Nursing practicum

Advanced physical examination and many more

Innovation in clinical nursing education

In the United States, health care is undergoing a thorough transformation motivated by affordable care and increased focus on prevention, community health and cost control, among others. Despite these changes, many clinical nursing education programs focus on hospital-based nursing care.

Innovations in clinical nursing education help broaden clinical nursing education, the 21st-century proficiency that aspiring and professional nurses require today and in the future to provide quality patient care. Many barriers affect the innovation of clinical nursing education.

Factors hindering the clinical nursing education programs

Clinical nursing practices in the 21
st
century involve various challenges, such as the rise in elderly patients, increased healthcare expenses, increased number of critically ill patients, and many more.

Below are some barriers to clinical nursing education; and they include:

Setting education in a nursing practice environment

Clinical nursing education curriculum enhancement

Lack of sharing nursing ideas and inter-professional practices among clinical nursing educators

Lack of clinical nursing faculty

Lack of adequate capacity in clinical nursing schools

Ethical issues in clinical nursing education

When providing treatment for several patients, as a nurse, you will face ethical challenges that can come in any way. In many cases, these issues come from a patient’s discomfort with the kind of treatment being administered, refusal of treatment due to cultural beliefs and the patient’s decision on their health status. Despite these issues, nurses must provide quality care and adhere to the formal code of nursing ethics.

The American Nurses Association established the formal nursing ethic code to set nursing goals and values and provide guidelines for best practices in clinical nursing education. The standard nursing code is regularly updated to reflect the challenges of clinical nursing education. These values are legal issues in clinical nursing education that nurses should consider when identifying responsibilities surrounding patient care and treatment.

In clinical nursing education, teaching ethics in nursing is essential. It enables nursing students to improve patient care during the nursing practice. Nursing is a hasty job with daily challenges; all nurses nationwide deal with these similar clinical nursing ethical issues. These issues are mainly fixed by protecting the patients’ treatment rights, advanced decision-making, and providing quality patient care.

Clinical nursing education models

Models for clinical education are mainly used to learn about the patient’s health status and observation and discuss treatment and care, among others. The models for clinical education include case method, nursing records, recording of the nursing process and the bedside clinic. These methods help to teach clinical nursing to improve clinical skills.

With these models of clinical nursing education, you will improve your nursing performance in the care and treatment of patients. If you are a nursing student, your instructor will provide these models to help you improve your clinical nursing practice. In the clinical nursing education method, the student manages patients in an environment that boosts learning.

Uses of clinical nursing models

The provision of nursing care has extremely changed in the two decades. In the past, clinical hospitals functioned in a disorganized system that increased nurses’ stress and job and patient dissatisfaction. Many nurses left the bedside due to challenges in providing quality care, such as; lack of enough medical supplies and lack of participation in creating a unique care plan.

The nursing discipline is continually building its knowledge base, professional framework and clinical nursing model to guide hospital clinical nursing practice. Clinical nursing practice models as a combination of nursing professional behaviours and
leadership
are a basis for setting a common goal and prioritizing patient care and treatment for all nursing teams.

Roles of clinical nursing education

Nursing professors or instructors play a significant role in clinical nursing education. Nursing instructors must have a positive toward teaching nursing skills. Clinical nursing education is critical and should be introduced in every community to improve people’s health, educate aspiring nurses, treat different illnesses and create awareness of good health.

The following are the benefits of clinical nursing education. They include:

It provides nurses with knowledge about the patients

It helps improve treatment

It enables nursing students to learn about patients and their condition practically in the presence of the patient

It helps the nurses to develop and improve their problem-solving skills

It helps nursing students gain knowledge and learn more about different hospital settings

Allows access to medical management data

It helps students learn how to create nurse-patient relationship

It provides nursing students with the knowledge and enables them to understand different concepts of patient care

Helps nursing students to improve their interpersonal and communication skills

What are the steps for problem-based learning

Problem-based learning in clinical nursing education is a method of learning where nursing students are at the centre, and on the other side, the professor or instructor is the guide. In problem-solving learning in clinical nursing, students are responsible for their learning process and have a particular point of control over the choice of what they want to study. Problem-based learning is mainly effective when done as a group. This helps nursing students come up with ideas to solve a particular issue.

Each group is assigned several roles to work on to support problem-based learning in clinical nursing education. The instructor ensures thorough supervision to avoid mistakes, especially during clinical nursing practice. In this article, we listed steps to approach problem-based learning in clinical nursing education; they include:

Clarifying ambiguous terminologies and concepts

Defining the problem or issue

Brainstorming

Examining the problem

Developing learning goals

Self-study

Reporting the findings

Features and benefits of problem-based learning in clinical nursing education

Features:

It should challenge nursing students to have a deeper understanding of nursing concepts

It should allow students to make decisions and defend their ideas

It connects current nursing trends

It must encourage nursing students to work as a team to solve a complex issue

Benefits:

It helps to promote self-learning

It allows students to engage in class discussion

Helps nursing students develop valuable skills

It helps in improving teamwork

It encourages permanent rewards for nursing students

Clinical simulation in nursing education

Simulation in clinical nursing education in the past days was very challenging; nursing students did not have actual practice at that time. Due to the growth of technology, simulation in nursing education has become modernized and popular as a teaching material. It provides many opportunities for clinical nursing educators to train nursing students using actual patients to practice.

Below are methods used for simulation in clinical nursing education. They include the following:

Full-scale simulators

Virtual reality

Past-task trainers

In situ simulation

Standardized patients

To wrap up

Clinical nursing education is very important in society today. Understanding the challenges and roles of clinical nursing education is very important. This article has discussed different goals and other necessary information based on clinical nursing education that you need to know.

For more details on clinical nursing, contact us at:
onlinenursingpapers.com
. We also provide nursing assignment writing services at an affordable price. Contact us today for any help you need in nursing.

This essential guide to writing an asthma essay will help any student master the craft of producing a successful written work. From researching and outlining your ideas on the subject to developing an argument and ensuring the paper is correctly formatted, this article outlines the key steps of creating a great essay about asthma.

What is Asthma

Asthma is a chronic lung condition that causes difficulty breathing, wheezing, and coughing. It is an inflammatory disorder of the airways that affects 10-15% of the population worldwide and most commonly occurs in children and adolescents. In those affected by asthma, their airways will become swollen, constricted, and filled with mucus, making it difficult to breathe normally.

When someone experiences an asthma attack, also known as an exacerbation or flare-up, their symptoms can worsen, resulting in further difficulty breathing and other physical changes such as a rapid heartbeat or chest tightness. Common triggers for asthmatic attacks include exercise, dust mites, strong smells, or cigarette smoke. The severity of these asthma attacks can range from mild to life-threatening, depending on the individual’s sensitivity to triggers.

Causes of Asthma

The most common causes of asthma are allergies and environmental triggers such as smoke or air pollution. Allergens like pollen, pet dander, and dust mites can induce an allergic reaction in some individuals, leading to inflammation in their airways.

Exposure to tobacco smoke has been shown to increase the risk of asthma in children who have not yet developed the condition. Other
environmental pollutants
, such as cleaning products or aerosol sprays, may also trigger an attack by irritating a person’s lungs.

Symptoms of Asthma

Common symptoms of asthma include

Wheezing, which sounds like a whistling noise when you breathe; chest tightness – feeling like something heavy is pressing on your chest;

Coughing – either dry or wet coughs that are worse at night

Difficulty breathing – feeling out of breath when doing everyday activities such as climbing stairs or walking uphill

Other less common signs may include fatigue, loss of appetite, anxiety or panic attacks, facial swelling, and excessive mucus production in your throat.

Asthma assessment and plan

An asthma assessment includes collecting information about the patient, such as their symptoms, triggers, medications, and lifestyle factors that may influence their condition. This information helps healthcare providers develop an effective treatment plan for each individual patient.

The plan may include lifestyle changes such as avoiding allergens or physical activity; taking preventive medications; or emergency treatments if needed. An effective asthma management plan should also include regular follow-up appointments with healthcare providers to review progress, adjust medications if necessary and ensure the patient is managing their condition properly.

Treatments for Asthma

Following an asthma assessment and diagnosis, inhaled medications are often used for daily management and quick relief when experiencing an attack. Inhaled corticosteroids reduce inflammation in the airways, while long-acting bronchodilators help keep airways open for up to 12 hours after use. Oral medications can control asthma symptoms and may be prescribed when inhalers do not suffice.

Writing an asthma essay

Writing an asthma assignment can be daunting, especially if you are unfamiliar with the condition. Asthma is a chronic respiratory disorder that affects your breathing and can make it difficult to do even simple activities such as walking or talking.

To write a successful essay on asthma, it is essential to understand the basics of the condition and its effects.

Research what causes asthma and who is at risk of developing it

Familiarize yourself with the treatments available for managing symptoms and preventing attacks

Brainstorm ideas for your essay

Consider writing about how the condition has impacted your life or someone close to you personally or professionally

You could also focus on how recent advancements in medical technology have improved treatment options for people living with this condition

Asthma essay outline

Writing an asthma essay can be challenging, but having a well-defined outline can make the task much easier. An outline will help you organize your essay and ensure it covers all essential aspects of the condition. Here are some tips to help you create an effective strategy for your asthma essay.

Start by deciding on a thesis statement for the essay. This should provide an overview of what you plan to cover in the paper and guide your argument throughout

Begin organizing information into main points or ideas that support each argument. These points should be clearly stated and supported with evidence from reliable sources such as research studies or medical journals

Write out detailed sub-points to further explain each main point or idea in greater detail. Include quotes and examples to support each point or argument effectively.

Asthma essay introduction

The introduction should begin by grabbing the reader’s attention. Use exciting facts or questions related to asthma to help engage the audience in your work. It is also important to provide background information regarding asthma, so readers understand why this topic is essential. Be sure to include reliable data, such as statistics on mortality rates or prevalence among different populations.

Asthma essay body paragraphs

The first step when writing an asthma essay body paragraph is to determine what your main points are going to be and how you plan on presenting them in the body of your essay. Once you have selected this, you’ll need to research and collect information about these points. This could include articles, studies, statistics, or any other sources that may be relevant.

