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AACN Essentials of nursing education
the core principles and competencies set by the American Association of Colleges of Nursing for each level of nursing education
adaptation theory
a theory that focuses on the dynamic process of adaptation that individuals undergo in response to changes in their environment
advocate
an individual who actively and vocally supports, defends, or promotes the rights, interests, and well-being of another person or a group
American Nurses Association (ANA)
one of the largest and most influential professional nursing organizations in the United States
associate degree in nursing (ADN)
a two-year program offered by various educational institutions that is designed to prepare individuals for a career as a registered nurse (RN)
assumption
a foundational belief or proposition that is accepted without direct empirical evidence
autonomy
an individual’s ability to make decisions and determine courses of actions based on being well informed, giving consent, and volunteering without coercion
bachelor of science in nursing (BSN)
comprehensive four-year degree program designed to prepare individuals for a career as a registered nurse (RN)
beneficence
ethical principle that underscores the obligation to do good and promote the well-being of patients
board of nursing (BON)
a regulatory body tasked with overseeing the practice of nursing within its jurisdiction, typically a state or territory
career development
a broad spectrum of activities aimed at advancing a nurse’s professional trajectory
caregiver
an individual who provides physical, emotional, or practical support to individuals in need of assistance due to illness, disability, age-related challenges, or other conditions that impact their ability to perform daily activities independently
caring
concept of providing compassionate and empathetic attention to individuals
clinical judgment
utilizing nursing knowledge, critical thinking, and clinical reasoning, drawing from evidence, theories, and interdisciplinary insights to make informed and patient-centered decisions
code of ethics
comprehensive set of principles that defines the ethical responsibilities and standards for an individual or a group
communicator
an individual who engages in the process of conveying information, ideas, or messages to others
concept
an idea that serves as a foundational element of a theory, contributing to its overall structure and coherence
concrete
representing specific and tangible ideas or objects that can be directly observed or experienced
confidentiality
maintaining patient privacy in terms of health and personal information
continuing education (CE)
ongoing educational activities
decision-maker
an individual or entity responsible for making choices or reaching conclusions in a particular context
definition
a clear and precise explanation of the meaning of a concept or term
descriptive theory
a theory that aims to systematically and objectively describe phenomena
developmental theory
a theory that is influenced by broader theories of human development and that explores the stages and transitions individuals go through across the life span
Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP)
a practice-focused doctoral degree that emphasizes advanced clinical practice, leadership in healthcare systems, and evidence-based decision-making
Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) in Nursing
a research-focused doctoral degree that emphasizes the generation of new nursing knowledge through rigorous scientific inquiry
domain
a broad and overarching area of theoretical exploration or study
educator
an individual who engages in the process of facilitating teaching and learning
electronic health record (EHR)
a digital version of a patient’s medical history, maintained and shared by multiple providers
electronic medical record (EMR)
a digital version of a patient’s medical history, maintained and used by a single provider
environment domain
the surroundings, context, and external factors that influence a person’s well-being
experiential knowledge
practical knowledge acquired through direct engagement and hands-on experiences
general systems theory
the theory that any system, including a healthcare system or an individual patient, can be viewed as a complex organization of interacting and interrelated components
hard skills
technical and clinical competencies
health domain
a dynamic and holistic concept that encompasses the overall well-being of the person, not just the absence of illness or disease
herbalists
individuals with specific knowledge of herbal remedies and healing practices
holism
concept that individuals should be viewed and treated as whole beings
holistic care
a care approach that considers the whole entity, encompassing the physical, psychological, emotional, and spiritual dimensions of an individual patient
in-service education
ongoing training initiatives provided within healthcare institutions
International Council of Nurses (ICN)
a worldwide federation of national nursing associations
licensed practical nurse (LPN)
a graduate of a practical nursing program, possessing the skills and knowledge required for entry-level positions in health care and a passing score on the national licensing examination; synonymous with licensed vocational nurse (LVN)
licensed vocational nurse (LVN)
a graduate of a practical nursing program, possessing the skills and knowledge required for entry-level positions in health care and a passing score on the national licensing examination; synonymous with licensed practical nurse (LPN)
manager of care
directing and overseeing the comprehensive delivery of healthcare services
Master of Science in Nursing (MSN)
an advanced graduate degree that provides nurses with a higher level of education and specialization in various areas of nursing practice
metaparadigm
a set of overarching concepts and principles that provides a comprehensive framework for understanding a particular discipline or field of study
nonmaleficence
ethical principle that emphasizes the obligation to do no harm intentionally
nursing
a profession that encompasses the art and science of providing comprehensive and holistic care to promote and maintain health, prevent illness, and alleviate suffering for individuals, families, and communities
nursing domain
a fundamental and central concept that defines the unique role, purpose, and responsibilities of the nursing profession
nursing metaparadigm
a conceptual framework that encompasses four fundamental concepts (person, health, environment, and nursing) central to the discipline of nursing
nursing philosophy
the compass that guides a nurse’s practice, encompassing beliefs about the nature of nursing, patient care, ethical considerations, and the nurse’s role within the healthcare system
nursing practice
the application of nursing knowledge, skills, and principles in the delivery of health care to individuals, families, and communities
nursing theorist
an individual, typically a nurse with advanced education and experience, who has made significant contributions to the development of nursing theory
nursing theory
a structured and systematic framework composed of concepts, principles, and propositions that collectively guide and shape the understanding of nursing practice
person domain
the central focus of nursing philosophy, involving the patient or client
phenomenon
a specific aspect of interest or an observable occurrence that is the focus of theoretical exploration and study
philosophy
the exploration of fundamental questions about existence, values, and the human experience through critical inquiry and reflection
prescriptive theory
a theory that provides guidance on how nursing care should be conducted
professional nursing organization
collective body formed by nurses to represent and advocate for the interests of the nursing profession
Quality and Safety Education for Nurses (QSEN)
a collaborative effort to advance and promote the integration of quality and safety competencies into nursing education and practice
reflective skill
process of examining and evaluating one’s own experiences and learning from them
registered nurse (RN)
a licensed graduate of a nursing program, capable of a broad scope of practice that includes assessing patients, planning care, and collaborating with other healthcare professionals on complex cases
scope of practice
defined limits and parameters within which a professional is authorized to work, make decisions, and provide services
self-care
intentional actions and practices that individuals engage in to promote their physical, mental, and emotional well-being
soft skills
interpersonal abilities and personal attributes
specialty certification
official recognition of a nurse’s expertise in a particular area of nursing
Standards of Practice
standards designed by the ANA and based on the nursing process that provides a problem-solving-focused approach to nursing practice
theoretical knowledge
knowledge that is based on established theories and concepts
theory
a framework of related ideas intended to guide and support action
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