Book cover for Pharmacology and the Nursing Process

Pharmacology and the Nursing Process

Linda Lane Lilley, Shelly Rainforth Collins, Julie S. Snyder

ISBN #9780323087896

7th Edition

394 Questions

Group icon
2,697 Students Helped

Homework Questions

Right arrow
Summary
Learning Objectives
Key Concepts
Example Problems
Explanations
Common Mistakes

Summary

Chapter 1 provides a comprehensive overview of the nursing process—a dynamic, five-step model encompassing assessment, nursing diagnosis, planning, implementation, and evaluation. Central to this process is the integration of holistic care, critical thinking, and safety guidelines such as the Six Rights for medication administration. The chapter emphasizes that a structured and meticulous approach in each step leads to enhanced patient outcomes and ensures quality care delivery.

Learning Objectives

1

Explain the five-step nursing process (assessment, nursing diagnoses, planning, implementation, and evaluation) and its role in patient care.

2

Identify and apply the Six Rights of safe medication administration within the framework.

3

Demonstrate the integration of holistic care and critical thinking in nursing practice.

4

Analyze each step of the nursing process to understand how they contribute to quality therapeutic outcomes.

Key Concepts

CONCEPT

DEFINITION

Nursing Process

A dynamic, five-step framework (assessment, nursing diagnosis, planning, implementation, evaluation) that guides nurses in providing quality patient care.

Assessment

The initial step involving a thorough evaluation of a patient’s health status, including physical, mental, and environmental factors.

Nursing Diagnosis

The process of critical analysis of the assessment data to identify patient problems that can be addressed by nursing interventions.

Planning

The stage where nurses develop strategic, goal-oriented plans that outline interventions to address the identified problems.

Implementation

The step where the planned nursing interventions are carried out effectively to improve patient outcomes.

Evaluation

The final step involving the assessment of patient outcomes to determine the effectiveness of the nursing interventions and modify the care plan as needed.

Six Rights

A guideline for safe medication administration that includes: right patient, right medication, right dose, right route, right time, and right documentation.

Example Problems

Example 1

An 86-year-old patient is being discharged to home on digitalis therapy and has very little information regarding the medication. Which statement best reflects a realistic outcome of patient teaching activities? a The patient and patient's daughter will state the proper way to take the drug. b. The nurse will provide teaching about the drug's adverse effects. c The patient will state all the symptoms of digitalis toxicity. d The patient will call the prescriber if adverse effects occur.

Example 2

A patient has a new prescription for a blood pressure medication that may cause him to feel dizzy during the first few days of therapy. Which is the best nursing diagnosis for this situation? a Activity intolerance b Risk for injury c Disturbed body image d Self-care deficit

Example 3

A patient's chart includes an order that reads as follows: "Lanoxin 250 meg once daily at 0900 ." Which action by the nurse is correct? a The nurse gives the drug via the transdermal route. b The nurse gives the drug orally. c The nurse gives the drug intravenously. d The nurse contacts the prescriber to clarify the dosage route.

Example 4

The nurse is compiling a drug history for a patient. Whicl question from the nurse will obtain the most informatior from the patient? a "Do you depend on sleeping pills to get to sleep?" b "Do you have a family history of heart disease?" c "When you have pain, what do you do to relieve it? d "What childhood diseases did you have?"

Example 5

A 77-year-old man who has been diagnosed with an upper respiratory tract infection tells the nurse that he is allergic to penicillin. Which is the most appropriate response by the nurse? a "That's to be expected-lots of people are allergic to penicillin." b "This allergy is not of major concern because the drug is given so commonly." c "What type of reaction did you have when you took penicillin?" d "Drug allergies don't usually occur in older individuals because they have built up resistance."
Scroll left
Scroll right

Step-by-Step Explanations

QUESTION

How does a nurse conduct a comprehensive patient assessment?

STEP-BY-STEP ANSWER:

Step 1: Collect patient data through physical examination, patient history, and observation.
Step 2: Review patient records and any previous assessments.
Step 3: Identify relevant patient concerns and potential risks.
Step 4: Document all findings accurately for further analysis.
Final Answer: A nurse conducts a comprehensive assessment by gathering and documenting complete patient data to serve as the foundation for the care plan.

Assessment

QUESTION

How do nurses determine a nursing diagnosis from assessment data?

STEP-BY-STEP ANSWER:

Step 1: Analyze the collected assessment data to identify patterns and issues.
Step 2: Compare findings with standard nursing diagnoses.
Step 3: Formulate a clear statement of the problem that is within the nursing scope of practice.
Step 4: Validate the diagnosis with patient input or additional testing if needed.
Final Answer: Nurses formulate a nursing diagnosis by critically analyzing assessment data and matching the findings to established diagnostic criteria.

Nursing Diagnosis

QUESTION

How is the planning phase developed in the nursing process?

STEP-BY-STEP ANSWER:

Step 1: Set clear, measurable, and achievable goals based on the nursing diagnosis.
Step 2: Identify appropriate interventions to achieve the desired patient outcomes.
Step 3: Prioritize patient needs and sequence the interventions effectively.
Step 4: Develop a care plan that outlines the timeline and responsibilities.
Final Answer: The planning phase involves setting achievable goals and outlining interventions in a structured care plan to address identified patient problems.

Planning

QUESTION

What are the key actions during the implementation phase?

STEP-BY-STEP ANSWER:

Step 1: Execute the care plan by administering the prescribed interventions.
Step 2: Ensure all activities follow the guidelines, such as the Six Rights for medication administration.
Step 3: Collaborate with other health professionals as needed.
Step 4: Communicate with the patient to explain procedures and monitor responses.
Final Answer: During implementation, nurses actively carry out the care plan using effective strategies and guidelines to ensure patient safety and care quality.

Implementation

QUESTION

How do nurses evaluate the success of the interventions implemented?

STEP-BY-STEP ANSWER:

Step 1: Compare patient outcomes with the set goals outlined in the planning phase.
Step 2: Gather feedback from the patient and health team regarding the effectiveness of the interventions.
Step 3: Review any deviations or unexpected outcomes to identify areas for improvement.
Step 4: Adjust the care plan as necessary based on the evaluation results.
Final Answer: Nurses evaluate interventions by systematically comparing patient outcomes against established goals and adjusting the care plan to improve results.

Evaluation

Scroll left
Scroll right

Common Mistakes

  • Overlooking the importance of each step in the nursing process by skipping thorough assessments.
  • Confusing the five distinct steps, leading to poor articulation of nursing diagnoses and care plans.
  • Ignoring or misapplying the Six Rights during medication administration which can jeopardize patient safety.
  • Failing to integrate holistic care and critical thinking into each phase of the nursing process.