It is vital to organize your thoughts logically, so they flow together nicely when writing the actual body paragraphs. Start each paragraph with an introductory sentence that introduces the perspective you will discuss in that particular paragraph.

After this, provide evidence and supporting details for your argument, which should come from the research gathered earlier. Finally, conclude each paragraph by summarizing the main points and tying them together into one solid conclusion or argument.

Asthma essay conclusion

The primary goals of an asthma essay conclusion are to summarize your main points, draw a valid conclusion based on those points, and provide a sense of closure for your reader. Start by briefly summarizing each point you made throughout your paper. Then clearly state your overall conclusion about the topic in one or two sentences.

This is where you provide a final perspective or opinion on the issue you discussed in the body of your paper. Finally, end with a thought-provoking statement or idea that will leave readers reflecting on their views on asthma and its treatments or implications.

 Reflective essay on asthma

A reflective essay on asthma is an insightful and personal exploration of the experience of living with the condition. Reflecting on how this condition has impacted your life can bring a greater understanding and acceptance.

When writing a reflective essay on asthma, consider your personal experience with the condition, including symptoms they may have experienced in times of exacerbation and any treatments they may have pursued to alleviate those symptoms. You should also reflect upon how this condition has affected them physically and mentally, highlighting both positive and negative aspects.

Tips on how to write a Reflective essay on asthma

Writing a
nursing essay
on asthma can be an eye-opening experience for many. It allows the writer to reflect on their experiences with asthma and how it has impacted their life and will enable them to share that experience with others. Here are some tips on how to write a reflective essay about asthma:

It is crucial to understand what an asthma attack feels like and its effects to communicate the experience in writing effectively

Consider what aspects of your experience with asthma you would like to focus on. Are there specific events that stand out as particularly pivotal? Do you want to discuss the impact of living with this condition? Or perhaps explore how your lifestyle has changed since having asthma?

Think deeply about any emotions associated with this topic

Writing down what you feel physically and emotionally during an attack can help develop a more personal account of their experience

Try to keep a journal throughout the writing process in which you record any thoughts or observations related to asthma that come into your head

Consider researching treatments or therapies that have worked for others who have had asthma. This will give them a better understanding of how they can manage their symptoms while also giving readers insight into the treatment options available

Asthma essay topic ideas

The impact of asthma on one’s lifestyle and day-to-day activities

Various treatments available for controlling asthma symptoms

The different types of asthma and their symptoms

The psychological effects of living with asthma

Air pollution as a factor in causing or worsening existing cases of asthma in specific populations

Advances in technology and new devices available to help asthmatics manage their conditions

The current state of knowledge about asthma research, emerging treatments, technologies, and management strategies

The impact of better diagnosis methods and medications

The impact of poverty on access to medical care

How society views those who suffer from this illness

Bottom line

Asthma is a severe respiratory condition affecting millions of people worldwide. It can be managed with lifestyle changes, medications, and other treatments. This guide has provided an overview of asthma, including helpful information on its cause, symptoms, diagnosis, and treatment options, and how best to write an asthma essay.

Nursing is a broad field of study that deals with various subjects. You must have psychology knowledge and skills to follow up on a person’s physical and emotional needs. This blog will discuss the importance of psychology in nursing for patients and caregivers.

Psychology is the main concept in daily nursing practice; nurses approach the ideas of nursing psychology to provide quality patient health results. You need to understand methods of nursing psychology to improve your daily performance. This article will help you learn and understand psychology and how you apply it,

Why is psychology important in healthcare?

Understanding the roles of nursing psychology will help you answer questions like, “what is the importance of psychology in nursing?” Or “what is the importance of psychology in the
nursing profession
?” The main importance of psychology in nursing is to prevent any illnesses or health conditions caused by physical or emotional factors.

Psychology in nursing is essential; it deals with mental care, behavior and understanding a particular group of people or a patient who requires counseling. As a nurse specializing in psychology, you must interact with your patient and their families, which is very important. As a nurse, you will often come across different people with different attitudes toward their treatments.

As a nurse, you must have in-depth knowledge to analyze the patients’ behavior and attitudes; in such a case, psychology in nursing is vital as it helps nurses to fully understand different individuals and provide care to their satisfaction. Another importance of psychology in nursing is that it helps recover an illness and control it, especially in healthcare facilities.

What is the importance of psychology?

Before determining the importance of psychology, it is important to understand what psychology means or how you can define psychology in nursing. Psychology is defined as the study of human behavior and mental functions. The major application of psychology in nursing; is to protect patients and their families from physical and emotional damage.

Psychology provides the patient with the mental ability to control the psychological threat that many people face today. In society, many people are affected by financial instability, job stress, and family issues. These are affected psychological issues that require diagnosis and management by the healthcare profession.

The other importance of psychology in nursing is that you can understand why people carry themselves the way they do. As a nurse with great psychological knowledge, you will be able to create awareness and help people to boost stress management, behavior, and attitude toward everyday challenges.

Importance of psychology in the nursing discipline

As a nurse, your major role is to provide quality care and support to your patient. To successfully do this, you need to know and determine your patients’ thoughts and feelings to analyze how best you can provide the care they need. Nurses use psychology in their tasks to improve performance in their workplace.

As a professional, you work for your patient’s physical health and general health improvement. Applying the key psychology ideas to provide quality physical, emotional, and
mental health
care to your patients is essential. This helps you build a great relationship and improve your patient trust.

Psychology in nursing is very important, especially in patients with long-term illnesses. Psychological safety helps your patient feel homely during the treatments to facilitate the situation for everyone participating. Another importance of psychology in nursing is that it helps nurses manage the workplace. Nurses work under pressure, especially during emergency care, and psychology helps calm them down.

What are the psychological aspects of nursing

Psychology is a scientific study of people’s behavior and attitudes. In nursing, psychology on how some factors influence mental health and illness. A variety of social factors cause these illnesses. Genetical diseases are common; behavioral factors can also affect physical health and lead to different medical illnesses.

Psychology in nursing is a field that focuses on improving health and preventing and treating acute diseases and illnesses. As a nurse, you must understand how patients react to and recover from an illness; this helps boost medical care performance. According to the American Psychological Association, the main psychological aspect of nursing is that; nurses must better understand health, well-being, and diseases.

A nursing psychologist must study and know the major psychological aspects that affect mental, physical and emotional health. For many years psychology has been practiced to help different individuals change behaviors that lead to health and well-being. Nurses conduct applied research on preventing unhealthy living and behaviors such as drinking excessive alcohol and smoking.

Current challenges in nursing psychology

Psychologists work with different people, societies, and groups to minimize the potential health risks, boost general health, and prevent illness. Nurses research to provide help, lie:

To reduce stress

Educate individuals on how to manage weight or keep fit

To reduce smoking

Educating people on how to prevent diseases

Research also helps nurses and psychologist to understand the illness

It helps to improve nutrition

It boosts health and speeds up recovery

Importance of psychology in nursing care

As a student, you may ask, “what are the four uses of psychology in nursing? Below are the uses of psychology in nursing. They include the following:

Improves the relationship between the nurses and the patient

As a nurse, applying psychology best practices help you provide quality treatment to all patients. For example, young children fear interacting with adults at some point. You must apply psychology to make your patient feel more comfortable in such a case.

Improves the patient’s assessment and treatment

Many patients cannot explain how they feel and manage the illness. Psychology helps you to assess the physical and emotional conditions of your patients. This helps you to determine the best treatment that will improve your recovery.

Well-organized care plan

As a nurse, you must create a logical
nursing care plan
for your patients. When developing a nursing care plan, you must indicate every detail of your patient’s physical and emotional health status.

Improves communication

As a nurse, you must learn how to communicate with your patient. To do this, you must have quality knowledge of psychology on how to respond to a patient illness. For example, if your patient is going through severe pain, you must do something to help the patient reduce the pain and help the patient relax sympathetically.

Methods used in nursing psychology

As defined earlier, psychology is a scientific study of
human behavior
, attitude, and mental functions. It is a science because it involves various methodical research and investigations to develop psychological ideas. Psychology research requires you to deeply understand complicated mental functions and human habits and gather different information.

Psychologist nurses use different methods to collect data; the type of method used will depend on the research conducted. In this article, we have listed and explained the methods of psychology in nursing. These methods include:

The experiment method

This is a broad psychology method in nursing, divided into different types. An experimental method is mainly carried out to determine the effects and causes of a particular illness. Remember, experiments include various groups identified as control groups and experimental groups.

The following are the three common types of experimental methods used for research. They include;

Non-experimental or quasi research

Field analysis

Lab experiments

In these research methods, psychologists are mainly interested in the two key variables, independent and dependent variables. The above three experiment methods explain in-depth the variables and how they relate and differ from each other.

The observation research method

This method is said to be a quasi-research and qualitative method; here the actions of the research matter are carefully observed. This research method is important in nursing psychology; it does not require special tools or materials to gather information. This method is further divided into four major types, which include:

Natural observation method

Controlled observation method

The participant observation method

Non- participant method

These methods explain more about the observation research method and different techniques you can use in such kind of research method. Every type of observation research method provides ideas relevant to psychology in nursing.

Content analysis

Psychology testing

Surveying

Case study

Types of careers related to psychology in nursing

As a nursing student, you must understand different nursing disciplines requiring extensive psychology knowledge. This article has listed major psychology careers in nursing. They include:

Church nursing

School Nursing

Psychiatric Nursing

Hospice nursing

Home Nursing

Winding up

Looking at the different importance of psychology in nursing, you will understand why you need to apply it when carrying out your daily task. Many nursing students do not have enough knowledge of the uses of psychology in nursing and its methods. This blog has provided relevant information that you need for psychology in nursing.

To learn more about psychology, visit us at:
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today. We also provide all nursing assignment help at an affordable price. Contact us now for quality help with your assignments.

Preoperative nursing care is essential to ensure that patients are physically and psychologically prepared for surgery. Nurses play a vital role in the preoperative phase by informing patients of what to expect in the surgical room. Go through this blog to learn what preoperative nursing care entails, the steps for preparation, nurses’ responsibility, and diagnosis.

