Rochelle Evans
Nur 440
January 23, 2009
Assessment Tools Analysis
The nursing process is the framework to providing nursing care. Assessment is the first step in the nursing process. To ensure a holistic view of the patient is obtained, an assessment of the client’s entire well-being must be done. Using Watson’s theory of caring along with assessment tools, nurses can ensure that a holistic approach for caring for clients is maintained. Assessment tools are instruments used by nurses to assist them with the assessment of a patient to determine nursing diagnosis so that a plan of care can be designed specifically for the patient. More important, nurses utilized assessment tools to assess and evaluate patients in different stages and states of wellness, illness, stress, and life. Therefore, utilization of assessment tools are excellent instruments to assist nurses with improving patient care. There are assortments of assessment instruments frequently used today such as: vital signs, physical and social examination, Braden Scale, Glascow Coma scale, and pain scales. This paper attempt to examine three assessment tools and how they enhance the nursing process and the quality of care patients receive from nurses. Also, this paper will inspect the cost, validity, and ease of use of each assessment tool as well as the population the tool was intended for. Last, the discussed tools will be applied to the J. Riley Family from “The Neighborhood.”
Jean Watson’s Theory of Caring is the blueprint nurses need to care for their patients, coworkers, and themselves within their professional practice. Watson’s theory of caring is based on 10 caritas (derived from Latin for charity or altruistic love) to support nurses in developing a deep trusting relationship with their clients and to educate them how to make sound but caring and creative decisions in their professional lives (AACN, 2010). The carative factors are nursing interventions