Patient Assessment
Nurses collect patients’ health and lifestyle data
Competencies
- Collects data on patients’ current medical condition and lifestyle needs
- Uses assessment techniques, tools and instruments
- Uses interviews, examination, observation and medical records review
- Assesses patients’ educational needs and developmental levels
- Records current medical issues, past medical issues, current medication, past medications
- Considers the interaction of body systems with lifestyle issues
- Synthesizes information and data
- Assesses family dynamics and impact on health and wellness
- Documents relevant data
Diagnosis
Analyzes records and assessment data to determine nursing best practices
Competencies
- Determines possible adverse reactions
- Weighs safety risks
- Supports patient in adjusting to medical diagnosis
- Documents risk factors related to nursing care
Treatment Plan
Prescribes, monitors, advises and adjusts treatment plans
Competencies
- Prescribes, monitors, advises and adjusts treatment plan based upon patients’ culture and support system
- Uses culturally appropriate teaching methods
- Considers existing health conditions and health history
- Establishes priorities with patients, family
- Enlists multidisciplinary strategies suitable for patients’ culture
- Considers Patients’ “Rights and Responsibilities”
- Applies current medical evidence, best practices and research trends
- Modifies the plan based upon ongoing assessment to patients’ response to treatment and other factors
- Documents progress using standard forms, professional language and medical terminology
- Communicates medical progress in ways significant to patients’ culture
Identifies Treatment Outcomes
Identifies expected outcomes for patients’ treatment plans.
Competencies
- Communicates treatment and treatment outcomes in culturally appropriate ways
- Documents outcomes as measurable goals with time-frame targets
- Teaches and trains patients’ primary givers in post outcome care
- Advised patients and caregivers of possible side effects of medication
- Modifies follow-up practices in line with patients’ recovery
Implementation
Implements patients’ prescribed treatment plans
Competencies
- Follows professional best-practice standards
- Delivers treatments based on competent medical diagnosis
- Ensures patients’ safety
- Acts as a patients’ advocate
- Supports patients’ privacy
Safety
Delivers clinical methods that ensure patients’ safety
Competencies
- Infection control
- Radiation safety
- Safe handling of “Sharps”
- Disposal of biological materials
- Teaching patients self-care and prevention methods
Evaluation
Evaluates patients’ ongoing progress.
Competencies
- Conducts ongoing patient evaluation
- Responds to patients’ needs with appropriate interventions
- Teaches patients’ self-care techniques
- Considers patients’ culture in teaching and advising
- Documents patients’ results
Ethics
Practices “Patient Welfare First” ethics.
Competencies
- Follows the most current Nursing Code of Ethics
- Protects patients’ rights, dignity, autonomy, beliefs and cultural values
- Maintains patients’ personal and confidential information
- Allows patients to make decisions for themselves
- Advocates for patients
- Follows state and federal laws concerning medical privacy
- Follows state and federal laws for child safety
Professional Education
Studies and keeps learning current in our ever-improving technological world.
Competencies
- Complete a formal and accredited nursing education program
- Passes State and National Licensure examinations
- Keeps knowledge and skills current
- Demonstrates life-long learning
- Remains accountable for maintaining current knowledge and skills
- Shares research findings with colleagues and patients
- Participates in continuing education programs
Research
Keeps current with advances in medical research
Competencies
- Uses medical research in serving patients
- Uses research to develop and revise policies and procedures
- Shares research with patients in culturally sensitive ways
Deliver High-Quality Care
Delivers high-quality, professional care to patients and patients’ caregivers.
Competencies
- Keep current with medical advancements through Continuing Education
- Develop strategies to apply and integrate new skill sets
- Share service improvement successes with colleagues
- Increase cross-cultural communication skills
Communication
Communicates with medical professionals, patients and patient care givers in culturally appropriate ways.
Competencies
- Listens with cultural sensitivity
- Communicates ideas and expectations in an accurate manner
- Records patients’ treatment notes in a professional manner
- Provides follow-up and follow-through services for patients
Leadership
Provides leadership and contributions to multi-disciplinary treatment teams.
Competencies
- Share ideas and insights to provide new skill guidance for team members
- Teach and model multi-cultural listening skills
- Share cultural insights gained from patient service successes
Collaboration
Collaborate with treatment team colleagues, and support patients’ caretakers in maintaining the patients’ treatment plan..
Competencies
- Communicates with patient, the family, and health care providers for successful patient care
- Building stake-holder consensus to resolve patient care conflicts
- Meets patient care standards
- Promotes cooperation, respect and trust among care givers and care takers
- Involves family in cultural differences affecting patient care
Personal Self-Evaluation
Evaluates and improves personal nursing practice according to professional standards, guidelines, best practices, rules and regulations.
Competencies
- Participates in self-evaluation and supervision to identify areas for professional improvement
- Listens to suggestions from colleagues, patients’, patient caretakers and others involved in patient care
- Evaluates cultural communication, both what is said, and what remains unsaid
- Seeks peer review
- Measures personal and professional practices against ethical and cultural norms
Efficient Use of Resources
Uses resources to provide safe and effective patient care services.
Competencies
- Identifies insurance and social service organizations that support patients’ care
- Delegates health care tasks to qualified team members
- Advocates for legal, mental health and government financial services to provide quality patient care
- Serves as a liaison to other health care patient support services
Community Health and Community Mental Health
Develops and advocates for a range of community health services.
Competencies
- Keeps current on community resources, legal issues and cultural changes in developing communities of care
- Promotes practices for a safe working environment