What is preoperative nursing care?

Preoperative care is interventions nurses provide before surgery, from when the patient decides to have surgery to when the surgery begins. It involves the physical and psychological preparation of the patient. The purpose of preoperative care is to inform the patient about the surgical experience they are about to have to relieve their fear and achieve better outcomes.

Preoperative care is essential before any procedure, whether it’s major or minor surgery. It decreases mobility and helps patients cope with pain since they are enlightened about the goals and expectations of surgery. Patients must have nursing care before surgery, even in an emergency. If the patient is unresponsive, the family should receive the preparations instead.

Preoperative care should target individual patients since some may require as much information as possible while others may require little to avoid anxiety. Nurses should assess patients’ literacy levels if they want to use printed materials. Preoperative care may include many aspects and may be done a day before surgery.

Preoperative nursing diagnosis

Nurses ensure that they achieve preoperative goals by taking detailed patient histories, offering patient education, and nursing diagnoses. The following are nursing diagnoses in the preoperative phase;

Assess for anxiety associated with surgical outcomes and experience such as anesthesia or pain

Risk of unsuccessful therapeutic management due to lack of knowledge of preoperative procedure and postoperative expectations

The fear associated with the distinguished threat of surgical procedure and separation from family

Insufficient knowledge of the surgical process

The fear associated with the risk of death

Disturbance of sleep pattern due to psychological stress and
hospital routine

The preoperative evaluation aims to reduce surgery cost and mobility, return the patient to normal body functioning, and increase care. The following diagnostic tests may be done during the preoperative phase;

Blood analysis includes sedimentation rate, blood count, serum protein, c-reactive protein, alkaline phosphate, calcium, etc.

MRI and CT scan

X-ray

Bone scan

Stool studies

Endoscopies

Tissue biopsy

Urinalysis

What are the nursing responsibilities during the preoperative phase?

Nursing care in the preoperative phase starts when patients agree to have surgery until they are in the surgical room. Nursing plays a vital role in surgical success by assessing patients’ pre-existing health conditions, establishing new medical issues, and ensuring that patients are physically and psychologically prepared for the surgery.

The following are nurse responsibilities during the preoperative phase;

Evaluating and correcting psychological issues that may increase surgical risk

Patient assessments such as physical and psychological

Plan of care according to patient’s needs

Promoting the cardiovascular and respiratory status

Instructing and illustrating exercises that will help the patient after surgery

Teaching the patients about any changes in lifestyle due to surgery

Inspect the patients’ fear, concerns, and worry

Explain remedies to reduce pain after surgery

Managing nutrition and fluids, which include time to have meals after surgery

Give psychological support to patients

Supporting renal or hepatic function

Encouraging mobility and active body movement after surgery

Explain to the patient what to expect in the surgery room

Teaching patients to take deep breaths and coughing exercises after surgery

Obtain informed consent from the patient once they have understood all the risks and benefits of the surgery

What is involved in pre-operative care?

Preoperative care begins once the patient agrees to have surgery until the transfer to the operating room. That period intends to examine whether the patient can withstand the operation. Preoperative preparations involve general preparations you must ensure in each surgical procedure and certain practices depending on the operation type and diagnosis. Patient assessment should include the following;

Identification of patients, such as name and date of birth

The psychological and mental status of the patient

Functional status, such as the patient’s ability to perform daily duties

Respiratory and cardiovascular status

Skin condition

Nutritional status

Assess for sensory impairment, cultural needs, language barrier, etc.

Previous experience in surgery and anesthetics

Anxiety

Medication, nutrition supplements, herbs, and drug abuse

Allergies

Preoperative care aims to reduce anesthetic and surgical mortality and help patients recover quickly. The following are the goals of preoperative care;

Documentation of the patient’s situation that needs surgery

Assessment of the patient’s health status

Identifying health states that could cause complications during and after surgery

Determining preoperative risk

Improving patients’ medical condition to minimize surgical and anesthetic mortality

Coming up with a suitable preoperative care plan

Educating patients about intraoperative care, surgery, anesthesia, and postoperative pain treatment to reduce anxiety.

Cutting hospital costs, reducing hospital stays, and enhancing patients’ satisfaction

What are the steps in pre-operative preparations?

Patients who approve surgery depend on nurses’ skills, knowledge, and integrity. The scope of the preoperative phase includes patients’ assessment, interviews, and patient preparation for anesthetic and surgery. The following are types of pre-operative
nursing care
;

Physical preparation

Physical preparation involves obtaining a patient’s history, such as anesthetic and surgical history. The nurse should find out if the patient has ever reacted to anesthesia or whether there is a family history of hyperthermia. Various lab tests are done for urinalysis, prothrombin time, partial thromboplastin time, electrolyte, or CBC.

Nurses should do EKG if a patient is over 50 years old or has a history of cardiac disease. If the patient has a record of respiratory disease, take a chest X-ray. Examine the patients for risk elements that might hinder healing, such as steroid use, nutritional deficit, radiotherapy, metabolic disorders, and alcohol abuse or drugs.

The patient should lay out all vitamins, medication, food supplements, and herbal that they use. It would be best if you also evaluated every patient for latex allergy to know the best intervention.

Psychological preparation

Patients are often anxious about having surgery. The nurse can help reduce anxiety by confirming their validity, listening to their concern, and answering their questions. This kind of conversation can help patients with high-risk procedures or chronic illnesses. Preoperative care should also include family members or guardians.

If a patient fears dying during surgery, inform the surgeon, and in some cases postponing the procedure would be best. Children are fearful and should be allowed to have their parents with them. They should also bring their favorite toys to make them feel comfortable. Preparations help patients to cope with pain and receive favorable outcomes.

Informed consent

Written consent is vital in preoperative care. The nurse should explain to the patients about the risk and benefits of the surgery and other treatment options. The patient should then sign the consent form having understood and agreed to carry out the procedure. Patients who are mentally impaired, critically ill, or heavily sedated cannot consent; next of kin should provide on their behalf.

Preoperative teaching

Preoperative teaching involves teaching about preoperative, surgery, and postoperative period. Preoperative instructions should be about when to arrive for surgery, where to go, and how to prepare. For example, teach patients about the time frame for the last meal before surgery and medication to take or bring, e.g., an inhaler.

Instructions about the surgery, including what to expect in the surgery room and how long it will take. Nurses should inform the family members about where to wait during surgery, how long it will take, and who to give them progress information.

It would be best if you informed the patients about postoperative expectations, such as coughing and deep breathing exercises. Nurses should teach patients to do early leg exercises to reduce the risk of blood clots. They should also explain the tubes and equipment, such as drainage tubes, monitoring devices, IV lines, and dressing.

Pain management

Preoperative instructions should also include pain management. Nurses should inspire patients to take or ask for pain medication in advance before it becomes unbearable. They should also apply other pain control methods such as positioning, distractions, imagery, music therapy, and meditation. You also discuss with the patients about the time to be discharged, to take solid food, and when to return to work.

Preparation

Postoperative preparations involve confirming that all supplies are available. Practices for teaching include giving patients a handout or video. The consent form should be ready for the patient to sign. The patients have the right to include or omit items on the consent form. Enough time should be scheduled before surgery so as not to rush the patient.

Wrap up

Preoperative nursing care is essential before any procedure, whether it’s a major or minor surgery. It involves physical and psychological preparation of the patient, which informs them about the surgical experience they are about to have to relieve their fear. Use the information provided in this blog to practice the best nursing care for patients in the preoperative phase to achieve the best patient outcome.

Nobody likes arguing, which could explain why many students find it challenging to write discussion papers, often known as argumentative essays. Are you looking for tips for writing a perfect discussion paper? You are right; this article explains all you need to know about the paper.

Writing a discussion paper is an excellent approach to arguing in written words. You select a contentious subject to consider, choose a side in the debate, and then explain your position persuading throughout your essay. How to do that? Let’s proceed by learning how to write a discussion for a
research paper
.

What is a discussion paper?

A discussion paper is a genre of academic writing that involves choosing a topic and taking a side. It involves arguing an issue using research and supporting facts. A discussion paper is also known as an
argumentative essay
.

Writing a discussion paper step by step

Plan your discussion paper

Read and understand the question

Take the assignment your instructor presents to you and read it carefully. Try looking up phrases or words you don’t understand to comprehend the question better. Determine what the problem is. Never be reluctant to speak with the professor if you need help learning the question. In case you do not understand the question, always feel free to consult your professor or instructor.

Research your topic

If you are unfamiliar with the subject, study it to understand it better. If your textbook covers the subject, start there. Alternatively, conduct this section’s research online using reputable sources on all sides of the debate.

Ask your instructor if you can use the lecture notes as a primary source if your paper is centered on a conversation that took place in class. Look for reputable news outlets and “. Edu” and “.gov”-ended websites.

To further comprehend the subject, you might need to do some research. You don’t need to take in-depth notes for this section because you’re just attempting to acquire a feeling for the topic.

Take a side on the topic of discussion

After reading about all sides attentively, select what position you wish to adopt. Write your stance at the beginning of a paper page or at the beginning of a word processor document to begin writing your outline.

If your instructor has provided a book to draw your discussion research paper upon, ensure the text has adequate evidence to support your selected perspective.

Highlight the main points

Consider your original reading after picking a side. What key arguments helped you come to that conclusion? These can serve as your paper’s significant points.  Mark your primary thoughts on the paper with the number system. By each number, put a central idea. In a reasonably short article, such as one with 3 to 5 pages, you may only discuss 3 to 4 primary themes.

Research to support your points

It’s time to get serious about your research paper discussion now. Go to the library or access the academic resources available at your institution. Look for reliable sources that you may utilize to support your claims. Publications or eBooks, scholarly journal articles, and trustworthy websites should be your primary sources. You may use exceptional news and pieces if they relate to your subject.

Take notes, including citation

You can do this by taking written notes or by using a computer. Make notes as you study from pertinent sources and go forward. Add the reference number next to each part you take notes on or cite, if appropriate, and the title of the book or article information in the page’s header.

