Instructions: The peer replies should be a minimum of 2 paragraphs each
Peer1
Part 1
The American Nurses Association (ANA) is an organization recognized nationwide that has the largest voice for nurses across the United States. To promote health and wellness for nurses, promote safe and ethical work environments and advocate on issues affecting the nursing profession, the ANA developed the Standards of Practice. The Standards of Practice include 18 standards of practice that lay out a foundation for all nurses. It is expected for every Registered nurse to practice act and behave with the Standards of Practice as their guideline. For a nurse to be competent and provide high quality patient care, they must be familiar with these standards (Goodwin University, 2022).
All 18 standards work together in different ways to help guide each Registered Nurse in their competent care. Each standard has different, important competencies that go along with them. Standard 13: Education, states that nurses must seek knowledge and competence that reflects current nursing practice. The value of reflective practice/inquiry, precepting, and seeking nursing professional development certification are reflected competencies with this standard. Education in nursing in ongoing and up to date information is continuously changing how nurses practice specific care so it is important that nurses are continuing education and maintaining competencies. (ANA, 2021)
By emphasizing the importance of reflective practice in my own nursing profession, I can self-reflect and identify areas of improvement. It is important for me to continuously learn and enhance my skills to provide the best possible care to my patients. Working on my advanced degree is one way that I can meet these competencies in my individual career. Becoming board certified in my specialty and obtaining my CCRN (critical care registered nurse) certification is another way to meet these education competencies in my individual career. Precepting, which I currently do a lot of, is a good way to be competent with the Education Standard of Practice. By teaching new nurses the right way of doing things, you continue to do skills the most up-to-date way.
References
American Nurses Association. (2021). Nursing: Scope and Standards of Practice (4th Ed.)
Silver Spring, MD
Goodwin University. (2022, May 13). ANA standards of practice for RNS: Updated 2021.
What are the ANA Standards of Practice for Registered Nurses?
Part 2 – Children from Abusive Homes
- It is important for nurses to be able to recognize signs of abuse and recognize when a child is from an abusive home. The abuse could be emotional or physical, and any nurse who works with children should be educated on this topic, specifically to become competent in their response when they encounter a child from an abusive home.
- Morally, if the nurse has any indication or belief that a child may be abused, the nurse has every obligation to report this suspected abuse to the appropriate authorities. Providing education on signs and symptoms of abuse to every healthcare worker, so everyone can help in recognition of these instances would help to catch this abuse as soon as possible and prevent further harm. To advocate for an end to oppressive conditions, nurses could get involved with the community and collaborate with law enforcement, social workers, pediatric providers, and schoolteachers. By collaborating with these teams, nurses can ensure a comprehensive approach to address childhood abuse. Together, they can come up with and implement evidence-based prevention programs for the community and develop intervention strategies.
- Early intervention and notification to appropriate authorities is going to be priority in preserving the underserved population trapped by external factors. Regarding children from abusive homes, it could be life or death for the child when talking about early reporting and intervention.
- The ANA code of ethics will help guide the nurse in mobilizing forces to address children from abusive homes by emphasizing the importance of advocacy and protecting this vulnerable population. Nurses can use the code of ethics to guide them in raising awareness about this social issue of child abuse and advocate for changes that promote the well-being of these children.
- Most likely, in 5-8 years, these populations that include children in abusive homes will continue abusive tendencies. There will be more children abused. The children will be more likely to grow up with mental health issues and possibly cause abuse to their own children. More children are going to be killed as a product of abuse and there will continue to be an unclear understanding of the circumstances surrounding children in abusive homes if nurses ignore forces trapping the population they serve
peer 2
1.Culturally Congruent Practice Guidelines for RNs: ANA Standard 8:
Culturally congruent care is essential for registered nurses to provide effective and holistic care to diverse populations. To meet the competencies in Standard 8 of the ANA Standard of Practice RNs can: Seek out educational opportunities and training to enhance their cultural competence and knowledge. Engage in self-reflection and examine their own biases and assumptions about different cultures and individuals (Douglas et al., 2009). Actively listen and communicate with patients from different cultural backgrounds, considering their beliefs, values, and preferences. Further, nursing collaboration with interdisciplinary teams to develop culturally sensitive and inclusive care plans. Advocate for policies and procedures that promote cultural diversity and inclusion in healthcare settings.
