What Will I Learn?

No matter what RN program you enter, the essential core skills will be similar.

Assessment

You will learn to collect and analyze data about a client, the first step in delivering care. Assessment often involve collecting information on a patient’s physiological status, but also may include psychological, sociocultural, spiritual, economic, and life-style factors as well. For example, a nurse’s assessment of pain includes not only the physical causes and features of the pain, but the patient’s responses to the pain—such as an inability to sleep, difficulty eating, social withdrawal, anger directed at hospital staff, fear, or request for excessive pain mediation.

Diagnosis

The diagnosis is your clinical judgment about the patients needs and progress. The diagnosis should involve a holistic view of supporting recovery. In addition pain status, a diagnosis may also include that the pain has caused other psychological, social, or nutritional problems, or has the potential to cause complications. The diagnosis is the basis for your care plan.

Outcomes/Planning

Based on the assessment and diagnosis, you will set measurable and achievable short- and long-term progress goals. This might include moving from bed to chair at three times per day (observable, measurable goal); maintaining adequate nutrition by eating smaller, more frequent meals; resolving conflict through counseling, or managing pain through adequate medication. A follow up assessment plan and goals are written in the patient’s care plan so that all health professionals (including other nurses) caring for the patient can access it.

Implementation

Nursing care is implemented according to your care plan. Care is documented in the patient’s record.

Evaluation

Both the patient’s status and the effectiveness of the care must be continuously assessed, and the care can be plan modified as needed.

Many nursing students worry about whether or not they are getting enough clinical skills. These days, many nursing schools are using clinical simulation labs to teach nursing skills. In the lab students can practice their skills on mannequins that have been specially designed to simulate actual medical conditions.

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