When referencing a book, you must mention the full name, the author’s name (if relevant), the author’s title, city, the year, and the version it was published in, as well as the title of the chapter if it was part of an anthology by several authors.

Fill in the outline

After taking notes, add 3 to 4 key points to the bottom of each significant concept. Add supporting details and research notes to the core concept to let it stand independently. This forms the purpose for discussion in a research paper.

If one of your primary claims is “Uncontrolled migration increases diversity,” for instance, some of your supporting reasons could be “Tends to bring in new cultures” and “Tends to bring in contemporary designs.” Find examples from your investigation to further explain each concept and take notes.

Writing your discussion section of a research paper

How to start a discussion paper

Use an anecdote or a quotation as your opening to draw readers in.  A hook is a device used to pique a reader’s interest in an essay. You may, for instance, utilize a quote from an individual whose position you concur with in a debate essay. 

Start by presenting a brief tale about anything related to your topic before telling a story or anecdote. For an assignment on Immigration, you could write something like this: “My mum told us we were heading on a long trip when I was four. My dad carried me for most of the trip as we walked at midnight after taking the bus. We passed a river someday. Our very first day in our unified republic was that particular day.”

Introduce your topic

After giving an anecdote or a short story, bring up your essay’s central theme to let your readers know where you’re going. Before introducing your thesis, you should reasonably offer all sides of the argument.

You could say, for instance, “Immigration is a contentious topic. It is contentious because some people worry about how it would affect the resources of the nation the immigrants are moving to, while others think it will enhance the standard of living for immigrants.”

Write the thesis statement

After your transitional sentences, you should include a much more focused thesis statement, which explains to the audience what you intend to argue.  You might wish to add a few sentences that will clarify for the reader what your major arguments will be.

Your topic sentence might read something like this: “
Mass migration
should be welcomed with a few fundamental precautions in place since it fosters variety, enriches the nation with talented individuals, and expands the nation’s perspective.” you can check an example of discussion in a research paper to understand more on introduction.

Writing the body of your discussion paper

Ensure each paragraph addresses one idea

Create your paragraphs based on your outline to assist you in concentrating on your essay. One section can be used to support each primary topic in a brief essay. Try drafting one paragraph for every bullet point under the critical themes if your paper is lengthy. 

When learning how to write the discussion section of a research paper, for example, your central thesis could be “Mass migration promotes diversity,” and you might cover all of your main points within the paragraph. If you want to go deeper, you could make a section regarding diversity and utilize a paragraph to discuss how it “helps to bring in new cultures,” “helps to bring in artwork,” and so forth.

Discuss the other side of your stand

Discussing the opposing viewpoint and demonstrating how it differs from your stance is the most excellent method to present your case. Use a counterclaim to introduce the opposite view, then elaborate on why you believe your perspective is superior. You can decide how much space and time, like a short statement or an entire paragraph, to give to the opposing viewpoint.

Avoid using a “straw man” defense that denies the opposite point of view a fair opportunity to respond. You ought to be able to defend your stance without purposely undermining the other side’s arguments. Check the research paper discussion example online to understand more.

Support your ideas

Cite references in your comments as you support the discussion part of a research paper. Not every sentence needs to be cited, but you must do so for each one that contains a key idea you obtained from a different source.  You can rephrase other concepts or use direct quotations, but only when the author makes an exciting statement. If not, state it in your language.

Consider starting each body section with a quotation from a pertinent source. Then, describe or remark on the quotation and demonstrate how it backs up your argument. Statistics is another tool you can use to support your research. Use facts, for example, to keep your claim that mass migration doesn’t cause an increase in terrorism.

Concluding your discussion paper

After writing the introduction and the body paragraphs, you can conclude your discussion in a research paper. Conclude your discussion essay by summarizing all you have discussed in the body paragraphs. Restate the thesis statement and ensure you do not include any new information in the conclusion.

Your essay should conclude with a recommendation, a call to action, or another concluding statement. In some circumstances, you might revise your opening statement in light of all the claims and supporting data.

Proofread and edit your discussion paper

After completing your first draft, carefully review your essay. Check to see whether it makes sense after reading it once. Does one thought lead to the next? Spend some time fixing it by inserting transitioning if it doesn’t.

Once you get the flow down, reread it to look for errors and grammatical mistakes. Reading it out loud can be beneficial since it makes you take your time and concentrate on each word.

In a nutshell

Writing a discussion paper is another way of arguing a topic in writing. Read the instructions provided for your paper. Plan your essay, and write the introduction, body paragraphs, and conclusion. After writing, edit your discussion paper to ensure it flows smoothly.

Do you need help writing a discussion paper or any other academic essay? Contact
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Sonography research, also known as ultrasound, is a non-invasive imaging technique medical practitioners use to diagnose and treat various medical conditions. It is designed to produce high-quality images of the inside of the body to detect potential complications or abnormalities. Sometimes, it can become a crucial tool in gynecology and obstetrics to check the growth of the fetus. Sonography research continues to be an active field of study and innovation, and that’s why, in this article, we will unearth everything you need to know concerning sonography research. 

What is sonography research?

Before we delve deeper into sonography, it is crucial to understand that sonography research is the study of its usage and potential uses in medicine. This can involve learning new ways to use ultrasound, creating innovative tools and technologies, and researching the security and effectiveness of ultrasound in various medical conditions. 

Sonography research can also look at the diagnostic efficacy of ultrasound, how it stacks up against other imaging modalities, how ultrasound affects the body, and any potential adverse consequences.

Medical practitioners such as radiologists, obstetricians, sonographers, and academic and industrial scientists and engineers can conduct this research. Sonography research aims to raise the standard of patient care by bettering medical condition diagnosis and treatment. 

How does sonography work?

Sonography imaging employs a tiny transducer to send sound waves into the body and collect emerging waves. The sound waves move throughout the area being evaluated until they reach a tissue border, such as the boundary between the fluid and soft tissue or between soft bone and tissue. 

While some of the sound waves at these limits continue until they encounter another barrier before being reflected by the probe, others remain in motion. A computer converts this data into a screen image by altering the speed, direction, and distance that sound waves travel at. 

The size and strength of the echoes are determined by how well the area collects the sound waves. However, when the waves hit a solid tumor, they bounce back, producing a series of echoes that the computer perceives as a picture in a light color. Additionally, it has been revealed that both air and bone reflect sound waves.

Ultrasound research proposal

You will likely be asked to submit an ultrasound research proposal in a sonography research paper. An ultrasound research proposal is a document that outlines a planned study on the use of ultrasound in medicine and other possible services. 

The proposal should give a brief and comprehensive explanation of the research topic, study design, methodologies, and expected study results. The proposal must adhere to the requirements of the institution or funding agency to whom it is being presented. Additionally, it must be written clearly and concisely.

When writing a paper on ultrasound sonography research topics, your proposal should include the following;

A short and descriptive title that highlights the study’s
primary goal

A section describes the study’s justification and provides background data on the subject of the investigation. Additionally, it must include the research topic and the study’s precise objectives

A thorough explanation of the study’s design, sample size, demographic, information-gathering techniques, and statistical analysis strategy

A section outlining the researcher’s expectations for the study’s findings and any possible medical sector repercussions of those findings

A list of the references included in the proposal using the correct citation style

The proposal should be written in a language that is readable to a non-specialist while offering enough depth to express the research issue and methodologies clearly. On the other hand, it should also be presented to demonstrate the importance and relevance of the research question and how the study will develop the ultrasound field.

Ultrasound research topics

Ultrasound’s effects on the developing brain and its hazards on cognitive development

Research and development of innovative ultrasound imaging techniques to increase diagnostic accuracy

Ultrasound’s ability to accurately diagnose internal organs of the abdomen and pelvis

The detection and treatment of cardiovascular disease using ultrasonography

The use of ultrasound in fetal abnormality detection and prenatal diagnostics

Using ultrasonography for breast cancer diagnosis and treatment

The efficiency and safety of ultrasound-guided operations, such as needle aspirations and biopsies

The use of ultrasound for deep vein thrombosis diagnostics

Using ultrasound to identify and treat musculoskeletal diseases like tendinitis and ligament damage

Ultrasonography in the treatment and detection of liver disease

The detection and treatment of male reproductive problems using ultrasonography

The diagnosis and treatment of gynecologic diseases with ultrasound technology

Ultrasonography is used to diagnose and treat urologic disorders such as prostate cancer and kidney stones.

Ultrasonography in the treatment and diagnosis of lung disease

Ultrasonography in the treatment and diagnosis of neurological conditions

The diagnosis and treatment of renal illness using ultrasonography

Utilizing ultrasonography to identify and treat pancreatic illness

The detection and treatment of thyroid disease using ultrasonography

Using ultrasonography to make a diagnosis

The detection and treatment of burn injuries using ultrasonography

Applying ultrasonography to the detection and treatment of endocrine disorders

The detection and treatment of skin diseases using ultrasonography

The use of ultrasonography in the diagnosis and treatment of rheumatic diseases

The use of ultrasound for surgical condition diagnosis and management

Utilizing ultrasonography to diagnose and treat infectious illnesses

The identification and treatment of hematologic disorders using ultrasound technology

Obstetric sonography research

Obstetric sonography involves using ultrasound imaging during pregnancy to examine the health and development of a fetus. The obstetric sonography research covers a wide range of topics, such as the creation of new ultrasound imaging methods, the identification of fetal anomalies, the evaluation of fetal growth and health, and the application of ultrasound for prenatal diagnosis and the treatment of pregnancy complications. 

Some of the obstetric sonography research topics include;

Using ultrasound monitors fetal growth and identifies babies who will be large for gestational age.

Using ultrasound to evaluate fetal cardiac function and find congenital heart defects

The evaluation of fetal health via ultrasound and the identification of fetal distress

The evaluation of cervical length and the prediction of preterm birth using ultrasonography

The examination of fetal anatomy and the diagnosis of congenital abnormalities using 3D and 4D ultrasound imaging

The use of ultrasound for placenta previa and placenta accreta diagnosis and treatment

Harmonics in sonography research

The adoption of harmonic imaging techniques in ultrasound to increase image quality and eliminate artifacts is referred to as harmonics in sonography. The ultrasound equipment is programmed to receive and convey the second harmonic of the ultrasonic signal rather than the frequency components in a technique known as harmonic imaging. 

