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Fundamentals of Nursing

What Should the Nurse Do?

Fundamentals of NursingWhat Should the Nurse Do?

What Should the Nurse Do?

1 .
A patient is expressing emotional distress and requires empathetic support. How should the nurse demonstrate the soft skill of empathy to establish trust and understanding with the patient?
2 .
A nurse working in a specialized area is considering pursuing specialty certification. What steps should the nurse take to achieve certification?
3 .
A nurse witnesses a colleague making inappropriate comments about a patient’s cultural background. What should the nurse do to uphold standards of professionalism and person-centered care?

In a busy medical-surgical unit, Nurse Rodriguez is assigned to care for Mr. Suarez, a 65-year-old patient admitted with a complex medical history, including diabetes and heart failure. Mr. Suarez has been experiencing difficulty managing his medications at home, leading to frequent hospital admissions. He appears frustrated and overwhelmed.

As Nurse Rodriguez begins her shift, she recognizes the need for a holistic approach to Mr. Suarez’s care, considering not only his physical health but also his emotional and social well-being. Applying Dorothea Orem’s self-care deficit nursing theory, Nurse Rodriguez assesses Mr. Suarez’s ability to engage in self-care and identifies areas where he may need assistance.

During their interactions, Nurse Rodriguez encourages Mr. Suarez to share his challenges and concerns. She involves him in the development of a personalized care plan, emphasizing self-care strategies that align with his capabilities and preferences. Drawing from Orem’s theory, Nurse Rodriguez collaborates with the healthcare team to address Mr. Suarez’s deficits in self-care, providing education on medication management, diet, and lifestyle modifications.

Throughout the shift, Nurse Rodriguez continuously evaluates Mr. Suarez’s response to the care plan, adjusting interventions based on his feedback and observed progress. By the end of the shift, Mr. Suarez expresses gratitude for the personalized approach to his care, and Nurse Rodriguez reflects on how the application of Orem’s theory facilitated a person-centered and empowering care experience.

4 .
Identify and discuss the specific elements of Dorothea Orem’s self-care deficit nursing theory that Nurse Rodriguez applied in this scenario.
5 .
How did the self-care deficit nursing theory guide Nurse Rodriguez’s assessment, intervention, and evaluation of Mr. Suarez’s care?
6 .
What aspects of patient empowerment and self-care were evident in her nursing actions?
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