A competent nurse should also strive to understand and respect the unique cultural practices and traditions of their patients. By doing so, they can provide care that is respectful, meaningful, and congruent with the patient’s cultural values and beliefs. For example, a nurse may take into account a patient’s religious beliefs when planning their medication schedule or dietary restrictions. Additionally, communicating effectively with patients who may have limited English proficiency or come from different cultural backgrounds is crucial. This means using policy approved methods for interpretation services to ensure accurate and effective communication.
References:
Douglas, M K., Pierce, J U., Rosenkoetter, M M., Callister, L C., Hattar‐Pollara, M., Lauderdale, J., Miller, J., Milstead, J A., Nardi, D., & Pacquiao, D F. (2009, June 10). Standards of Practice for Culturally Competent Nursing Care: A Request for Comments. https://doi.org/10.1177/1043659609334678
2.Elderly Alzheimer’s Patients: Addressing Exploitation and Oppression
Elderly Alzheimer’s patients are a vulnerable population that often falls victim to financial exploitation and oppression by their own family members. As nurses, it is our moral obligation to not only provide care for the victims of violence, but also to actively work towards preventing human entrapment and advocating for an end to oppressive conditions. One way nurses can make sense of the travesty of oppression is by acknowledging that it is a complex social issue deeply rooted in power dynamics, societal attitudes and systemic barriers. Nurses have a duty to advocate for change and create awareness about the mistreatment of elderly Alzheimer’s patients. This can be done by educating healthcare professionals, policymakers, and the general public about the signs of financial exploitation and the need for stronger legal protections for vulnerable populations (Šaňáková & Čáp, 2018).
Unfortunately, it is often the families of elderly Alzheimer’s patients who exploit their finances. This presents a unique challenge for nurses, as they must navigate the delicate balance between respecting the autonomy of the patient’s family and ensuring the safety and well-being of the patient. Nurses should take a proactive approach in identifying and addressing signs of financial exploitation, such as sudden changes in the patient’s financial situation or unexplained withdrawals from their accounts. This is often found in the hospital setting when a patient states they are having trouble making co-pays for prescriptions or buying personal care items.
Additionally, nurses can collaborate with social workers, legal advocates, and other healthcare professionals to develop comprehensive strategies for preventing and addressing elder abuse and exploitation. The American Nurses Association Code of Ethics provides guidance for nurses in addressing social issues such as the exploitation and oppression of elderly Alzheimer’s patients. According to the ANA Code of Ethics, nurses have a responsibility to promote and advocate for the rights, health, and well-being of all individuals, including vulnerable populations such as elderly Alzheimer’s patients.
Ignoring the forces trapping the population they serve can lead to dire consequences in the future. In 5-8 years from now, if nurses ignore the forces trapping elderly Alzheimer’s patients, we can expect to see a continued increase in financial exploitation, abuse, and oppression of this population. Nurses must use their knowledge and expertise to actively address the issues of exploitation and oppression faced by elderly Alzheimer’s patients. They should collaborate with other healthcare professionals, advocate for stronger legal protections, educate the public and policymakers, and work towards creating a supportive environment that values the dignity and rights of all individuals, including elderly Alzheimer’s patients (Davidson et al., 2018).
References:
Davidson, P M., Rushton, C H., Kurtz, M J., Wise, B K., Jackson, D., Beaman, A., & Broome, M E. (2018, February 21). A social–ecological framework: A model for addressing ethical practice in nursing. https://doi.org/10.1111/jocn.14158
Šaňáková, Š., & Čáp, J. (2018, September 30). Dignity of elderly adults from the perspective of nurses: a qualitative descriptive study. https://doi.org/10.15452/cejnm.2018.09.0023