Assignment 1.2: Perception and Sensation

Perception and Sensation

OBJECTIVES

• List the functions of the eyes, ears, and skin and their role in behavior
• Discuss sensation and perception and their role in everyday life

ASSIGNMENT OVERVIEW

This reaction and response assignment explores one perception topic.

DELIVERABLES

A one-page (12-point font) paper

Step 1 Access the Hanover College Psychology Department website.

Hanover College Psychology Department

Step 2 Choose one of the perception topics from the site and complete the tutorial.

Step 3 Summarize what you learned.

Write a one-page summ

Strategies & Quality Practice

A theory has been defined as statements or set of analytical principles that are designed to structure people’s understanding, observation, and explanation of the reality in the world (Nilsen, 2020). In most cases, theories apply some relationships between multiple variables and some specific predictions. A successful theory provides a clear explanation of how and why some relationships can lead to specific events. Theories can be described based on the abstraction continuum. 

Nursing profession is transforming in the modern society. Strong leadership is important in attaining the anticipated transformative changes in the health care system. Nurses have various professional roles in the clinical setting. The professional roles of nurses are centered in ensuring provision of safe and quality care that meet the health needs of individual patients. Nursing theories are based on the four nursing metaparadigm concepts (Nilsen, 2020). Florence Nightingale introduced a number of nursing theories that have provided the basis for development of other theoretical frameworks; thus, helping in improving quality of patient care. Quality is an important consideration in the provision of holistic care that meet the needs of the individual clients. Florence Nightingale is considered as the “mother of nursing” due to her remarkable contributions to the profession of nursing (Nilsen, 2020).

Various strategies have been proposed for ensuring that professional nurses can effectively use their work environment to advocate for the integration of nursing theory as one an important framework for quality practice (Mitchell, 2013). First, developing a vision and mission statement is important in ensuring successful implementation of nursing theories for attaining quality practice. Nurses can set a vision and mission statement related to the implementation of various theoretical concepts. Implementation science is important in developing vision and mission statement in the adoption of various nursing theories into clinical practice. Implementation science allows nurses to address challenges associated with the integration of research to attain more evidence-based practice (EBP) in the health care system (Mitchell, 2013). The vision and mission statement for implementing various nursing theories are based on the scope of each theory or model. 

Second, nurses can undertake a benchmark to determine the efficacy of some nursing theories in improving quality practice. Through implementation science, nurses may conduct various benchmarks to assess how the nursing theories can be implemented into the nursing practice to improve quality of care. Nursing theories are important for implementation since they guide in the clinical practice towards providing quality, safe, holistic, and patient-centered (Nilsen, 2020).  Through benchmarks, professional nurses can develop practice guidelines.  Nursing theories are also significant in developing standard of practice.  

Determining the viability of as specific nursing theory is another strategy in the implementation of various nursing theories as frameworks for improving quality practice in the profession of nursing (Nilsen, 2020). The viability of various concepts, variables, or constructs of specific nursing theories should be assessed before implementing these theoretical frameworks in nursing practice.

References

Mitchell, G. (2013). Selecting the best theory to implement planned change. Nursing Management, 20(1).

Nilsen, P. (2020). Making sense of implementation theories, models, and frameworks. In Implementation Science 3.0 (pp. 53-79). Springer, Cham. https://link.springer.com/chapter/10.1007/978-3-030-03874-8_3

REPLY 2

What strategies might a professional nurse use in his/her work environment to advocate for implementing nursing theory as a framework for quality practice?

Nursing is an important profession in the healthcare sector. The success of the healthcare sector in delivering quality and patient-centered healthcare services relies on nurses’ proficiency and prowess.   One of the fundamental building blocks of the nursing profession is nursing theories. Nurses’ effectiveness in their work depends on how effective they use their working environment to advocate for the implementation of nursing theory as a framework aimed at attaining quality nursing and healthcare practice. Several strategies can be used by nurses to enhance such a process. 

It is important to note that there are different types of nurses. As an ICU nurse, being in an ICU, most of the time, has shown me the need to show a high level of professionalism by using such an environment to practically implement nursing theories. Implementing such theories in an ICU unit is the best since it proves that you can do so even in other nursing departmental units as a nurse. 

