...nursing organizations such as the Wisconsin Nurses Association (WNA) function as an advocate for registered nurses at the state level. The Wisconsin Nurses Assocation “works to protect, promote, and enhance the practice of professional nursing.” (“WISCONSINNURSES.ORG,” n.d.) The WNA encourages members to follow the American Nurses Association Code of Ethics for Nurses, provides assistance with professional development, and represents nurses at the state and national level. As a member of the WNA I know my voice is heard in Madison and Washington D.C. due to the actions of political action committees. I have the Code of Ethics to guide my practice. And I have access to numerous resources such as workshops, webinars and conferences to assist in developing my professional career as an RN in the state of Wisconsin. The Wisconsin Board of Nursing is a regulatory agency that is part of the Wisconsin Department of Safety and Professional Services. “The Board of Nursing is involved in education, Legislation, licensing, and discipline of Licensed Practical Nurses (LPNs), Registered Nurses (RNs), Nurse Midwives and Advanced Practice Nurse Prescribers (APNP).” (“dsps.wi.gov/Boards –Councils/Board-Pages/Board-of-Nursing-Main-Page/,”n.d.) Chapter 441 of the Wisconsin State Statues provides an overview of the regulatory responsibilities of the Wisconsin Board of Nursing. The Nurse Licensure Compact is one part of Chapter...
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...disease that infects white blood cells in humans, specifically Killer T cells, which destroys the chances of fighting off common colds and common infections in individuals. Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) has been known to have first erupted from chimpanzees and monkeys in Africa. When hunting for food, humans would come in contact with infected blood, which is believed to be the leading cause of the communicable disease. Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) can be transmitted through sexually active individuals, blood transfusions, sharing of needles, through pregnancy, or breastfeeding. Infections may be transmitted through semen, infected blood, or vaginal secretions, which also has a possibility to become Acquire Immunodeficiency Syndrome (AIDS) in some individuals (Mayo Clinic, 2014). HIV Symptoms and Treatment Patients who are infected with Human Immunodeficiency Transmission (HIV), may not experience symptoms for up to ten years. With susceptibility to the disease, individuals are able to spread the disease without realizing they have acquired the illness. Symptoms developed with Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) include: Diarrhea, fatigue, fever, vaginal yeast infections, headaches, mouth sores, muscle stiffness, rashes, sore throats, and swollen lymph glands (New York Times, 2014). In order to test for patients with Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV), scientists test for ELISA or the Western blot tests that search for antibodies in the patient’s blood that relate to the...
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...Evolving Role of the School Nurse Necessitates Reform Abstract This paper addresses the need for passage of proposed bills in Congress entitled the Student-to-School Nurse Ratio Improvement Act of 2011 and Student-to-School Nurse Ratio Improvement Act of 2012. The National Association of School Nurses recommends one nurse for every 750 students, but the reported student-to-nurse ratio is almost twice that. Evolving Role of the School Nurse Necessitates Reform An analysis of the changing role of the school nurse reveals an overwhelmingly high student-to-nurse ratio in public schools across the United States. In addition, there is a severe shortage of trained personnel for providing nursing services in most states. Currently, there is no federal legislation mandating school nursing and only five states have laws limiting the number of students under a single nurse’s care (Taliaferro, 2005). In fact, most states do not mandate that licensed nurses provide medical care to students and public schools often resort to using unlicensed personnel to provide healthcare services (S. 2047, 2012). During the past year, Representative McCarthy and Senator Schumer have introduced bills to Congress that would both fund and require states to use licensed nurses when providing healthcare for the student population and to balance the student-to-school nurse ratio. Nurses have been employed by public schools since 1902. Originally, the focus of the school nurse was to prevent communicable...
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...use. Therefore there has always been a stigma attached to HIV – even for those who are in the health profession. A nurse who has been in this vocation for twenty years will probably be able to tell you of a nurse who refused to take care of an HIV patient. Nursing has come a long way since the 1980s, when HIV became known. However, there are still issues that a nurse may face today. One of these issues is when a newly diagnosed HIV patient has a significant other. Should a nurse, knowing the potential devastating consequences of HIV, tell a patient’s sexual partner about their HIV status? This paper will discuss, the legal, moral and ethical ramifications of HIV disclosure. It will weigh the pros and cons of a nurse revealing this information, and it will provide recommendations for nurses who encounter this issue during their practice. It is understandable that a nurse may feel perplexed about this ethical dilemma. Once someone is diagnosed with HIV, they will have the disease for the rest of their lives. Currently there is not a cure. Although treatment options are available, the medications needed to minimize the viral load can be numerous and expensive. In addition, the side effects that can occur from these medications are daunting. Despite the fact that medications are available, there is always the potential that HIV will progress into AIDS. Opportunistic infections caused by HIV maybe so severe that it causes needless...
