In this week’s discussion, you will use Galen’s online library to search the literature for an intervention you implement in your daily practice. You will also apply the skill of paraphrasing, in APA style, to summarize any information gathered from the literature.
https://galen.libguides.com/GettingStarted
Discussion Prompt:
- Identify a nursing intervention you implement in daily practice. This can be a policy, a protocol, or just “something you do” on your unit.
- Go to Galen’s online library and use the main search engine. Find at least one article from a peer-reviewed journal, less than 7 years old, which discusses or reviews your intervention.
- Complete your discussion and include the following information in your response:
• State the nursing intervention you identified from your daily practice.
• Describe your process for using the Galen library (e.g., What keywords did you use to search for your article? How easy was it to use the library?).
• Did the article support your current practice, or did you learn something new that could improve your practice?
Full Answer Section
There are many different pain management interventions that can be used. Some of the most common interventions include medication, heat therapy, cold therapy, massage therapy, and relaxation techniques. The best pain management intervention for a particular patient will vary depending on the patient's individual needs and preferences.
I typically start by assessing the patient's pain using a pain scale. This scale helps me to quantify the patient's pain so that I can track their progress over time. Once I have assessed the patient's pain, I discuss their pain management preferences with them. I also consider the patient's medical history and any other factors that may affect their pain management.
Based on this information, I develop a pain management plan for the patient. This plan may include medication, heat therapy, cold therapy, massage therapy, relaxation techniques, or a combination of these interventions. I also educate the patient about their pain management plan and how to use the interventions effectively.
I monitor the patient's pain regularly and adjust the pain management plan as needed. I also assess the patient for any side effects of the pain medications.
Pain management is an important part of nursing care. By providing effective pain management, I can help to improve the patient's quality of life and their ability to participate in their own care.
In addition to pain management, I also implement other nursing interventions in daily practice. These interventions include:
- Medication administration: I administer medications to patients according to their prescribed orders. I also educate patients about their medications and how to take them safely.
- Monitoring vital signs: I monitor patients' vital signs, such as their heart rate, blood pressure, respiratory rate, and temperature. This information is important for assessing the patient's overall health status and for detecting any changes in their condition.
- Performing assessments: I perform a variety of assessments on patients, such as physical assessments, neurological assessments, and nutritional assessments. This information is important for planning and providing patient care.
- Providing patient education: I provide patients with education about their health conditions, their medications, and how to care for themselves at home. This education helps patients to better understand their conditions and to manage their care effectively.
- Communicating with patients and their families: I communicate with patients and their families to provide them with updates on their care and to answer their questions. This communication helps to build trust and rapport with patients and their families.
- Collaborating with other healthcare professionals: I collaborate with other healthcare professionals, such as doctors, nurses, and social workers, to provide comprehensive care to patients. This collaboration helps to ensure that patients receive the best possible care.
These are just a few of the nursing interventions that I implement in daily practice. By implementing these interventions, I can help to improve the health and well-being of my patients.
In addition to the specific interventions I have mentioned, I also use the nursing process to guide my practice. The nursing process is a systematic approach to providing patient care. It involves the following steps:
- Assessment: This is the first step in the nursing process. It involves gathering information about the patient's health status.
- Diagnosis: This step involves identifying the patient's health problems.
- Planning: This step involves developing a plan of care for the patient.
- Implementation: This step involves carrying out the plan of care.
- Evaluation: This step involves evaluating the patient's progress and making adjustments to the plan of care as needed.
The nursing process is a valuable tool that helps me to provide safe and effective patient care. By using the nursing process, I can ensure that I am meeting the patient's individual needs and that I am providing them with the best possible care.
I am proud to be a nurse and to have the opportunity to make a difference in the lives of my patients. I am committed to providing high-quality patient care and to using the nursing process to guide my practice