The strategies for implementing nursing theories are just drawn from the nursing theories’ requirements. One of the strategies is providing and working hard to create a good environment for patients. For instance, the ICU is one of the critical units of the healthcare facility. Patients in such units are usually in critical condition, and taking care of them requires a high level of professionalism. Hence, a strategy of implementing nursing theory implies that as a Nurse in ICU, you need to create a good working environment according to the Florence Nightingale environmental theory (Lawrence, 2011). A good working environment should consist of good and proper ventilation, light, warmth, and coolness. As a nurse in ICU, you need to ensure that patients are free from external disturbances (Lawrence, 2011).

            The second strategy through which nurses can use to implement nursing theories in their working environment is by applying human relations principles.  ICU patients face serious health challenges. As a nurse in such a unit, it is important to understand your behaviors and help other people identify their health challenges. This is because patients in ICU face serious health conditions that require assistance in every moment. According to the Hildegard Peplau nursing theory, as a nurse, you need to be always sharp at identifying patients felt a need and want (McAndrew, Schiffman, & Leske, 2020).  In such a case, nurses in ICU are good examples of healthcare professionals who need high problem-solving skills through incorporating human relations principles (McAndrew, Schiffman & Leske, 2020).

Another strategy that nurses can use within their working environment is establishing a good and close relationship with their patients.  The latter statements are broad statement which describes several activities a nurse should always do. First of all, it implies that as a nurse, you should always have the desire and motive to assist patients in critical conditions and play a significant contribution towards their recovery process (Lawrence, 2011).  Besides, nurses can use their working environment resources to help patients gain their independence as quickly as possible. In other words, nurses can establish a deep and strong connection with patients in critical conditions by getting inside their patient’s skin to know their needs.

Moreover, nurses need to ensure that they understand the behaviors of their patients. Patients in ICU display behaviors that represent the call for help and assistant.  Many patients’ behaviors in the ICU environment are nonverbal and usually signal the nurses that they need assistance. As a nurse in such an environment, your actions should be deliberate and not automatic (Aliakbari et al. 2015).  Similarly, nurses can also participate in policy changes meant to enhance the ICU nursing working environment for the patient’s benefit.

In conclusion, nursing is not a simple profession as it may be thought to be. Such a professional’s success, especially for healthcare professionals in critical units such as the ICU, requires a high level of professionalism being displayed. Hence, it implies that nurses need to ensure that as they work, there are implementing nursing theories guide in their working environment for the benefit of patients in critical condition and urgently seeking recovery.

References

Aliakbari, F., Parvin, N., Heidari, M., & Haghani, F. (2015). Learning theories application in nursing education. Journal of education and health promotion, 4. https://dx.doi.org/10.4103%2F2277-9531.151867 (Links to an external site.)

Lawrence, L. A. (2011, October). Work engagement, moral distress, education level, and critical reflective practice in intensive care nurses. In Nursing forum (Vol. 46, No. 4, pp. 256-268). https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1744-6198.2011.00237.x (Links to an external site.)

McAndrew, N. S., Schiffman, R., & Leske, J. (2020). A theoretical lens to view the facilitators and disruptors of nurse-promoted engagement with families in the ICU. Journal of Family Nursing, 1074840720936736. https://doi.org/10.1177%2F1074840720936736 (Links to an external site.)

All replies must be constructive and use literature where possible.

Your assignment will be graded according to the grading rubric.

Nursing is a very demanding profession.   Having so many things coming at you at once is difficult.   Having critical thinking skills includes making a quick decision on what it is of highest priority.   Focus on the highest priority along with keeping the other issues in your mind so they are not forgotten can be difficult.   Rebecca I think you are very correct when you say the nurse can “develop a better outcome for the patient and self.” 

A nurse must be able to delegate tasks to help them finish these tasks in a timely manor.  For example if you have a patient asking to use the restroom, a doctor on the phone,  and you notice the faucet in the patients bathroom is leaking.   The nurse could asking the Patient Care Assistant to take the patient to the restroom.   Asking the Unit Clerk to call maintenance to fix the faucet.   And speak to the doctor on the phone.   Within a minute all three tasks were done in a timely manor.    