The second harmonic signal is less impacted by tissue attenuation and dispersion than the fundamental frequency signal, which can improve image quality.

Some topics of research for harmonics in sonography include;

The diagnosis and treatment of kidney disease using harmonic imaging

Using harmonic imaging to measure tissue elasticity can help doctors diagnose cancer and other disorders.

The diagnosis and treatment of liver disease using harmonic imaging

The evaluation of blood flow using harmonic imaging, which can help in the diagnosis of
cardiovascular
disease

The use of harmonic imaging to find tiny or hidden objects like cysts or blood arteries

The use of harmonic imaging in thyroid illness diagnosis and treatment

The creation of new harmonic imaging methods to boost diagnostic precision

Fetal sonography

Fetal ultrasonography is important for assessing abnormalities and fetal well-being throughout pregnancy. This high-risk demographic is more susceptible to unfavorable fetal outcomes, such as stillbirth and fetal malformations, due to the rising rate of hypertension, morbid obesity, and gestational diabetes among women of reproductive age.

Some of the fetal sonography research questions include;

What ethical issues are raised by applying fetal sonography in prenatal care?

What are fetal sonography’s possible advantages and disadvantages in standard prenatal care?

How can chromosomal abnormalities and other congenital abnormalities be detected and diagnosed using fetal sonography?

How do the sonographer’s education and experience impact the accuracy of fetal sonography?

How should fetal sonography be performed and interpreted in high-risk pregnancies?

Is it possible to anticipate preterm labor using fetal sonography?

How can fetal sonography be used to track a fetus’s development and health over pregnancy?

How can multiple pregnancies be monitored with fetal sonography?

Diagnostic medical sonography research topics

Ultrasound-based evaluation of amniotic fluid volume in diabetic pregnant women in the second and third trimesters

Using ultrasound to evaluate the pancreas in diabetic patients

Ultrasound-Based Heart Characterization in Hypertensive Patients

Ultrasound-based Male Infertility Diagnosis

An Ultrasonography Study of Eye Diseases in Diabetic Patients

Using ultrasound, the association between placenta previa and cesarean delivery

How Meningiomas Are Diagnosed and Classified Using Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI)

Ultrasonography Study of First Trimester Complication Causes

Calculating fetal weight in pregnant women by measuring the thickness of the placenta

Conclusion

Sonography research is an important area that has significantly impacted the medical profession. It offers valuable information on diagnosing and treating numerous medical disorders, such as pregnancy and fetal development. However, writing a sonography research paper can take time and effort. If you want an easy time with your assignment, you can seek expert guidance from
onlinenursingpapers.com
at affordable prices.

Substance abuse nursing is an essential and often overlooked field of nursing. It requires a unique set of skills and knowledge to care for patients who are struggling with substance abuse issues. Substance abuse nurses are trained to treat both the physical and emotional aspects of addiction, providing holistic care in a safe and compassionate environment. They must be knowledgeable about various drugs, their effects on the body, and methods for managing cravings. 

What is substance abuse nursing?

Substance abuse nursing is a specialized field of healthcare that focuses on providing care and treatment to people with substance use disorders. These nurses work in both direct patient care and administrative roles within the healthcare system, helping to provide treatment for individuals with addiction issues.

Substance abuse nurses are critical in addressing the unique needs of those struggling with drug or alcohol addiction. Substance abuse nurses may specialize in various areas, from providing emotional support and counseling to developing individualized treatment plans for patients.

They typically possess knowledge of, pharmacology, psychology, public health, social work, and other relevant disciplines that can help them effectively manage cases involving substance use disorder. They also often collaborate with interdisciplinary team members to ensure each patient receives comprehensive care tailored to their specific needs.

Types of substance abuse

Substance abuse is a growing problem in many countries around the world. It can take many forms, ranging from alcohol and drug abuse to gambling addiction. Substance abuse often has its roots in an underlying psychological trauma or mental health disorder that needs to be addressed.

Alcohol abuse is the most common form of a substance use disorder, and it can have devastating consequences for an individual’s physical and mental health. Alcoholism involves a compulsive need to consume large amounts of alcohol, even when it has negative consequences on their life and relationships.

Drug addiction is another form of substance use disorder, which includes the misuse of prescription drugs such as opioids as well as illicit substances like cocaine or heroin. Gambling addiction is also considered a form of substance abuse due to its potential for causing financial ruin and emotional distress for those affected by it.

Diseases and conditions related to substance abuse

Substance abuse can lead to debilitating physical and mental health conditions. It can cause various diseases, complications, and other health issues that can be both long-term and short-term in nature. Substance abuse often leads to addiction, which can have devastating effects on the body over time.

There are numerous diseases and conditions related to substance abuse that range from mild to severe. For example, alcohol consumption increases the risk of cancer, liver disease, heart disease, stroke, diabetes, obesity, depression, and anxiety. Drug use can also lead to hepatitis C infection as well as an increased risk for HIV/AIDS due to needle sharing or unprotected sexual activity associated with intoxication. Additionally, smoking cigarettes or marijuana puts individuals at higher risk for chronic respiratory illnesses such as asthma or COPD (Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease).

Ethical issues in substance abuse nursing

Nurses in this specialty will encounter numerous dilemmas involving confidentiality, boundaries, and autonomy that require careful consideration. They may also have to decide whether or not they must report suspected substance use or provide support for individuals even if it goes against professional ethics codes. There are many ethical considerations that substance abuse nurses must navigate as they provide care to their patients.

Substance abuse nurses must ensure their patients have adequate information about proposed treatments before agreeing to any medical interventions or therapies

They must also obtain their patient’s consent for treatment before proceeding with any interventions

They must consider the potential risks of using certain medications when treating a patient for addiction and relapse due to discontinuing certain medications too early

They must maintain professional boundaries with their patients

A nurse may need to balance legal obligations such as mandated reporting of illicit drug use versus the patient’s right to privacy and non-interference regarding lifestyle choices

Nurses also need to be aware that people from different backgrounds may have different perspectives on the issue of addiction due to cultural values and religious beliefs.

Substance abuse nursing standards

To ensure consistent standards in the field of substance abuse nursing, several professional organizations have developed guidelines for providers to follow when caring for these patients. The American Nurses Association (ANA) has established standards of practice for substance use disorder treatment that all nurses should adhere to while providing care. These standards include;

Elements such as recognizing the signs and symptoms of addiction

Assessing patient needs and developing individualized treatment plans

Providing evidence-based interventions and education on healthy lifestyle choices

Advocating for resources necessary to support recovery efforts

Monitoring patient progress throughout their course of care

Promoting collaboration between healthcare providers and other stakeholders in the community

Goals and objectives for substance abuse nursing

The goals and objectives for substance abuse nurses include;

Providing education about the effects of drug and alcohol use

Providing emotional support to encourage recovery

Helping patients identify triggers that could lead to relapse.

Nurses must be able to create a personalized plan designed specifically for each patient according to their needs. This plan should cover topics such as nutrition, physical health concerns related to withdrawal symptoms,
mental health
issues related to addiction, family dynamics, social functioning in society after treatment ends, job readiness skills if necessary, as well as continued treatment plans beyond discharge from care.

Substance abuse nursing challenges

Nurses who work with individuals struggling with addiction must be able to recognize signs of substance use and abuse, provide support, and collaborate with other professionals to ensure the best possible outcomes.

These nurses also face unique challenges such as;

High turnover rates

The stigma associated with substance use disorders

Inadequate resources for treatment programs

ethical dilemmas in providing care for individuals with addictions

Patients who suffer from substance use
disorders present
complex medical and psychological needs, making it challenging for healthcare professionals to provide comprehensive care

The nursing code of ethics pertains to substance abuse in pregnancy

The nursing code of ethics pertains to a variety of topics and issues. One particularly important topic is its stance on substance abuse in pregnancy. A nurse’s ethical obligations to their patient, fetus, and society are at the forefront of this issue.

Nurses must be prepared to assess patients for risk factors related to substance abuse in pregnancy while providing compassionate care that adheres to the standards outlined within the
nursing code of ethics
. Nurses must adhere to these ethical standards when caring for patients, especially those suffering from substance abuse during pregnancy.

The American Nurses Association (ANA) states that nurses should enable individuals to make informed decisions about their health, regardless of whether those decisions violate popular opinion or conflict with the nurse’s values or opinions. In addition, it is recommended that nurses provide clients with resources for further information and support when applicable.

Substance abuse during pregnancy can have serious consequences on both mother and child. Many pregnant women use drugs or alcohol as a way to cope with their changing bodies and the stressors associated with pregnancy.

As health professionals, nurses must be aware of all the potential risks associated with substance use in pregnant women and provide appropriate interventions to ensure their safety. Nurses need to understand the nursing code of ethics when dealing with substance use in pregnant women. The ethical principles include respect for autonomy, beneficence, non-maleficence, and justice.

FAQ

What is the nurse’s role in substance abuse?

Nurses play a key part in both prevention and rehabilitation efforts, providing invaluable assistance to individuals who are struggling with addiction. From identifying potential risk factors to offering support during detoxification and recovery, nurses serve as vital resources for those seeking treatment. Nurses can provide education on substance use disorders and offer advice on how individuals can prevent themselves from becoming hooked on drugs or alcohol.

Additionally, they are often responsible for monitoring the vital signs of patients during detoxification periods, ensuring that their safety is prioritized throughout the process. In some cases, nurses may even provide counseling services or refer their patients to appropriate mental health professionals if needed.

What are the priority nursing interventions for substance abuse?

Nurses should assess their patient’s physical and psychological state, taking into consideration any pre-existing conditions such as diabetes or depression, as well as any current signs of intoxication or withdrawal symptoms. Additionally, they may need to refer the patient to medical experts or other healthcare professionals if necessary.

The nurse must also provide education on harm reduction strategies, both in terms of prevention and management of substance abuse. They should also strive to create an environment where open dialogue and trust between the patient and nurse can be established so that appropriate care can be provided.

