Introduction
In the modern context, nursing has become increasingly patient-focused, collaborative, and research-based. Nurses are responsible for ensuring that patients and their families receive care consistent with their values, preferences, and requirements. It is, therefore, important to analyze how nurses support interdisciplinary teams, electronic medical records, and evidence-based practice. This essay provides a synopsis of an interview with a registered nurse (RN) in a hospital’s medical-surgical unit. The interview focused on the level of support for client-centered care in the unit, the challenges encountered, and strategies for overcoming them. Additionally, the interview covered the nursing and interprofessional teams in the unit, how nursing has evolved in response to new evidence, and how unexpected variances have led to positive changes in care and better patient outcomes. Insight into the obstacles and possibilities for enhancing nursing practice on a medical-surgical unit is expected to be gained from this conversation.
Client-Centered Care
In nursing practice, client-centered care is an important approach that focuses on the patient and their unique values, beliefs, and preferences. During an interview with a unit’s RN, it was discussed how the nurses in the unit facilitate client-centered care for patients and their families whose beliefs may be at odds with their own. The nurse explained how the entire ward tries to learn about and accommodate the patient’s values, beliefs, and preferences. For instance, if a patient desires a loved one to be present during medical procedures, the nursing staff will strive to make that happen (Murray et al., 2019). The nursing staff communicates with patients and their loved ones culturally and linguistically appropriate.
However, the RN mentioned that some obstacles hinder the full implementation of patient- and family-centered care. Tailored treatment for each client can be challenging due to time constraints, a lack of resources, and competing objectives. Additionally, tension or confusion may arise when a patient’s views or preferences contradict accepted medical or ethical practices (Murray et al., 2019). To improve patient-centered treatment, the RN proposed enhancing interdisciplinary communication and collaboration. Consulting with other healthcare team members, such as social workers, chaplains, and interpreters, can help the nursing staff better understand and accommodate patients’ preferences and requirements. Regular team meetings and debriefings facilitate honest dialogue and a common appreciation for the clients’ care priorities and needs.
Interprofessional Teams
Clients receive better, more all-encompassing care when provided by interprofessional teams. The RN emphasized the multidisciplinary nature of care in the medical-surgical unit, including the involvement of physicians, pharmacists, respiratory therapists, physical therapists, occupational therapists, and social workers. The nurse elaborated on the role of interdisciplinary teams in patient care. The teams frequently gather to deliberate on client care and make joint choices. If a patient has trouble breathing, the nursing team will coordinate with the respiratory therapist to provide the best care possible. If a patient needs PT or OT, the nursing team will collaborate with the therapist to create a treatment plan tailored to the patient’s specific requirements. The RN stressed the value of open lines of communication and teamwork between specialists. For patients to receive appropriate, coordinated care, the nursing staff must successfully interact with other healthcare team members. The RN noted that to exchange information and work with other healthcare experts, the nursing team used a variety of ways of communication, including in-person meetings, phone conversations, and electronic communication.
The RN further remarked that interdisciplinary groups were crucial when dealing with complicated patient situations. Having a group of healthcare specialists working together to build a holistic care plan when a client has various health conditions is crucial. Suppose a patient has many health issues, such as diabetes, heart disease, and renal disease. In that case, the nursing staff will collaborate with the patient’s doctor, pharmacist, and dietician to create a comprehensive treatment plan. The RN elaborated on the importance of interprofessional teams in quality improvement programs. Teams work together to pinpoint opportunities for enhancing patient care and create plans. Client education, staff training, and environmental improvements are all part of the fall prevention protocol that the interprofessional team will create if the unit has a high rate of client falls.
Evidence-Based Practice
The RN gave an example of an updated nursing procedure implemented within the past year in light of new research findings. The team has begun following a new procedure for preventing pressure ulcers, which involves more regular repositioning, skin examinations, and pressure-relieving beds. The evidence-based guidelines for pressure ulcer prevention that informed the development of the procedure highlight the significance of early identification and intervention in preventing the development of pressure ulcers. The RN reported that pressure ulcer rates had decreased due to the implementation of the regimen. The use of pressure ulcer prevention methods such as repositioning, skin assessments, and specific support surfaces is congruent with the current data supporting their effectiveness in preventing pressure ulcers. This exemplifies the value of evidence-based practice in nursing by demonstrating how it can boost patient outcomes and reduce avoidable problems.
Unwanted Variations
The RN also gave a specific instance of how an unexpected shift in the unit’s routine led to better care for patients. Patients with permanent urinary catheters were likelier to develop urinary tract infections (UTIs). The unit instituted a new strategy emphasizing the importance of timely removal, practicing good hygiene, and utilizing catheter-associated UTI prevention bundles. Due to the strategy, the number of catheter-associated UTIs on the unit has dropped significantly, and the RN said.
National Safety Guidelines
The RN explained how the unit followed federal safety regulations. Hand hygiene, isolation procedures, and the proper use of personal protective equipment are just a few of the CDC’s recommendations implemented throughout the unit (PPE). The RN added that the unit was subject to frequent audits and quality improvement activities to guarantee meeting all applicable national safety criteria. To protect patients and reduce the spread of healthcare-associated infections, it is essential to follow national safety criteria. The RN highlighted that all the floor nurses were fully committed to following these standards. The nursing staff and interprofessional team work together to ensure the clients receive safe and effective care through continuous education, training, and quality improvement initiatives.
Electronic Medical Records
The nurse said there were two major problems with the unit’s EMR system. One problem is that using the system and entering data takes time away from providing direct treatment to patients. The second problem is that if nurses are not well taught or the system isn’t intuitive, they may make mistakes or leave out important information when documenting patient care. The RN indicated that these problems could be resolved by frequently updating the EMR system and giving further training and support to nurses.
Conclusion
The talk with the RN about nursing on the medical-surgical floor was very educational. Notwithstanding difficulties, the nursing and interprofessional teams are dedicated to enhancing patient care through evidence-based practice, quality improvement programs, and adherence to national safety criteria to provide patients with the best possible outcomes. The unit’s nursing team can provide better care for their patients and see better results with their patients when they use evidence-based methods. The nurse mentioned that the unit used evidence-based techniques such as the pressure ulcer prevention strategy to better care for patients.
Reference
Murray, M., Sundin, D., & Cope, V. (2019). Benner’s model and Duchscher’s theory: Providing the framework for understanding new graduate nurses’ transition to practice. Nurse Education in Practice, 34, 199-203. Web.