Question

Why is the nursing standard of care a guide for good nursing care? .

Answer 1

Nursing Standards of care or standards of nursing practice are the general standards of gudelines as to how a nurse should perform her duties and responsibilities to patient at professional capacity. Variation from this standard can result in certain legal implications.

Definition of Standards:-

A standard is termed as a professional practice that is accepted as correct within that particular organization. standards of practice are developed in organizations in order to maintain the standard of quality that should be provided. In nursing, as new methods and technology change these standards also change. nursing, standards have been developed through the experience of clinical, academic and administrative experts.

Definition of Nursing Standards:-

All standards of Nursing practices are specifications to the knowledge, skills, judgment & attitudes that are needed for nurse to practice safely while Providing care to the patient.

Nursing standards of care represent a desired and achievable level of practices against which actual practices can be compared. main purpose of Nursing standard of care is to promote, guide and direct professional nursing practice.

Importance of Nursing Standards of Care :-

Nursing Standards of care in nursing are important because they represents the trusted role that a nurse plays in nursing practice while giving treatment to a patient. Nursing standards of care are considered the standard for quality care. They must be cultivated while assessing the state and federal rules, regulations and laws that regulate the practice of nursing. Other agencies and organizations may also assist in the development of these standards. Standards of care implement equally to nurses in various settings. They regulate the nurse’s practice at every level of performance.

(a)Nursing standards of care are setup at the national level so that care will be the same regardless of the settings. However, states and local areas may also establish their own set of standards of care.

(b.)Nursing standards of care are important for nursing practices for various reasons. They draft professional prospects of nurses. they guide nurses on proper protocol and give them an objective standard to evaluate other nurses with.

(C) Nursing standard of care provide firmness throughout the profession so that patients receive quality care.

(d Nursing standards give nurses the necessary information that they need to know the quality of care that they must provide to patients and establish degrees in which to assess the care provided.

Nurses are expected to follow these standards of nursing care and make sure that their own assistants are in compliance. It is important that they follow these standards of nursing care in order to protect the people of society whom they treat.

(e) legal Implications on Malpractice in nursing standards of care:-

If a nurse does not follow the accepted standards of practice, she may be found careless if her carelessness caused a patient injury or physical damage. In most lawsuits, a nurse is accused of violating a standard of care in a negligence lawsuit. In the medical profession, this is mentioned to as malpractice.

Nurses held responsible in malpractice cases if they :-

(1)inappropriately administer medication,

(2.) fail to monitor equipment,

(3.)fail to warn patients about known harms or

(4.) fail to protect patients from known dangers.

Nurses are required to completely and accurately report the assessment and observations that they make regarding each patient in a timely manner. If nurses do not monitor the patient’s condition or be alerted to changes in the patient’s condition, they may be found careless. Nurses have a duty to communicate to the attending practitioner to avoid injury or physical damage to the patient.

(f) decision making:- nursing standard of care help in decision making and choosing alternatives for delivering of health care.Which helps in supervision and Improving performance.

Nursing Standards of Care” refer to efficient nursing exercise that are established by the nurse through the nursing process. Nursing standards of care involve assessment, diagnosis, outcome identification, planning implementation, and evaluation. The nursing process is the foundation of clinical decision making by nurse and involve all considerable action taken by nurses in providing care to all patients. “Nursing Standards of Professional Performance” explain the roles of all professional nurses. Also there are many other responsibilities of nurses that are hallmarks of professional nursing. Nurses should be self-directed and determined in pursuing necessary knowledge and skills to enhance career goals.