Assessment in Nursing Assignment
This assignment will discuss and define the role of assessment as a vital tool in the provision of nursing care within the Nursing process. The author will describe sources of information which may inform the assessment process, identify a specific assessment tool used in my area of practice and identify ways of developing a positive professional relationship with the client, during the assessment process.
The assessment process may be defined as the organized and systematic collection and assimilation of data on the patient’s health status through a variety of sources: these include the patient as a primary source, along with their medical records and any information obtained from the family or any other person giving patient care. Secondary sources can be professional journals and medical texts. (Galasko,1997)
The American Psychological Association defines assessment as ‘assess.(nd):to judge or estimate the value ,character ,etc of…’(Apa,2007). Whereas the (Oxford Dictionary for Nurses) defines it as ‘the first stage of the nursing process in which data about patients health status is collected and from which a care plan may be devised’.
Traditionally, the nurse’s role has been has been one of recording but not interpreting observations including blood pressure, pulse, temperature, respiratory rate and consciousness level. Through recording this information accurately, the nurse is able to prioritize patient care, Nursing Times.net (2006).
McCormack et al (2004), argue that ‘assessment is not just the undertaking of a set of technical skills; rather it requires a certain kind of relationship between those who participate in it and with whom we share the purposes and standards of the practice’. In its’ widest sense, assessment permeates all aspects of nursing care. It is not just a detached activity that initiates the ‘nursing process’ or ‘problem solving cycle’, leading to a plan of care, which is implemented and evaluated, it is an ongoing cycle of activity
The assessment process may be defined as the organized and systematic collection and assimilation of data on the patient’s health status through a variety of sources: these include the patient as a primary source, along with their medical records and any information obtained from the family or any other person giving patient care. Secondary sources can be professional journals and medical texts. (Galasko,1997)
The American Psychological Association defines assessment as ‘assess.(nd):to judge or estimate the value ,character ,etc of…’(Apa,2007). Whereas the (Oxford Dictionary for Nurses) defines it as ‘the first stage of the nursing process in which data about patients health status is collected and from which a care plan may be devised’.
Traditionally, the nurse’s role has been has been one of recording but not interpreting observations including blood pressure, pulse, temperature, respiratory rate and consciousness level. Through recording this information accurately, the nurse is able to prioritize patient care, Nursing Times.net (2006).
McCormack et al (2004), argue that ‘assessment is not just the undertaking of a set of technical skills; rather it requires a certain kind of relationship between those who participate in it and with whom we share the purposes and standards of the practice’. In its’ widest sense, assessment permeates all aspects of nursing care. It is not just a detached activity that initiates the ‘nursing process’ or ‘problem solving cycle’, leading to a plan of care, which is implemented and evaluated, it is an ongoing cycle of activity
References: American Psychological Association (APA) (2007). Dictionary.com Unabridged (v 1.1.) Atkinson, L & Murray,E, (1995).Clinical guide to care planning, McGraw Available at : http//dictionary.reference.com/browse/assess (Accessed 31 October 2011) Barker , P.J Barker ,P.J. (2004) Assessment in Psychiatric and Mental Health Nursing : in Search of the Whole Person (2nd edn).Cheltenham : Nelson Thornes Ltd. Bush,T (2007) Use of cognitive assessment with Alzheimer’s disease: Nursing Times,2007 Jan 9-15 ; 103(2): 31-2 (9ref) (Accessed: 02 ,November ,2011) Carpenito – Moyet , L.J Dewing, J. (2003). Rehabilitation for older people with dementia. Nursing standard : 18:6,42-48. Egan,G,( 2002). The Skilled Helper :a problem – management and opportunity- development approach to helping. 7th ed. California: Brookes / Cole Folstein,M., Folstein,S McCormack, B et al. (2004),practice development in nursing, Blackwell McWhinney,Jr NMC (2008) ‘Code of Professional conduct’ Nursing and Midwifery Council available at:www.nmc-uk.org/aFrameDisplay.aspxDocumentId=3954 Norman ,I & Ryrie ,I,(2004),The Art and Science of Mental Health Nursing: a Textbook of Principles ,Open University Press Quan ,Electronic Healthcare,(2007) at http:longwoods.com/product.php?productid=186588&cat (Accessed:01, November , 2011) Roper,N,Logan,W.W and Tierney,A.J Sullivan,J.(1990). Neurological assessment. Nursing clinics Of north America,25 (4),795-809 Yebenese et al (2003) Validation of a Short Cognitive Tool for The Screening of Dementia in Elderly People with Low Educational Level