Nursing Essay Examples

This section provides five samples of nursing essays to help you better comprehend what a good nursing essay looks like. With these samples, you can have a grasp of structuring your nursing essay. Five different authors discuss five various topics, including:

How might nursing theory influence your professional practice?
Nursing should not borrow theories,
How learning about nursing issues and trends can influence professional practice?
Violence in healthcare
What makes a nurse culturally competent?

Nursing Should Not Borrow Theories

Nursing is not only a science but also an art. According to Voldbjerg et al. (2018), nursing theories are essential in nursing practice, education, and research. While behavioral learning theories are, for instance, borrowed from education theories, this is also critical in nursing. In reality, the education discipline presents a framework for understanding what is borrowed and further developed to determine how learning can be used in nursing practice. Borrowing theories from other disciplines is integral in guiding nursing researchers to choose the best research technique for a specific theoretical scenario in nursing practice. It is not only unfounded and ill-informed to suggest that nurses should not borrow theories from other disciplines but also undermines the importance of theories in advancing clinical outcomes.

Essentially, nursing aims to provide care to improve population health through evidence-based nursing interventions and knowledge from other disciplines. For example, two patients with similar clinical symptoms and treatment can have different results. Hence, in such a case, nurses can use theories from other disciplines, such as physics, sociology, and medicine, to expand their understanding of evidence-based practice in patient care. Using theories lead to improved patient outcomes by allowing the creation of individualized treatment plan.

However, the success of borrowing theories requires a multidisciplinary team to provide unique perspectives and practical insights. The team can share a holistic view of patients and consider possibilities based on the patient’s health status. Furthermore, borrowing theories are associated with reduced medical errors. Even though it might take time to develop techniques using borrowed theories, the multidisciplinary healthcare team can collaborate to enhance patient care and outcomes. Again, borrowing theories from other disciplines augments nursing knowledge while fostering systematic practice, which makes nursing practice coordinated, purposeful, and less fragmented (Jensen, 2019).

References

Jensen, K. T. (2019). Nursing research: A marriage of theoretical influences. Nursing Open, 6(3), 1205-1217. https://doi.org/10.1002/nop2.320

Voldbjerg, S., Laugesen, B., Bahnsen, I. B., Jørgensen, L., Sørensen, I. M., Grønkjaer, M., & Sørensen, E. E. (2018). Integrating the fundamentals of care framework in baccalaureate nursing education: An example from a Nursing School in Denmark. Journal of Clinical Nursing, 27(11-12), 2506-2515.https://doi.org/10.1111/jocn.14354

How might nursing theory influence your professional practice?

In the current clinical practice, there is an emphasis on evidence-based practice (EBP) (Younas & Quennell, 2019). In addition, nursing theories have improved the science of nursing to its contemporary prominence. As such, nursing theories would positively influence my professional practice. Specifically, Nightingale’s Environmental Theory will be helpful when teaching patients and coworkers about proper hand hygiene, personal protective equipment, and sterile techniques to control infections. Nursing theories present a framework on which patient care relies. Untested management strategies are not helpful and can hinder safe patient care, but when supported with evidence, nursing theories remain essential in my practice.

Similarly, practical nursing practice involves the application of skills, knowledge, and the art of caring for patients in a considerate manner (Alejandro, 2017). For example, I will be able to create nursing plans that include achievable and measurable goals based on patient and family needs assessment using Imogene King’s Theory of Goal Attainment. Hence, nursing theories will provide me with the knowledge to make clinical decisions generated by research evidence. Moreover, the objective of the research is to build understanding through theory development.

This suggests that nursing theory will help me improve practice in my professional practice by positively influencing patients’ health and quality of life. The correlation between practice and theory is mutual. Practice is the foundation for developing nursing theory, while nursing theory should be validated in practice (Younas & Quennell, 2019). In my professional practice, the nursing theory will allow me to improve the quality of care since I can articulate a care plan and why they are needed. Besides, through nursing theory, I would be able to foster self-care, intrapersonal interaction, and self-efficacy in patients.

References

Alejandro, J. I. (2017). Lessons learned through nursing theory. Nursing2020, 47(2), 41-42. https://doi.org/10.1097/01.NURSE.0000511808.68087.e3

Younas, A., & Quennell, S. (2019). Usefulness of nursing theory‐guided practice: an integrative review. Scandinavian Journal of Caring Sciences, 33(3), 540-555. https://doi.org/10.1111/scs.12670

How learning about nursing issues and trends can influence professional practice?

Research demonstrates that nurses are essential in enhancing quality care and patient outcomes. Nevertheless, as the American healthcare system goes through sweeping changes, nurses should keep up with nursing trends to remain relevant. Technological advancements in healthcare are fast-paced, requiring nurses to keep up with trends to impact patient outcomes. While technology such as remote monitoring, high-tech patient simulators, and electronic health records are ubiquitous in hospitals, it is paramount for nurses to understand how to use new systems and tools (Peretti et al. 2017). Moreover, using electronic communication through text apps and communication equipment would enable healthcare practitioners to respond proficiently to patient needs. Apps, for instance, may notify nurses when they are running out of time to provide treatment but also allow for synchronized quality management. Innovative approaches enhance nurses’ lives through sustained collaboration while offering immediate access to critical patient information.

Healthcare practitioners can also rapidly respond to varying physiological parameters using evidence-based practice to impact patient outcomes. With the heightened use of portable technology and telemedicine in remote areas, nurses can keep and track patient documentation electronically (Peretti et al. 2017). A change in nursing practice has seen healthcare move out into the community; this allows caregivers to use skills in new ways. As preventive care becomes trendy, nurses must collaborate with other professionals, such as nutritionists and therapists, to impact patient outcomes. Because patient interactions keep changing owing to demographic shifts, heightened access to health services, and proper consumer education, nurses must get better training to lead effectively.

