Posts Tagged ‘Nursing’

Nursing Equipment: The Ins And Outs

Monday, July 13th, 2009

There may be a few specialty items that differ in each department but nursing equipment always contains the basics. Some of those items are uniforms, shoes and a watch. The stethoscope and a pen are also a necessity as is implements that are important to the department that the nurse works in.

A good stethoscope is one of the most essential nursing equipment. The stethoscope is a standard companion of the nurse while performing various examinations and determining the patient conditions. A standard stethoscope that can be used for adults, children, and infants would be perfect to have.

The nursing scrubs (the uniform) are comprised of tops, trousers, jackets, caps etc. These dresses impart a professional appearance and help in distinguishing the nursing staff according to their departments and practice areas. They are also vital for maintaining a hygienic environment and prevent the spread of germs.

Three items are required of nearly every nurse: shoes, a watch, and a gait belt. Because nurses are on their feet all day, shoes should be serviceable and comfortable. In addition, a watch is a requirement. The watch should be easy to read, have a second hand, and be waterproof. The watch should be waterproof because nurses must wash their hands with great frequency. Finally, a gait belt is useful for moving patients and helping patients walk safely.

When you need to make quick notes or do regular upkeep on a chart, it’s easiest to have a pen that hangs on a loop around your neck than to constantly be rummaging in your pockets. Nurses might also find it handy to have access to a pocket-sized medical dictionary or nursing handbook, a pair of small scissors, and a calculator. The two most well used pieces of medical equipment for nurses is the stethoscope and the sphygmomanometer (blood pressure cuff).

Nevertheless, a nursing kit contains certain necessary accessories like stethoscope, blood pressure cuff, scissors, penlight, kelly clamp, measuring tape and ID badge holder. Medical equipment is designed to aid in the diagnosis, monitoring or treatment of medical conditions. These devices are generally designed with rigorous safety standards in mind and help in assisting the nurses and doctors to a great extent.

A Brief Nursing Overview

Saturday, April 18th, 2009

Today nursing practices are performed in a wide range of settings, from hospitals to paying personal visits to peoples’ homes. Educational institutions, like universities and schools, summer camps , pharmaceutical companies, non-profit organizations, or international organizations like the World Bank, hire nurses to work in occupational health settings, clinics and physicians’ offices, elderly care facilities or cruise ships. This diverse medical profession can appear in diverse settings keeping its main goal identical in any situation; provide caring services to those in need.

Like other maturing disciplines, nursing has developed different theories that are aligned with diverging philosophical beliefs and paradigms or worldviews. Nursing theories help nurses to direct their activities in order to accomplish specific goals with people. Nursing is a knowledge based discipline committed to the betterment of humankind. Nursing has not only developed into a profession, but an art as well.

As the world grew larger and larger a large number of specialties within nursing have developed. In fact, nursing has been divided into different specialties or classifications. With more than 200 nursing specialties and sub-specialties, a variety of professional organizations or certifying boards issue voluntary certification in many of these areas and nurses are interested in acquiring one of these accreditations, encompassing care throughout the human lifespan and based upon patient needs.

Overall, the nursing career structure varies considerably throughout the world. Typically there are several distinct levels of nursing practitioner, distinguished by increasing education, responsibility and skills. The major distinction is between task-based nursing and professional nursing. At the top of the educational ladder is the doctoral-prepared nurse. Nurses may gain the PhD or another doctoral degree such as Doctor of Nursing Science (DNSc) or Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP), specializing in research, clinical nursing, etc. These nurses practice nursing, teach nursing and carry out nursing research. As the science of nursing has advanced, so has the demand for doctoral-prepared nurses.