Initial Discussion Post: 1.Identify and discuss the required skills and competen
ID: 124475 • Letter: I
Question
Initial Discussion Post:
1.Identify and discuss the required skills and competencies of a RN in the community setting. Do these differ from those required in an acute care setting? Explain and support your answer.
2.The RN working in the community setting faces a number of challenges which include but are not limited to: infection control practices, patient/family privacy, collaboration with health team at a distance, families’ financial concerns, and the RN’s personal safety. Choose one (1) of the five (5) listed challenges and explain actions the RN can do to meet these needs. Base your initial post on your readings and research of this topic. Your initial post must contain a minimum of 250 words. References, citations, and repeating the question do not count towards the 250 word minimum.
Explanation / Answer
Majority of clients were cared for in the acute care setting, but now most patients are discharged to the home environment requiring community health nursing skills. They need the same skills and knowledge used in acute care setting. Many nurses are not prepared to enter community health nursing setting. Preparation includes both theoretical and experience that focus on assessment skills, decision making, teaching, leadership etc.
Nurses personal safety from workplace-related injuries are as important as the patients they save. Presence of healthy nurses is important to provide vigilant monitoring, patient care, and treatment. The factors that cause problems to nurses safety are less workforce, shift duties, physical and psychological demands etc, which leads to musculoskeletal injuries, infections, mental health problems, needlestick injuries, family disruptions etc.
The coping strategies for long working hours and shift duties include making new work schedules, rest or break during work, properly timing physical activities, planning proper diet, family counseling etc. Taking naps in between help in increasing the alertness during work.
Interventions that can be used to prevent musculoskeletal injuries related to the handling of patients include training in lifting techniques, using body mechanics and back belts. Awareness must be provided among nurses related to needle stick injuries, exposure to chemicals and toxins, and the actions to be taken relating to the same. Safety measures need to be taken like the use of gloves, masks, gowns, hand washing etc.
Steps that can be taken to reduce work-related mental changes include reducing stressors, changing the ability to cope up by providing behavioral interventions, relaxation technique like music, exercise, social support groups etc.
Environmental and organizational factors related to patients on health care workers include understaffing, poor workplace security etc. Security should be provided to reduce physical assaults and injuries on health care workers.
To conclude, the benefits of improvement to nurse safety are immense, both for retaining nurses and improving the quality of the nursing profession. These improvements will also benefit patients and lead to a better and effective workforce.