Bottom line

Substance abuse nursing is a growing field. It requires specialized knowledge and skills to provide effective care to individuals and families affected by substance abuse. With the right resources, support, and training, nurses can make a significant impact in reducing the burden of substance use disorders on our communities.

NURS-6501 Module 6: Knowledge Check Quiz

PSYCHOLOGICAL DISORDERS

In this exercise, you will complete a 5-essay type question Knowledge Check to gauge your understanding of this module’s content.

Possible topics covered in this Knowledge Check include:

Generalized anxiety disorder

Depression

Bipolar disorders

Schizophrenia

Delirium and dementia

Obsessive compulsive disease

Question 1  
4 pts

Scenario 1: Schizophrenia

A 22-year-old female student was brought to her college student health department by her boyfriend. He was concerned about the changes in her behavior. The boyfriend noted that she has been hearing voices, and seeing things that are not there. She also thinks that there are people that want to harm her. She told her family that she cannot finish college as the voices told her to quit because she is “dumb”.  The boyfriend relates episodes of unexpected rage and crying NURS-6501 Module 6: Knowledge Check Quiz.

PMH:  noncontributory

FH: positive for a first cousin who “had mental problems”.

SH: Denies current drug abuse but states he smoked marijuana every day during junior and senior years of high school. Admits to drinking heavily on weekends at various fraternity houses.

PE: thin, anxious disheveled female who, during conversations, stops talking, tilts her head and appears to be listening to something. There is poor eye contact and conversation is disjointed.

DIAGOSIS: schizophrenia.

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Questions

What are known characteristics of schizophrenia and relate those to this patient.  

Question 2  
4 pts

Scenario 1: Schizophrenia

A 22-year-old female student was brought to her college student health department by her boyfriend. He was concerned about the changes in her behavior. The boyfriend noted that she has been hearing voices, and seeing things that are not there. She also thinks that there are people that want to harm her. She told her family that she cannot finish college as the voices told her to quit because she is “dumb”.  The boyfriend relates episodes of unexpected rage and crying.

PMH:  noncontributory

FH: positive for a first cousin who “had mental problems”.

SH: Denies current drug abuse but states he smoked marijuana every day during junior and senior years of high school. Admits to drinking heavily on weekends at various fraternity houses.

PE: thin, anxious disheveled female who, during conversations, stops talking, tilts her head and appears to be listening to something. There is poor eye contact and conversation is disjointed.

DIAGOSIS: schizophrenia.

Question:

Genetics are sometimes attached to schizophrenia explain this.

NURS-6501 Module 6: Knowledge Check Quiz Question 3   
4 pts

Scenario 1: Schizophrenia

A 22-year-old female student was brought to her college student health department by her boyfriend. He was concerned about the changes in her behavior. The boyfriend noted that she has been hearing voices, and seeing things that are not there. She also thinks that there are people that want to harm her. She told her family that she cannot finish college as the voices told her to quit because she is “dumb”.  The boyfriend relates episodes of unexpected rage and crying.

PMH:  noncontributory

FH: positive for a first cousin who “had mental problems”.

SH: Denies current drug abuse but states he smoked marijuana every day during junior and senior years of high school. Admits to drinking heavily on weekends at various fraternity houses.

PE: thin, anxious disheveled female who, during conversations, stops talking, tilts her head and appears to be listening to something. There is poor eye contact and conversation is disjointed.

DIAGOSIS: schizophrenia.

Question:

What roles do neurotransmitters play in the development of schizophrenia?

NURS-6501 Module 6: Knowledge Check Quiz Question 4   
4 pts

Scenario 1: Schizophrenia

A 22-year-old female student was brought to her college student health department by her boyfriend. He was concerned about the changes in her behavior. The boyfriend noted that she has been hearing voices, and seeing things that are not there. She also thinks that there are people that want to harm her. She told her family that she cannot finish college as the voices told her to quit because she is “dumb”.  The boyfriend relates episodes of unexpected rage and crying.

PMH:  noncontributory

FH: positive for a first cousin who “had mental problems”.

SH: Denies current drug abuse but states he smoked marijuana every day during junior and senior years of high school. Admits to drinking heavily on weekends at various fraternity houses.

PE: thin, anxious disheveled female who, during conversations, stops talking, tilts her head and appears to be listening to something. There is poor eye contact and conversation is disjointed.

DIAGOSIS: schizophrenia.

Questions:

Explain what structural abnormalities are seen in people with schizophrenia.

Question 5   
4 pts

Scenario 2: Bipolar Disorder

A 44-year-old female  came to the clinic today brought in by her husband. He notes that she has been with various states of depression and irritability over the past 3 months with extreme fatigue, has lost 20 pounds and has insomnia. He has come home from work to find his wife sitting in front of the TV and not moving for hours. In the past few days, she suddenly has become very hyperactive, has been talking incessantly, has been easily distracted and seems to “flit from one thing to another
.
”. She hasn’t slept in 3 days. The wife went on an excessive shopping spree for new clothes that resulted in their credit card being denied for exceeding the line of credit. The wife is unable to sit in the exam room and is currently pacing the hallway muttering to herself and is reluctant to talk with or be examined the ARNP. Physical observation shows agitated movements, rapid fire speech, and hyperactivity.

DIAGNOSIS: bipolar type 2 disorder.

Question

How does genetics play in the development of bipolar 2 disorders?  NURS-6501 Module 6: Knowledge Check Quiz

Common Change Theories in Nursing – LEADERSHIP AND INFLUENCING CHANGE IN NURSING

COMMON CHANGE THEORIES AND APPLICATION TO DIFFERENT NURSING SITUATIONS

Leaders take us to places we’ve never been before. But there are no freeways to the future, no paved highways to unknown, unexplored destinations. There’s only wilderness. To step into the unknown, begin with the exploration of the inner territory. We continue to discover that the most critical knowledge for all of us—and for leaders especially—turns out to be self-knowledge
. (Kouzes & Posner, 2007, p. 346)

Introduction

Change is an essential component of nursing practice. Leading change is a challenge for nurse leaders amid the complexities and challenges of evolving health care environments in providing quality patient care. This chapter is designed to provide nurse leaders with guidance through various theories and frameworks to effectively support the change process in shaping healthy work environments. Additionally, you will learn about resistance to change and how to respond constructively to change. This chapter focuses on providing guidelines for nurse leaders on behaviours and practices for encouraging and facilitating change in the health care setting.

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Learning Objectives

Explain why nurses have the opportunity to be change agents.

Identify how different theorists explain change.

Discuss how the nursing process is similar to the change process.

Discuss the medicine wheel as a change model.

Describe the nurse leader’s role in implementing change and the call to action.

Differentiate among change strategies.

Recognize how to handle resistance to change.

Common Change Theories in Nursing

The rapid pace of change in Canada’s health care system provides opportunities for nurse leaders to refine and advance their leadership and management skills for advancing change. Various forces that drive change in health care include rising costs of treatment, new technologies, advances in science, workforce shortages, and an aging population. Change initiatives must always be implemented for good reason within the context of advancing institutional goals and objectives. Balancing change is a key challenge within a patient- and family-centred model to provide safe and reliable patient care (Stefancyk, Hancock, & Meadows, 2013; Saskatchewan Ministry of Health, 2011).

9.1 The Nurse Leader as Change Agent

Nurse leaders must ensure the day-to-day operation of their unit(s) in a rapidly evolving health care system. Nurse leaders are often called upon to be agents of change and are often responsible for the success of a project. Yet the literature suggests that leaders continue to struggle with change despite the frequency with which they are involved in leading change (Gilley, Gilley, & McMillan, 2009; Quinn, 2004). A 
change agent
 is an individual who has formal or informal legitimate power and whose purpose is to direct and guide change (Sullivan, 2012). This person identifies a vision and rationale for the change and is a role model for nurses and other health care personnel.

Nurse leaders’ behaviours influence staff actions that contribute to change (Drucker, 1999; Yukl, 2013). The significant number of changes that nurse leaders face require new ways of thinking about leading change and adapting to new ways of working. Moreover, leaders work closely with frontline care providers to identify necessary change in the workplace that would improve work processes and patient care. As such, nurse leaders must have the requisite skills for influencing human behaviour, including supervisory ability, intelligence, the need for achievement, decisiveness, and persistence to guide the process (Gilley et al., 2009). Effective change management requires the leader to be knowledgeable about the process, tools, and techniques required to improve outcomes (Shirey, 2013).

9.2 Theories and Models of Change Theories

Knowledge of the science of change theory is critical to altering organizational systems. Being conversant with various change theories can provide a framework for implementing, managing, and evaluating change within the context of human behaviour. Change theories can be linear or non-linear; however, even linear theories do not unfold in a systematic and organized pattern. In the following section, we identify the role of leader and the typical pattern of events that occur in a change event.

Force Field Model and The Unfreezing-Change-Refreezing Model

Kurt Lewin (1951) is known as a pioneer in the study of group dynamics and organizational development. He theorized a three-stage model of change (unfreezing-change-refreezing model) in order to identify and examine the factors and forces that influence a situation. The theory requires leaders to reject prior knowledge and replace it with new information. It is based on the idea that if one can identify and determine the potency of forces, then it is possible to know the forces that need to be diminished or strengthened to bring about change (Burnes, 2004).

Lewin describes behaviour as “a dynamic balance of forces working in opposing directions” (cited in Shirey, 2013, p.1). The force field model is best applied to stable environments and he makes note of two types of forces: driving forces and restraining forces. 
Driving forces
 are those that push in a direction that causes the change to occur or that facilitate the change because they push a person in a desired direction. 
Restraining forces
 are those that counter the driving force and hinder the change because they push a person away from a desired direction. Finally, change can occur if the driving forces override or weaken the restraining forces.

This important force field model forms the foundation of Lewin’s three-stage theory on change (1951) (see 
Figure 9.2.1
). 
Unfreezing
 is the first stage, which involves the process of finding a method to assist individuals in letting go of an old pattern of behaviour and facilitating individuals in overcoming resistance and group conformity (Kritsonis, 2005). In this stage, disequilibrium occurs to disrupt the system, making it possible to identify the driving forces for the change and the likely restraining forces against it. A successful change ultimately involves strengthening the driving forces and weakening the restraining forces (Shirey, 2013). This can be achieved by the use of three methods: (1) increase the driving forces that direct the behaviour away from the existing situation or equilibrium; (2) decrease the restraining forces that negatively affect the movement away from the current equilibrium; or (3) combine the first two methods.