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...suggest the recommendation for the future of nursing (Clavelle, 2012). Due to the rapid changes in the world of health, and the ever growing systems in health care, it deemed necessary to evaluate the obstacles in the nursing profession which curtailed effective response to these evolving changes in the health systems. This was in line with 2010 Affordable care Act which was on the view that, since the nurses forms the largest proportion of the health worker, they can play a fundamental role in achieving the objectives stipulated in the Act. The Act included the provision of transforming health care system to the one that focuses on patient needs, safety, affordability and quality. Prior to the final verdict on the report, the committee researched on various challenges such as the problems that affected the education system of nursing, and the probable solutions necessary for advancement of the system. Among the probable solution they reviewed were; the benefits of highly skilled nurses given the challenges of ageing population in America, an advanced education system that focuses more on a community setting rather than acute care, the qualification entry to the profession which was to be discussed by the nursing fraternity and other stakeholders, continued learning so as to keep up with the advancing health care systems, and how to mitigate the shortage of...
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...Nurses today face many ethical dilemmas in the delivery of patient care. What can or should be done for the patient versus the wishes of the patient’s physician conflicting with the personal beliefs the nurse holds to be true. The client’s wishes may conflict with the institutional policies, physician professional opinion, the client’s family desires, or even the laws of the state. According to the nursing code of ethics, the nurse’s first allegiance is to the client (Blais & Hayes, 2011, pg. 60). The ethical ideals of each nurse must be weighed with the laws of the state along with providing the most ethical care for the patient. The advancements in medical technology make it possible to sustain a patient life where previously there was no hope of recovery. These advancements have put nurses in the forefront of decision making begging the question “just because we can, should we” to be answered. Nurses need to understand the legalities involved with these new technologies to practice safely and effectively. Scientific achievements have opened new ground for nursing exploration. In response to the need for nursing input into social and legal issues, nurses now find career opportunities as forensic nurses, legal nurse consultants, and nurse-attorneys (Blais & Hayes, 2011, pg. 75). This paper will explore the ethical and legal issues encountered by nurses in two case studies. The American Nurses Association Code of Nursing Ethics could influence a final decision in each case study...
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...relate to the health care field. When discussing the current nursing shortage, and the nursing shortage that will continue through the future, scarcity, supply, and demand are just a few of the important concepts to address. According to Explorehealthcareers.org (2012), “The United States has a serious shortage of practicing nurses” and “demand for frontline workers is expected to increase 50% over the next five years.” This paper will explore scarcity, supply, and demand and how these relate to the current and future nursing shortage. Scarcity Scarcity exists when the infinite human wants outweighs the limited amount of resources available ("The Problems of Health Care", n.d.). Scarcity exists within the health care field when discussing the nurses, the need for nurses, and the amount of nurses that are available to fill the number of positions available. There are many reasons that have led to the scarcity of the nursing resource. The amount of nursing schools and nursing instructors are not able to keep up with the amount of potential students, nor the need for more nurses; there are greater opportunities for nurses to expand their careers and move out of hands on nursing; there are more people entering the health care arena who will need health care and nurses to provide that care (American Nurses Association, 2014). The nursing shortage can lead to a decline in quality of care as well. According to American Nurses Association (2014), “Nurses often need to work long...
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...behavior towards a wide range of social and environmental interventions.” (WHO, 2014). Nurses are continuing to assist patients in enhancing and changing their life styles, while at the same time striving to provide optimal health on a holistic level. This essay will review three recent journal articles from professional nursing organizations on how the roles of nurses has evolved in regards to health promotion, specific ways that nurses implement methods of health promotion, as well as the primary, secondary, and tertiary levels of health promotion prevention. Promoting health in Nursing Health can be considered as physical, spiritual, mental, and social functioning of human beings (Edelman, Kudzma, & Mandle, 2014). Cultural and religious beliefs can also influence health promotion, as well as environmental factors that may pose risks for individuals who are unaware. The purpose of health promotion in nursing practice lies in the fact that nurses are on the front line of educating, implementing, and enforcing health promotion in all aspects of life to their patient’s. As the health care system continues to evolve and change, so does the role of nurses and all interdisciplinary staff that are directly involved in patient care. The doctors knew the job of the nurse years ago was more of an assistant, to use when they needed. In today’s world, nurses are the hubs in which all care in centered. Nurses have exceptional assessment skills, which are utilized in the industry to obtain...