References

Peretti, A., Amenta, F., Tayebati, S. K., Nittari, G., & Mahdi, S. S. (2017). Telerehabilitation: review of the state-of-the-art and areas of application. JMIR rehabilitation and assistive technologies, 4(2), e7. https://doi.org/10.2196/rehab.7511

Violence in healthcare

Providing care to victims of human trafficking can be traumatic. As such, nurse leaders should educate nurses on ways of identifying victims and connecting them to support systems. According to Byrne, Parsh, and Parsh (2019), human trafficking is modern-day slavery involving 12 to 30 million people. Lamb-Susca and Clements (2018) also demonstrate that 50-80% of the victims of trafficking are seen by healthcare providers while still under the control of the trafficker. The healthcare visits are triggered by conditions that prevent normal functioning, positive pregnancy tests, abortions, or recurrent sexually transmitted infections.

Even though there is no specific indicator to identify victims of human trafficking, there are various signs that nurses should understand. In this respect, nurses should assess mood swings, suicidal thoughts, paranoia, and posttraumatic stress disorder during healthcare visits. Other behavioral symptoms include addiction, nightmares, or sleep disturbances. Physical signs include burns, bald patches on the head, or bruises. Besides, the patient’s story about lifestyle or how they arrived in the country can be inconsistent. Furthermore, victims of human trafficking have inadequate control over their lives and finances, cannot speak for themselves, and are coached to respond honestly to healthcare providers’ questions.

In this case, nurses can establish trust as an effective intervention to get honest and open questions. Nonetheless, language barriers can hinder (Byrne et al., 2019). This is because many victims trafficked into the US from other nations do not speak English and require an interpreter. As a result, avoiding leading and direct questions can help the nurse create a non-judgment and safe environment to get honest responses. The nurse can ask questions to assess the patient’s working conditions, physical health, mental health, lack of control over their lives, and living conditions.

Nurses’ knowledge about community resources that serve people with risk factors for human trafficking is also a suitable intervention. Community resources such as mental health agencies, substance abuse centers, and shelters can provide victims with housing, familial support, and basic needs to reduce susceptibility. After victims are physically stable, they should be supported to deal with psychological effects because they are likely to be victimized if they are addressed.

References

Byrne, M., Parsh, S., & Parsh, B. (2019). Human trafficking: Impact, identification, and intervention. Nursing Management, 50(8), 18-24. https://doi.org/10.1097/01.NUMA.0000575304.15432.07

Lamb-Susca, L., & Clements, P. T. (2018). Intersection of human trafficking and the emergency department. Journal of Emergency Nursing, 44(6), 563-569. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jen.2018.06.001

What makes a nurse culturally competent?

Cultural competence represents the ability of healthcare providers to recognize and respect patients’ beliefs, values, linguistic needs, and behavior. According to Kaihlanen, Hietapakka, and Heponiemi (2019), healthcare providers must deliver care to linguistically and culturally diverse patients. Language and cultural aspects can affect patient safety. Due to patients’ cultural diversity, culturally competent care allows providers to address barriers to seeking healthcare (Barksdale et al., 2017). As a result, a culturally competent nurse is culturally sensitive, aware, skilled, and knowledgeable.

Cultural awareness allows the nurse to understand diverse values and identify stereotypes and communication norms. Additionally, nurses understanding their own culture enable them to understand patients from various cultures. Cultural knowledge and skills are also essential since they allow nurses to expand their knowledge base for different cultures, including shared values and distribution. This knowledge can be acquired through seminars, journal articles, or interactions.

Furthermore, the ability to communicate and interact with different cultures helps a nurse to be culturally competent. Therefore, awareness of the culture around service areas presents nurses with opportunities to make patient assessments and meet healthcare needs (Kaihlanen et al., 2019). Cultural sensitivity plays an integral role in nurses serving as culturally competent. The ability to identify stereotypes, communication norms and interaction is necessary for the delivery of safe and quality care. Nurses should be able to debunk other cultural stereotypes through cultural sensitivity and create a care plan based on patient’s health needs.

Scenario in practice where cultural competence was lacking

In my practice, I have seen cases of culturally competent care. For instance, in one of the routines in practice, I encountered a coworker attending to a Hispanic patient who could not express himself in English. Rather than using the facility’s interpreter, the colleague was using the patient’s family to interpret. Barksdale et al. (2017) indicate that some ambulatory clinics rely on patients’ family members or friends as ad hoc interpreters due to cultural and linguistic diversity in the US. Moreover, this leads to culturally incompetent care because it hinders patients who do not speak English or have limited English proficiency (LEP) in healthcare. These patients also delay seeking care, leading to adverse health outcomes. Providers can ensure that LEP patients receive CLAS by using the services of a qualified medical interpreter.

References

Barksdale, C. L., Rodick, W. H., Hopson, R., Kenyon, J., Green, K., & Jacobs, C. G. (2017). Literature review of the national CLAS standards: Policy and practical implications in reducing health disparities. Journal of Racial and Ethnic Health Disparities, 4(4), 632- 647. https://doi.10.1007/s40615-016-0267-3

Kaihlanen, A. M., Hietapakka, L., & Heponiemi, T. (2019). Increasing cultural awareness: qualitative study of nurses’ perceptions about cultural competence training. BMC Nursing, 18(1), 1-9. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12912-019-0363-x

By admin in How To Write Nursing Essay on October 29, 2022