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Healthcare Reform and Nurses: Challenges and Opportunities
Healthcare Reform and Nurses: Challenges and Opportunities The Affordable Care Act (ACA) promises a broader and more important role for nurses the health care system. After decades of advocating for meaningful reform, the American Nurses Association (ANA) joined others in celebrating the signing into law of the Affordable Care Act on Marc;h 23 2010. This is the most significant piece of social legislation since the creation of Medicare, with many provisions that build upon the traditional and current strengths of the nursing profession. The key features of the ACA states that “nurses have key roles to play as members and leaders for a reformed and better-integrated patient-centered health care system.” …
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AHA NRP, All Services, BabyFriendly(tm) Policy, Breastfeeding Education, Labor and Delivery, Labor Delivery Track for New Grad RN's, Maternal Child Health, Neonatal Intensive Care NICU, New Grad Maternal Child Program, New Graduates of Nursing, NICU Track for New Grad RN's, Nursing Advocacy, Obstetric Track, Orange County, San Diego, Specialty
Become a Breastfeeding Advocate
Education for professionals, or the lack of it, has been and continues to be a barrier to breastfeeding. A healthcare provider’s attitude, personal beliefs and values can greatly impact a mother’s ability to initiate or maintain breastfeeding. Certainly, the lack of support from healthcare providers is related to the difficulties healthy women experience with breastfeeding. Despite efforts to improve breastfeeding management, healthcare professionals, including doctors and nurses, continue to give poor advice on this matter. Poor advice has taken different forms; sometimes it actually has been no advice. Moreover, patients wholeheartedly trust their primary nurses and doctors. Healthcare providers who are not proficient in breastfeeding promotion, initiation and protection may advice patients to…
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Patient-Family Centered Care
When a child becomes ill, the entire family needs care. In order to create a true healing environment, we must make every effort to keep families together, communicate fully and frequently, and make shared decisions. Patients and families are partners in care. This is referred to as Patient & Family Centered Care, or PFCC. The following principles provide a foundation for Patient and Family Centered Care: We treat patients and families with dignity and respect. We provide clear, comprehensive information in ways that are useful and empowering. We create opportunities for patients and families to participate in ways that enhance their control and independence. We ensure that collaboration is inherent…
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Multi-disciplinary Care
Teamwork is important in nursing because it provides faster, safer and more efficient patient care. Teamwork in nursing care has a variety of benefits such as improved outcomes, effective communication, enhanced colleague knowledge and increased job satisfaction. Nurses do not only treat patients, they also offer information to patients and families and provide emotional support to those who may require it. In today’s health care market, the practice of teamwork has gained in popularity. This is especially true for professional nurses. When nurses function as part of a unit, and when they act as part of a team, the job itself is easier and more efficient. Moreover, overall patient care…
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Chain of Command = The Line of Authority
I can almost guarantee that someone will give you a conflict resolution question at your interview and ask you how you would resolve this conflict. It is not the situation that is important. It is your answer to any conflict – which it goes through the “Chain of Command.” Know this chain of command for your interview. Every hospital, indeed, nearly every organization, has a chain of command. In most cases, this chain of command is delineated with a chart, often referred to as an organizational chart. The chain of command in its simplest definition is the line of authority and responsibility along which orders are passed within the nursing…
