Nursing is a profession that blends science and art, research and creativity. Though nurses rely on clinical expertise and experience in a variety of situations, those with problem-solving skills are better equipped to serve their patients. By thinking creatively, asking the right questions and considering multiple options, nurses will be able to solve problems much more effectively.
Those who use problem-solving skills see problems not as obstacles but as opportunities to improve their patients' health and well-being. Nurses who have completed an online RN to BSN program understand how to draw upon their creative abilities and critical thinking skills to improve their practice.
Critical Thinking
According to an article from the National Institutes of Health, nurses use critical thinking to evaluate, analyze and synthesize information. They take this information, and their experience, to create a plan of action. Nurses who employ problem-solving skills begin with critical thinking. When there are no clear answers or courses of action, nurses can rely on their creativity to come up with new solutions and make decisions.
Combined with creativity, critical thinking can help nurses solve specific patient problems as well as system-wide challenges. When traditional measures are not effective, creative professionals are able to generate ideas rapidly, be flexible in their approach, act with confidence without direct supervision, and react well under pressure.
Evidence-Based Practice
The world of healthcare is becoming more varied and complex. The new role of nurses requires them to work across disciplines, incorporating more professionals into the care plan of their patients. Nurses who have completed an online RN to BSN program will be well-versed in problem-solving approaches such as evidence-based practice. By incorporating their clinical experience, knowledge and the preferences of the patient, nurses can provide the best care.
Nurses who employ evidence-based practice will see improved patient outcomes for those in their care, according to a Nursing World report. Healthcare providers who stay abreast of the most recent research increase positive outcomes for patients. This means that more patients return home sooner.
Steps to Evidence-Based Practice
The Academy for Medical-Surgical Nurses shows the steps taken by nurses who use evidence-based practice to care for patients. First, they determine the problem and formulate a question. The second step is reviewing the evidence, which helps determine what treatment is most appropriate using existing knowledge. The third is implementation, which means beginning the actual treatment. The fourth step is evaluating the plan by reassessing the patient at pre-determined intervals.
What Does This Look Like in Practice?
A key attribute for any successful healthcare practitioner is the ability to turn obstacles into opportunities for better patient care. In addition, good nurses are those who can learn from past experiences and incorporate those lessons into the care of future patients.
Highly educated nurses who have completed an online RN to BSN program have the skills to make problem-solving a more natural part of their practice. These nurses hold the key to a more responsive healthcare environment and a healthier patient population.
Learn more about the URI online Registered Nurse to Bachelor of Science in Nursing program.
Sources:
Academy of Medical-Surgical Nurses: Evidence-Based Practice
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