The second stage, 
moving 
or 
change
, involves the process of a change in thoughts, feelings, and/or behaviours. Lewin (1951) describes three actions that can assist in movement: (1) persuading others that the status quo is not beneficial and encouraging others to view a problem with a fresh perspective; (2) working with others to find new, relevant information that can help effect the desired change; and (3) connecting with powerful leaders who also support the change (Kristonis, 2005). This second stage is often the most difficult due to the fact that there is a level of uncertainty and fear associated with change (Shirey, 2013). Therefore, it is important to have a supportive team and clear communication in order to achieve the desired change.

Lastly, stage three, which Lewin called 
refreezing
, 
involves establishing the change as a new habit. The third stage is necessary to ensure that the change implemented (in the second stage) will “stick” over time (Kristonis, 2005). Success at this stage will create a new equilibrium state known to be the new norm or higher level of performance expectation (Shirey, 2013).

Although Lewin’s model on change is well known and widely accepted in health care settings, it is often criticized for being too simplistic and linear. Change is often unpredictable and complex, and an effective leader must be aware of many change models.

 

Figure 9.2.1 The Steps of the Unfreezing-Change-Refreezing Model

“The Steps of the Unfreezing–Change–Refreezing Model” by Sonia Udod and Joan Wagner, designed by 
JVDW Designs
, is licensed under a 
CC BY 4.0 International License
.

9.3 Planned Change

Lippitt, Watson, and Westley (1958) focus more on the role and responsibility of the change agent than on the process of the change itself. Their theory expands Lewin’s model of change into a seven-step process and emphasizes the participation of those affected by the change during the planning steps (Kritsonis, 2005; Lippitt et al., 1958). The seven steps of the planned change model include: (1) diagnosing the problem; (2) assessing the motivation and capacity for change in the system; (3) assessing the resources and motivation of the change agent; (4) establishing change objectives and strategies; (5) determining the role of the change agent; (6) maintaining the change; and (7) gradually terminating the helping relationship as the change becomes part of the organizational culture (see 
Table 9.3.1
).

The steps in this model place emphasis on those affected by the change, with a focus on communication skills, rapport building, problem-solving strategies, and establishing mechanisms for feedback (Kritsonis, 2005; Lehman, 2008).

Phases of Change

Ronald Havelock (1973) also modified Lewin’s model of change to include six phases of change from planning to monitoring (see 
Table 9.3.1
). It is believed that Havelock further developed the unfreezing-change-refreezing model to address two social forces that were gaining momentum in society at the time: “the explosion of scientific knowledge, and the increasing expectation by policy-makers, governments, business and society that scientific knowledge should be useful to society” (Estabrooks, Thompson, Lovely, & Hofmeyer, 2006, pp. 29–30). Havelock argued that adapting Lewin’s change model to include knowledge building, which focused on a systematic integration of theories rather than disjointed approaches, would respond more effectively to real-life situations in managing change (Estabrooks et al., 2006).

The six phases of Havelock’s model are as follows:

Building a relationship
. Havelock regarded the first step as a stage of “pre-contemplation” where a need for change in the system is determined.

Diagnosing the problem
.
 During this contemplation phase, the change agent must decide whether or not change is needed or desired. On occasion, the change process can end because the change agent decides that change is either not needed or not worth the effort.

Acquire resources for change
.
 At this step, the need for change is understood and the process of developing solutions begins as the change agent gathers as much information as possible relevant to the situation that requires change.

Selecting a pathway for the solution
.
 A pathway of change is selected from available options and then implemented.

Establish and accept change
.
 Individuals and organizations are often resistant to change, so careful attention must be given to making sure that the change becomes part of new routine behaviour. Effective communication strategies, staff response strategies, education, and support systems must be included during implementation.

Maintenance and separation
.
 The change agent should monitor the affected system to ensure the change is successfully stabilized and maintained. Once the change has become the new normal, the change agent can separate from the change event. (Tyson, 2010)

Innovation Diffusion Theory

Rogers’ five-step theory explains how an individual proceeds from having knowledge of an innovation to confirming the decision to adopt or reject the idea (see 
Figure 9.3.1
) (Kritsonis, 2005; Wonglimpiyarat & Yuberk, 2005). A distinguishing feature of Rogers’ theory is that even if a change agent is unsuccessful in achieving the desired change, that change could be resurrected at a later, more opportune time or in a more appropriate form (Kritsonis, 2005). Roger also emphasizes the importance of including key people (i.e., policy-makers) interested in making the innovation happen, capitalizing on group strengths, and managing factors that impede the process. The five stages to Rogers’ theory are as follows:

Knowledge.
 The individual is first exposed to an innovation but lacks information about the innovation.

Persuasion.
 The individual is interested in the innovation and actively seeks related information and details.

Decision.
 The individual considers change and weighs the advantages and disadvantages of implementing the innovation.

Implementation.
 The individual implements the innovation and adjusts the innovation to the situation. During this stage the individual also determines the usefulness of the innovation and may search for further information about it.

Confirmation.
 The individual finalizes the decision to continue using the innovation. (Rogers, 1995)

 

Essential Learning Activity 9.3.1

Watch the video “
Lewin’s 3-Stage Model of Change: Unfreezing, Changing & Refreezing
” (8:06) by Education-Portal.com for more about Lewin’s change model.

Watch the video “
Rogers Diffusion of Innovation
” (3:15) by Kendal Pho, Yuri Dorovskikh, and Natalia Lara (Digital Pixels) for more about Rogers’ theory of innovation.

 

Figure 9.3.1 The Five Steps of the Innovation Decision Process

“The Five Steps of the Innovation Decision Process” by Sonia Udod and Joan Wagner, designed by 
JVDW Designs
, is licensed under a 
CC BY 4.0 International License
.

Rogers’ innovation diffusion theory explains how, why, and at what rate new ideas are taken up by individuals. Rogers defines five-categories of innovation adopters. 
Innovators
 are willing to take risks; they are enthusiastic and thrive on change. They play a key role in the diffusion of innovation by introducing new ideas from the external system (Rogers, 1995). 
Early
 
adopters
 are described as being more discreet in adoption choices than innovators. They are cautious in their adoption of change. The 
early
 
majority
 are those people who take a significantly longer time to adopt an innovation as compared to the innovators and early adopters. The 
late
 
majority
 comprise individuals who have a high degree of skepticism when it comes to adopting a change. Finally, the 
laggards
 are those who are last to adopt a change or innovation. They typically have an aversion to change and tend to be focused on traditions and avoid trends (Rogers, 1995).

Table 9.3.1. Comparison of Traditional Change Models and Theories

Traditional Change Models and Theories

Process

Nursing Process

Assessment

Planning

Implementation

Evaluation

Lewin

Unfreezing

Movement

Refreezing

Lippitt, Watson & Westley

Diagnose problem

Assess motivation and capacity for change

Assess change agent’s motivation and resources

Select progressive change objectives

Choose appropriate change agent role

Maintain change

Terminate helping relationships

Havelock

Build a relationship

Diagnose problem

Acquire resources

Choose the solution

Gain acceptance

Maintain and Separate

Rogers

Knowledge

Persuasion

Decision

Implementation

Confirmation

9.4 Non-linear Change Models

Most organizations have viewed change as sequential and linear occurring in a step-by-step fashion. However, nursing has begun to explore non-linear models as a way of guiding more unpredictable change, as these models do not follow an orderly and predictable pattern.

Chaos Theory

Chaos theory, considered to be a subset of complexity science, emerged from the early work of Edward Lorenz in the 1960s to improve weather forecasting techniques. Non-human-induced responses in the environment indicate there is some predictability in random patterns (Thietart & Forgues, 1995; Wagner & Huber, 2003). Lorenz found that even small changes of randomness in a system that constantly changes can dramatically affect the long-term behaviour of that system and make it difficult to predict future outcomes. Interestingly, this non-linear model refers to a controlled randomness, which may be associated with recognizable and somewhat predictable patterns.

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Chaos theory may be another way to structure change processes in a highly complex and evolving health care environment. Despite the best of intentions to improve organizational function and improve quality and safety of patient care, contextual factors may not be fully explored or considered in the change process. For example, instituting a care delivery model on a unit may not work well if staff have not been appropriated the necessary resources to provide care. Knowing how non-linear theories work can advance organizational functioning in health care organizations and systems in the twenty-first century.

 

Essential Learning Activity 9.4.1

Watch Claire Burge’s TEDx Talk titled “
The Future of Work is Chaos
” (13:43) for a more in-depth understanding of chaos theory.

 

Essential Learning Activity 9.4.2

Cindy is an RN with three years’ experience working on a busy surgical unit in a large urban hospital. Cindy enjoys her job and is keen to pursue an intensive care course after which she plans to work in the intensive care unit of the same hospital. She has received a one-year grant to establish a cardiac program for patients and caregivers. This project will be evaluated at the end of one year. Cindy, as the change agent, is tasked with implementing the change. Stephanie, the nurse manager, is highly supportive, but some of the nurses don’t have time and are not willing to help make the program a reality.

How should Cindy proceed with the change process? Could Lewin’s change theory be used to guide the change? If so, how would you envision the change occurring? Common Change Theories in Nursing

How can she persuade other nurses to buy into the change? What effective leadership and followership strategies could she implement in the change process?

9.5 The Nursing Process as the Change Process

The change process can be related to the nursing process and is described by Sullivan (2012) in four steps. 
Assessment
, the first step, entails identifying the problem. It involves collecting and analyzing data. Pinpointing the problem enables individuals affected by a proposed change to have a clear and accurate understanding of the problem.

