Introduction
Evidence-based practice (EBP) is firmly established as an essential component of nursing practice. Despite being present in some form in all nursing roles, its presence is arguably more prominent in professional nursing settings (RN). The RN’s responsibilities include planning patients’ care, analyzing their medical history, and administering medications (Ericksen, 2015). In addition, several managerial tasks and the duty of communicating with clinicians increase the scope of responsibilities. Most of these tasks directly determine patient outcomes depending on the quality of the made decisions. While it would be an understatement to say that practical nurses do not rely on evidence-based practices, in most cases, the outcomes of the patients are only indirectly dependent on EBP, which is the most obvious differentiation between PN and RN.
Methods of Communication
Two of the most evident methods of communication used in nursing practice are verbal and written communication. The former is used for everyday interaction with the patients, thus fulfilling their basic needs and providing counseling, education, and support necessary for improving long-term results. In both instances, the clarity and accessibility of the presented information determine the quality of care received by the patient. The written communication is responsible for providing clear instructions on treatment and healthy behaviors, thus facilitating the safety and trust of the patients. Therefore, non-native-English-speaking healthcare providers are obliged to provide oral and written translations of important documents, offer competent interpreter services, and notify the stakeholders of their right to use the services (VonBriesen, n.d.).
Challenges of Delivering Primary Health Care
An environment designed for emergency medicine poses two major challenges to delivering primary health care. First, it does not offer any feasible means of continuity of care, such as access to a detailed medical history or a scheduled follow-up visit, which leads to frequent admissions for avoidable conditions. Second, the inadequately long wait times often lead to complications caused by the escalation of initially simple conditions such as high blood pressure (Leydon, 2012).
The dilemma of Providing Care to Vulnerable Populations
One of the challenges of patient-centered care is the disruption of balance in addressing the needs of patients with different needs. While it may seem logical to allocate more time to patients with more pressing needs and demanding conditions, it contributes to the mistreatment of populations with less apparent health risks. This eventually creates a situation where the latter have greater chances of developing adverse health conditions. Unfortunately, I cannot think of any meaningful solution to the problem aside from introducing additional regulations that ensure adequate time for both groups, although I acknowledge that such an approach may result in complications.
Portrayal in Media
In order to attract viewers, the popular media often deliberately introduces inconsistencies to the portrayal of emergency rooms. First, the technical details of many procedures are commonly misrepresented, mostly to make them apparent to the viewer, with defibrillators being the most common example (MedicalBag, 2014). Second, the formal side is often diminished or neglected in favor of action scenes that resonate with the viewer, such as rushing through the corridor with the patient in an unstable condition. Third, the ethical side of the profession can be inaccurately portrayed in order to attract viewers interested in on-screen romance.
People in the Waiting Room
The people who enter the waiting room are characterized by the presence of an apparent health risk as well as a possibility of further complication determined by the timely delivery of care. Therefore, it would be appropriate to describe them as stressed and vulnerable.
References
Ericksen, K. (2015). Practical nursing vs. professional nursing: Understanding the differences.Web.
Leydon, J. (2012). Emergency situation: The Waiting Room examines health care — and the lack of it — in America. Web.
MedicalBag. (2014). Fact or fiction: Do doctor dramas accurately portray real life in the ER?. Web.
VonBriesen. (n.d.). Health care provider’s obligations to non-English speaking patients. Web.