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...Human Immunodeficiency Virus, otherwise known as HIV can lead to the acquired immunodeficiency syndrome also known as AIDS. This virus weakens the human immune system over a period of time leaving it in a weakened state to allow opportunistic infections or cancer to grow. The human immunodeficiency virus is very similar to other viruses such as the flu or even the common cold but the most important difference between the two is that with the flu or cold the immune system is able to rid the body of the virus in a short period of time. In the case with HIV, “the immune system can’t seem to get rid of it”. (AIDS.GOV, 2012) As a result of the body’s failure to remove the virus, it continues to replicate and stays in the body for life. HIV is found in human body fluids and contact with this fluid can cause the virus to be transmitted and cause infection. Specific bodily fluids which contain HIV would be blood, semen, breast milk, vaginal fluids, or rectal mucous. HIV can be transmitted through sexual contact with a partner that is already infected. The bodily fluids of the infected partner can travel through one’s bloodstream or open sores. HIV can also be transmitted due to pregnancy, child birth, or even breast feeding. Injection drug abuse can also transfer the virus; especially in scenarios where individuals share needles. Other cases where the HIV virus can be transmitted are also within healthcare professionals and occupational exposure or individuals who have had...
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...Shortage” Final Report Abstract While the nurses are disappearing from developing nations to help the shortage in the United States, it is putting a strain on health systems in the developing world. American found a simple solution to the problem of our nursing shortage and how we have turned to the global market where nurses have become a hot commodity. Even though it seems to be a natural thing to import nurses, since we import everything else. By importing nurses it saves time and money but it will cause more problems in the end. The Nursing Shortage In the United States is a situation where the demand for nurses is greater than the supply, as is currently the case in several developed nations. According to a U.S. government study, by the year 2020, there could be a nationwide shortage up to one million nurses, which could result in substandard treatment for hundreds of thousands of patients. Just as alarming, fewer nurses are choosing to teach the next generation of professionals, resulting in tens of thousand of applicants being turned away from the nation’s nursing schools. (1) Reason for Shortage The responsibilities of nurses have increased and the patients are more ill as a result. In addition the average age of nurse’s increases while the number of applications to baccalaureate programs has decreased.(2) New opportunities became available for the nursing practice, which further drains the number of nurses available for acute settings. Other factors...
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...and why as there are nurses. It is therefore incumbent on each nurse to determine what aspects of nursing research and history will influence her practice. This work is presented as a Professional Nursing Mission Statement for the author. In the following pages, the governing bodies, ethical code, professional traits, nursing theorist and theory, and historical figure that guide personal nursing practice are presented with scenarios demonstrating their effects. Providing the building blocks for an individual approach to nursing will result in a deeper understanding of practice. A. Functional Differences In practice a nurse has two important guides for legal, ethical and competent nursing: regulatory agencies, such as the California Board of Registered Nursing, and professional nursing organizations, such as the American Nurses Association, While both entities provide frameworks for nursing practice, their functional differences vary. The California Board of Registered Nursing (2013) is responsible for the licensure and regulation of nursing practice of all registered nurses in the state of California. The agency implements and enforces laws governing nursing practice in its jurisdiction as outlined in the state’s Nursing Practice Act. This includes the definition of nursing in the state, which actions may or may not be performed by a nurse, and the consequences for violation of the law (Nursing Practice Act, 2013). By contrast, the American Nurses Association is a national organization...