Comment 1

  Evidence-based practice is the conscientious integration of best research, evidence with clinical expertise and patients’ values and needs in the delivery of high-quality, and cost-effective healthcare (University of Illinois at Chicago, 2015).

Evidence-based practice (EBP) promotes quality, safe, and cost-effective outcomes for patients, families, healthcare providers, and the healthcare system. It evolves from the integration of the best research evidence with clinical expertise and patients’ needs and values (Grove, Gray & Burns, 2015. 6th ed).

        The treatment for acute muscle strain has changed over the years.  In the past, nurses learned to ice certain injuries for the first 24 hours and then apply heat to increase blood flow. Presently, evidence-based practice shows that only heat is beneficial (The university of New Mexico, 2016, Nov.30).

       Evidence-based practice has been developed to prevent healthcare–associated intravascular device–related bloodstream infections with the use of I-Care and the acronym stands for:

• I—IV device management
• C—Cleaning of hands
• A—Access: Use of alcoholic chlorhexidine to prepare the insertion site, and use of sterile alcohol swabs to clean the injection port before accessing.
• R—Reviewing the need for the IV device on a daily basis and remove when no longer required
• E—Education about I-Care given to: staff, patients, and other care-givers (The Joint Commission, 2013, Nov.20).

       I work in prison facility and we had several cases of flu infection during this last episode. Hand washing with soap and water and contact precaution was evidence-based practice used to prevent the spread, also screen and testing others in the same dorm help to control spread of infection.

Comment 2

Evidence-based practice (EBP) is the combination of using research and clinical expertise, and include the patients’ values when making decisions about the care of individualized patients (Rauen, Chulay, Bridges, Vollman, & Arbour, 2008). Research findings are a group of facts and they become evidence when the findings are relevant and useful in particular patient situations. One example of EBP is collecting an accurate measurement of blood pressure, and it starts with picking the correct cuff size according to the circumference of the patient’s arm. Positioning the arm is also important and that should be based on how the patient is positioned. The study also found that using an automatic cuff to measure blood pressure in patients with atrial fibrillation was interchangeable with checking the blood pressure manually (Rauen, Chulay, Bridges, Vollman, & Arbour, 2008).  

Another EBP used when assessing pain is to intervene appropriately in patients that are non-verbal or have dementia. Assess for pain and intervene with non-verbal and/or demented patients when they have conditions that typically cause pain (Flynn Makic, n.d.). Assess for facial expression, verbalizations, a change in activity, and rubbing of certain parts of the body. The nurse can also evaluate for restlessness, agitation, and combativeness. Nurses should use a valid, reliable tool for assessing pain and re-evaluate frequently (Flynn Makic, n.d.).

The first EBP on accurately measuring blood pressure is widely used in all settings of health care including home health where I work. We manually check blood pressure and are instructed on choosing the proper cuff size and proper positioning of the patient for the most accurate results. The EBP for pain assessment we use the Numeric Pain Rating Scale as well as the Wong-Baker Faces Rating Scale. The numeric scale can tell us the intensity of pain which can help guide the nurse’s choice for pain medication and for the non-verbal, limited cognitive ability, and/or patient with mild to moderate dementia we use the scale with pictures (Wong-Baker). Patients with advanced dementia will need behavioral observation to determine the presence of pain (Wells, Pasero, & McCaffery, n.d., Chapter 17).

Its very important I cover all the competencies…!

Overview 

A new initiative has been introduced to educate nurses, health care workers, and social services workers on how to prevent workplace violence where you work. Write a 750–1,000-word article on workplace violence and prevention measures for the hospital employee newsletter.

