NURSING CARE ASSESSMENT

Nursing Care Assessment

Nursing Care Assessment

Introduction

Throughout this assignment the essential underpinning principles of the nursing assessment process exploring what it is, why we do it and what factors influence the nursing process will be discussed. Also discussed in this paper will be the holistic aspects of the assessment process as well as an example of an assessment tool I used on a recent placement. I will explore the effectiveness of my assessment and highlight the disadvantages which I came across and are explored here.

The nursing process is unique, as is the nurse - patient relationship (Holland et al 2003). The Roper et al (1996) model for nursing, offers a framework for nurses to be able to ensure that individuality is taken into account when undertaking nursing care. In order to ensure that all aspects of an individual's life are integrated into an effective plan of care, Roper uses a problem solving approach and the nursing process in conjunction with their model for nursing. (Hart, 6, 2003).

An assessment is usually carried out when the nurse first meets a patient. (Walsh 2002). Assessment may be carried out on a daily basis to check the relevance of the care plan and to identify whether there is improvement or deteration in the patient. Assessment is usually carried out before a patient is discharged from the hospital to identify whether there is a need to continue care when the patient is in their own environment. This may be a joint assessment which involves other members of the multi disciplinary team, such as district nurses. With a holistic individualised assessment the nurse can give the patient care based on their specific needs inside and outside of hospital (Brykczynska and Jolley 1995).

Discussion

The nursing process is unique, as is the nurse - patient relationship (Holland et al 2003). The Roper et al (1996) model for nursing, offers a framework for nurses to be able to ensure that individuality is taken into account when undertaking nursing care. In order to ensure that all aspects of an individual's life are integrated into an effective plan of care, Roper at al (1996) uses a problem solving approach and the nursing process in conjunction with their model for nursing.

The nursing process is a systematic approach to planning and delivering nursing care. It was identified that there are four main stages of the nursing process, assessment, planning, implementation and evaluation. However for the purpose of this assignment I will be focusing on the principles of assessment.( Maxwell, 2001)

Orem calls the nursing process, the technologic process operations of nursing process. This process is a three step design. In step one, nursing diagnosis and prescription, the nurse focuses on why the patient needs nursing care, what role the nurse will perform in the relationship, and what nursing care will be provided. This stage allows the nurse to assess for the nature and intensity of pain. Patients in pain have self-care deficits. The cause, intensity, and duration of pain dictate the amount ...