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...holistic care of a human being, as caregivers, we must continue to invest time and effort into providing more advanced nursing to our holistic beings for their better health. According to the Institute of Medicine (IOM), nurses must be 80 % baccalaureate prepared RN workforce by 2020 (AACN Face Sheet, 2015). Therefore, nurses must endeavor to achieve the Bachelor of Science in nursing (BSN) for more competencies in their lifetime working field. Needless to say, patients will receive highly qualified care based upon enhanced education. Thus, BSN education preparation should be differentiate in order to meet these expectations. Different Competencies between the Associate-Degree Versus the Baccalaureate Degree Level The enlightened preceding nurses through many experimental years have developed many characteristics for a professional nursing. Currently educated nurses utilize their competencies that acquired from school in many different clinical setting environments. Compare to Associated degree level (ADN) focused on learning basic clinical skills within two years, BSN programs broadened learning realm along with the education centered on the art and science of nursing in four years (Walters & Kluwer, 2012). For example, ADN nurses tend to have better grasp on nursing skills and tasks such as IV insertion and Foley insertion because the ADN programs focus heavily on learning particular skills. On the other hand, BSN nurses tend to have...
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...rights (Brous, 2010). The purpose of this paper is to identify and examine the regulations for a Registered Nurse (RN) licensure and the mandatory continuing education required by the state of Texas, the impact of the American Nurses Associations (ANA), and the legislation on nursing and health care practice in Texas. Scope of Practice Texas State Board of Nursing defines Registered Nurses scope of practice as a professional who stands in for the patients, and families, by ensuring that all his/her practices are abiding by the Nurse Practice Act (NPA) and the Board of Nursing (BON) rules and regulations. To achieve this, the RN is bound by professional standards to plan and perform nursing care based on their areas of professional specialty. The RN portrays an understanding of the biological, physical, and social science principles obtained while in professional nursing school (Texas Board of Nursing [BON], 2011). This is visible as one is able to integrate the academic knowledge and skills in the way of his/her planning and delivery of nursing care in a more professional way. The scope of practice by the RN is defined by elements such as: the level of education, the level and influence of engagement in the nursing process, and the settings in the offering on nursing care services to patients. Only when one is licensed as an advance practice registered nurse, is when ones scope of practice includes the following services: medical diagnosis, prescription...
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...American Legion Auxiliary Health Care Scholarship: This $300 scholarship is awarded to students pursuing a health care career. To qualify, students must have completed two semesters in college with at least a 3.0 GPA. To apply, contact the secretary treasurer of the American Legion Auxiliary through their mailing address at PO Box 2198, Gillette, Wyoming 82717. Blue Cross Blue Shield Scholarships: The Blue Cross Blue Shield provides two separate $500 awards for students majoring in a career in the health care industry. To apply, students should contact their financial aid office. Margaret L. Hageman Scholarships: The amount of this award can vary, up to $600 for a semester. Students must be pursuing a career as in the nursing field, either as a registered nurse, or as registered nurses who are going back to school to advance their career. Contact the Wyoming Nurses Association for more information, by mail at 1603 Capitol Avenue, Suite 305, Cheyenne, Wyoming 82001. University of Wyoming License Plate Funded Scholarships: Application information can be found on the license plate scholarship website. These scholarships award $750 per semester and are renewable for students obtaining a 2.5 GPA or higher. They are aimed towards non-traditional students and include the following scholarships: * Outreach Scholarships * Non-Traditional Undergraduates scholarships * Fifth and Six Year Undergraduates scholarships * Second Bachelor’s Degree scholarships University of...
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...Ethics: Professional Moral Compass Grand Canyon University NRS 437V January 8, 2012 Professional Moral Compass Ethics, a branch of philosophy refers to the values for human conduct, considering the rightness and wrongness of actions and motives. As nursing profession is an integral part of the health care environment, the nursing ethics provides the insight to the values and ethical principles governing nursing practice, conduct, and relationships. The Code of Ethics for Nurses, adopted by the American Nurses' Association (ANA) is intended to provide definite standards of practice and conduct that are essential to the ethical discharge of the nurse's responsibility (American Nurses Association, 2012). A nurse cultivates personal ethics through personal, cultural and spiritual values which becomes a moral compass for their professional ethics. Personal ethics in combination with the code of ethics often assist the nurses in personal and social decision making during ethical dilemma. This ability prompts them to better respond to needs of the suffering patient and their own well-being. This paper will discuss the personal, cultural, and spiritual values contributing to nurses’ individual worldview and philosophy of nursing and the moral and ethical dilemma being faced in this profession. Values Contributing to Individual’s Worldview and Philosophy of Nursing Born in a Christian middle class South Indian family, the strict traditional values helped to embed the concept of service...
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