By successfully completing this assessment, you will demonstrate your proficiency in the following course competencies and assessment criteria :

• Competency 1: Explain the effect of health care policies, legislation, and legal issues on health care delivery and patient outcomes.       
  • Identify the political, legal, and/or legislative factors that may contribute to violence in health care settings.
• Competency 2: Explain the effect of regulatory environments and controls on health care delivery and patient outcomes.       
  • Identify the main components of OSHA’s workplace violence prevention guidelines.
  • Explain the American Nursing Association’s position on violence in the workplace.
  • Explain safety policies and protocols for preventing and responding to violence against health care workers.
• Competency 4: Communicate in a manner that is consistent with expectations of nursing professionals.       
  • Write content clearly and logically, with correct use of grammar, punctuation, and mechanics.
  • Correctly format citations and references using APA style.
•  Assessment Instructions : 
•     Your workplace has experienced some serious problems with workplace violence that occurred between patients and caregivers. A new initiative has been introduced to educate nurses, health care workers, and social services workers on how to prevent workplace violence. You have been asked to write an article on workplace violence and prevention measures for the hospital employee newsletter.
• Preparation
  Search the Capella library and the Internet for scholarly and professional peer-reviewed articles on workplace violence. You will need at least five articles to use as support for your work on this assessment.
• Directions
  Write a 750–1,000-word article (3–4 pages) on workplace violence and prevention measures for the hospital employee newsletter. Address the following in your article:
   
  • Identify the political, legal, and/or legislative factors that may contribute to violence in health care settings. Consider the types of patients that may be treated within a clinical or hospital setting.
  • Compare OSHA regulations and the ANA position statement on workplace violence to organizational policies.
  • Explain safety policies and protocols for preventing and responding to violence against health care workers.
  • Additional Requirements
    Your presentation should meet the following requirements:
     
  • Written communication: Written communication should be free of errors that detract from the overall message.
  • References: Cite a minimum of five resources, with the majority being peer-reviewed sources. Your reference list should be appropriate to the body of literature available on this topic that has been published in the past 5 years.
  • APA format: Resources and citations should be formatted according to current APA style and formatting.
  • Length: 750– 1,000 words or 3–4 typed, double-spaced pages, excluding title page and reference page. Use Microsoft Word to complete the assessment.
  • Font and font size: Times New Roman, 12-point.
• I submitted a first paper and was non compliance; this is the professor’s feedback:

1-Non-Performance

Does not identify the political, legal, and/or legislative factors that may contribute to violence in health care settings.

Faculty Comments:“

I did not see where you identified any political, legal, or legislative factors that may contribute to violence in health care settings.  What are the actual laws that may lead to workplace violence. Additionally, you could include real-world examples. This is required for a higher performance. Please incorporate the scoring guide criteria in the 2nd attempt revision. In addition, please remember to highlight any added information. Thanks! 

2-Non-Performance

Does not identify the main components of OSHA’s workplace violence prevention guidelines.

Faculty Comments:“

I did not see this area of the scoring guide addressed in the paper. Can you identify the main components of OSHA’s workplace violence prevention guidelines? Also, you could suggest benchmarks to determine if the guidelines are being followed. In addition, please remember to highlight any added information. Thanks! 

3-Non-Performance

Does not explain the American Nursing Association’s position on violence in the workplace.

Faculty Comments:“

I did not see this section of the scoring guide address in the paper.  Can you explain the American Nursing Association’s position on workplace violence? In addition, could you compare it to your organization’s policies.  This is needed for a higher performance score. In addition, please remember to highlight any added information. Thanks! 

4-Non-Performance

Does not explain safety policies and protocols for preventing and responding to violence against health care workers.

Faculty Comments:“

I did not see this section of the scoring guide address in the paper.  Can you explain the safety policies and protocols for preventing and responding to violence against health care workers? Additionally, can you examine the effectiveness of such policies on preventing violent cases.  This is needed for a higher performance score. In addition, please remember to highlight any added information. Thanks! 

5-Non-Performance

Does not format citations and references using APA style.

Faculty Comments:“

The paper was not in correct APA format. Next step, as you make your revisions, is to reach out to your tutor for assistance. Consider using the Smarthinking program link on the course room homepage. I hope that you will also use the supplemental resource link on the course room homepage to link you to many helpful APA resources. There is also a sample paper located in the instructions to this assessment that will be a good example to review for format. In addition, here’s a link to APA formatting that may be helpful: http://www.apastyle.org/learn/tutorials/basics-tutorial.aspx