Once the problem is identified, the change agent collects external and internal data as needed (e.g., patient satisfaction questionnaires, staff surveys). A critical analysis of the data supports the need for change, at which point the change agent determines resistance, identifies potential solutions, and begins to develop consensus regarding change. Assessing the political climate by determining who will benefit from the change, accessing resources, and having credibility with and respect of the staff will enhance the leader’s ability to increase the driving forces and reduce the restraining forces (Lewin, 1951). Sullivan (2012) recommends converting data into tables or graphs, thus making the results easier for administration and frontline providers to understand, and perhaps accept, the change.

Planning
 requires the participation of staff that will be affected by the change. Relationships among staff may be altered if structures, rules, and practices are modified. This in turn alters workforce requirements, which may then lead to hiring new people with different skills, knowledge, attitudes, and motivations (Sullivan, 2012). It is anticipated that less resistance will be encountered if staff are involved at the planning stage, since attitudes, ways of thinking, and behaviours need to shift to accommodate a new way of working.

Weiss and Tappen (2015) recommend three tactics that can be used to unfreeze members or staff. First, 
sharing information
 is a way to help staff understand the rationale for a proposed change. Second, 
disconfirming currently held beliefs
 is a way to demonstrate that a current goal of the target system is inadequate, incorrect, or inefficient and therefore needs to be modified. Third, 
providing
 
psychological safety
 is a tactic that minimizes risk by affording sufficient security to staff. This tactic is highly valuable as it generates a feeling of security and facilitates members’ ability to trust and accept the change. These three tactics decrease anxiety about the change. Establishing target dates and time frames to determine progress and providing opportunities for members to offer feedback will support the change.

In the 
implementation
 stage, plans are put into action. The change agent sets the tone for a positive and supportive climate, and methods are used to continue persuading members toward the change (providing information, training, assisting with personnel changes). Strategies are used to change the group dynamics to encourage members to act based on group decisions.

During 
evaluation
, 
indicators are monitored to determine whether goals have been met, and what, if any, undesirable outcomes occurred and how to respond to unintended consequences. Once the desired outcome is reached, the change agent terminates the role by delegating responsibilities to members. Policies and procedures may be necessary to stabilize the change as part of everyday practice. The leader, as energizer and supporter, continues to reinforce behaviours through ongoing feedback.

9.6 The Medicine Wheel as a Change Model

The medicine wheel, drawn as a circle with four quadrants, represents a 
holistic
 set of beliefs encompassing the 
mind
, 
body
, 
emotions
, and 
spirit
, which is foundational to the human being. These beliefs have been embraced by Indigenous cultures across the world for thousands of years (McCabe, 2008). Carl Jung and others emphasized this dialogue between the four aspects of the human being as a way to understand self and maintain health (McCabe, 2008). Psychologists recognize the medicine wheel as “the Jungian mandala—a symbol of wholeness” (Dapice, 2006, p. 251).

 

Figure 9.6.1 Medicine Wheel

“Medicine Wheel as a Change Model” by Joan Wagner, designed by 
JVDW Designs
, is licensed under a 
CC BY 4.0 International License
.

The medicine wheel is found in the teachings of individual Elders in over 500 Indigenous nations across Canada. Teachings are similar between the nations; however there are slight differences regarding the location of the four dimensions on the wheel (Clarke & Holtslander, 2010). The medicine wheel is manifested within the community as a “process (healing), a ceremony (sweats, sharing circles) and teachings (a code for living)” (McCabe, 2008, p. 34). The Indigenous people consider the community participation in ceremonies to be an important part of the healing process (McCabe, 2008). The medicine wheel assists community members to connect with each other, while also supporting balance and harmony across the four dimensions of mind, body, emotions, and spirit for the individual and the extended community (Clarke & Holtslander, 2010).

Recent literature focuses on the use of the medicine wheel to recover from illness and regain health. The medicine wheel guides healthy change and can be 
individualized
 to the specific needs of the client or community
,
taking into account the context of culture, socioeconomic status, family situation, disease process, and other significant factors, culminating in balance, healing, and growth in all four aspects. Research literature documents the use of the medicine wheel in diabetes education (Kattelmann, Conti, & Ren, 2010), end-of-life care for Aboriginal people (Clarke & Holtslander, 2010), substance abuse prevention programs (Walsh-Buhl, 2017), adolescent group counselling (Garner, Bruce, & Stellern, 2011), and development of a retention program for diverse nursing students (Charbonneau-Dahlen, 2015). The medicine wheel provides a guide to holistic change for both the individual and the collective community Common Change Theories in Nursing.

 

Essential Learning Activity 9.6.1

Watch the video “
Medicine Wheel: Beyond the Tradition
” (9:20), for an explanation and overview of the Lakota (Sioux) medicine wheel, according to Don Warne, then answer the following questions:

What does the medicine wheel represent?

How does the use of the medicine wheel extend from traditional to modern times?

Which gifts come from each of the four directions?

9.7 The Nurse Leader’s Role in Managing Organizational Change

The nurse leader’s role as change agent is complex and varied in nature, and it represents significant leadership challenges. Innovative organizational change can be effectively managed with proven leadership strategies and tools (MacPhee, 2007). The change agent has two main responsibilities: to change oneself and to build capacity in others. Stefancyk et al. (2013) introduced the idea of a 
change coach
, which builds upon the traditional role of a nurse leader. A change coach or leader uses coaching behaviours that include guidance, facilitation, and inspiration (Stefancyk et al., 2013). The leader uses guidance to set behavioural expectations for staff performance and provides feedback on performance in the change project. As a facilitator, the change coach encourages staff to share in decision making, thereby creating and nurturing a culture that supports input from others, facilitates creative thinking, and enhances the process of finding the best solutions to address challenges. The leader takes on an inspirational role, expressing confidence and recognizing staff as providing meaningful contributions to the change process.

Building partnerships with staff that include two-way communication, both internally and externally, is critical to building trust and teamwork (Gilley et al., 2009; Yukl, 2013). Communication strategies can include informing those affected by the change how the change will affect their job, and providing information in a timely manner to help them make effective decisions. Nurse scholars (MacPhee, 2007; Morjikian, Kimball, & Joynt, 2007; Stefanyk et al., 2013) suggest that developing trust is a component of communicating effectively, and that this can be accomplished through demonstrating approachability, building rapport, listening, and restating the opinions of others (even when the leader disagrees with the opinion). Listening to staff also means being aware of 
change fatigue
, a condition experienced by individuals subjected to unrelenting and overwhelming change in their work environments (Bowers, 2011). Leadership and management skills and behaviours can positively influence the execution of change initiatives (Gilley et al., 2009).

A call to action means the leader knows when strategies for change need to be altered to foster effective followership. Navigating complex organizational structures through formal and informal power networks is foundational to setting the stage for a successful change. Organizational agility requires the leader to know and understand how the organization works and to be familiar with key policies, practices, and procedures.

9.8 Change Strategies

According to the classic model developed by Bennis, Benne, and Chinn (1960), three strategies can be used to facilitate change. The characteristics of the change agent and the amount of resistance encountered will determine which of the following strategies should be used.

Power-coercive
 strategies are based on the application of power through legitimate authority (Sullivan, 2012). Little effort is used by the nurse leader to enforce change, and staff has no ability to alter the course of the change process. Power-coercive strategies can be used when change is critical, time is limited, there are high levels of resistance, and there may be little or no chance of reaching organizational consensus (Sullivan, 2012).

Empirical-rational
 strategies assume that providing knowledge is the most powerful requirement for change (Sullivan, 2012). This strategy assumes that people are rational and will act in their own self-interest when they understand that change will benefit them. It can work well if the change is perceived as reasonable or beneficial for individuals.

Normative-reeducative
 strategies assume that individuals act in accordance with social norms and values that influence their acceptance of change (Sullivan, 2012). The nurse leader focuses on individual’s behavioural motivators such as roles, attitudes, feelings, and their interpersonal relationships as an effective way to implement change in the health care environment.

9 Response and Resistance to Change

Several factors can influence resistance to change. It is not uncommon for staff to state that they were not involved in the decision making regarding changes in their practice and, as a result, be highly resistant to change. While not everyone will embrace change, individuals respond on a continuum that ranges from a lack of enthusiasm to overt sabotage (Gaudine & Lamb, 2015). Resistance may involve a personal loss, feelings of inadequacy, lack of competence, and lack of confidence to perform (Austin & Claassen, 2008). Leaders who can help members psychologically own the change are more likely to see the change initiative sustained and embedded in practice.

We offer the following strategies to counter resistance:

Understand that resistance is a natural part of the process but must be constructively addressed for change to progress.

Learn why an individual is resisting the change. Perhaps the resistance may be related to the lack of understanding in how the change process unfolds, which calls for supporting their ability to adjust to the change.

Link some of the old ways of working with the new change as a way to bridge the old with the new and bring some familiarity to new practices (Austin & Claassen, 2008).

Identify people who are willing to try new practices, which can reduce the possible resistance from others when change is introduced (Bowers, 2011).

Assist staff in identifying with and valuing how the change will affect their practice (i.e., help them to assume ownership for the change) in order to ensure that the change is embraced and sustained.

Communicate a clear vision of the benefits to be gained from the change (Yukl, 2013). Structured and transparent communication aids the participation and involvement of staff.

Summary

One of the most difficult activities for the nurse leader is
leading change
in an organization. The nurse leader needs to have excellent leadership skills, be conversant with change theories, and be able to partner and work effectively with staff in achieving the vision. Being a change coach involves navigating change, generating and mobilizing resources toward innovation, and improving outcomes.

After completing this chapter, you should now be able to:

Explain why nurses have the opportunity to be change agents.

Identify how different theorists explain change.

Discuss how the nursing process is similar to the change process.

Discuss the medicine wheel as a change model.

Describe the nurse leader’s role in implementing change and the call to action.

Differentiate among change strategies.

Recognize how to handle resistance to change.

 

Exercises

How do you normally respond to change in your personal life? How did you respond to your first clinical situation?

Identify the leadership skills that a nurse leader must apply when implementing change.

Identify a change occurring in your workplace. Using one of the change theories presented in this chapter, analyze how well the change process is working.

What are some of the contributing factors to the failure of change projects?

Reflect on how you as a follower can be a positive asset to a change process.

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