ASSIGNMENT 1

FOUNDATIONS OF
NURSING PRACTISE

NUR 521

Name : Jacob Bulivanua.Raisilisili

Student ID : s210955
 BACHELOR IN NURSING PROGRAMME

ASSIGNMENT COVER

STATEMENT OF ORIGINAL AUTHORSHIP

I, _Jacob Raisilisili(s210955) _, hereby declare that the work contained in this assignment has not
previously been submitted for the assessment, either in the whole or in part, by either myself or any other
student at either SON or any other tertiary institution except where explicitly acknowledged. To the best
of my knowledge and belief, the assignment contains no material which has been previously been
published or written by another person except in due reference is made. I make this statement in full
knowledge of and understanding that should it be found to be false, I will be subject to any disciplinary
action under the academic misconduct requirements as described in the Assessment/Examination section
in the FNU-UASR

Signed: _________________________ Date: ____24/03/21_____

STUDENT NAME: _____Jacob Bulivanua.Raisilisili______

STUDENT ID: ____s210955_______ GROUP: ______A__________

COURSE NUR 521: FOUNDATIONS OF NURSING PRACTICE 1

ASSIGNMENT : Essay Writing

DUE DATE
:
COURSE CONVENER: Mrs. Karalaini Volavola

Office Use ONLY Received……/……. /…….. Time: …………….

Initial: ………………………
 MARKING CRITERIA
Criteria Content Marks Marks
Allocated Attained
Introduction Introduce the subject of discussion 5

Brief introduction of the topic

5
Brief outline of the contents of the assignment
Appropriate title for the essay
Discuss in your own words the definition of
Briefly discuss the nursing
definition of nursing Discuss the following roles:
and the roles a nurse  Caregiver
will play to fulfil this  Advocator 15
definition  Communicator
You will need some evidence based literature
to support your arguments. Document proper
in text referencing of all books you use.
Clearly discuss how you will ensure that you
Discuss how you will uphold the roles of nursing as you carry out
ensure that you uphold your duty as a nurse 15
the roles of nursing as How would you ensure that the future of
you carry out your nursing is in good hands.
duty.

Discuss two (2) ethical The two (2) ethical principles which will assist
principles which will you to care for a patient in a professional
assist you to care for a manner are: 15
patient in a  Beneficence,
professional manner  Non-Maleficence.
Discuss how they are applied in your nursing
care.

Conclusion and Summarize what you have learnt after writing

reflection this essay. 5
Academic writing Ensure use of correct spelling and grammar,
(spelling, grammar, flow of thought process, sentence structure, 10
and clear generation of a new paragraph.

In-text referencing Use of appropriate reference guide (APA), and

Reference List proper in- text reference, 5
Provide three (3) references used in your essay.
Word count within allocated amount.
Total
70
 FOUNDATIONS OF NURSING
For ages nursing has evolved, in the sense that it has changed from a less medication-centered
approach to a more patient centered. Nursing has existed as long as humanity has stood on this
earth, and through this past experiences its evolution was influenced. Nursing for many, may
seem as “dirty job”, but nursing is far more than just cleaning soiled bed sheets, and assisting
bed-ridden patients in daily activities. Nursing is not only dealing with the patient’s physical
aspect, but rather in all dimensions of the “man” as possible. This essay will therefore highlight
the definition of nursing, the roles that nurses play in the hospitals to fulfill their purpose, reflect
on the reasons as to why I chose nursing as a career, discuss how I will ensure that I uphold the
roles on nursing as I carry out my duty and conclude with two ethical principles that will help me
care for a patient in a professional manner.
To begin with, according to The Free Dictionary Online defines nursing as, “the work of caring
for the sick or injured or infirm care or providing professional health-care service to those who
need it” (www.thefreedictionary.com/nursing). But personally, nursing is not limited to the
provision of professional healthcare service to patients, but rather allows an individual to wade
out of the shallow and into the depths of human nature and its complexity, guiding the patient
physically, emotionally, spiritually and socially into the realm of recovery. So as patients are
discharged from the hospital, they leave with the reassurance that they have been cared for not
only as the ‘physical being’, but in all dimensions as a whole. However, in order to fully and
competently carry out the duties in leading the patients to recovery, there are certain roles that a
nurse must play.

Caregiving. As nurses we are obliged to providing, not only best but the highest quality of
healthcare service to clients, in the course of their stay in the hospitals. According to
Fundamentals of Nursing Concepts, Process and Practice, caregiving is a traditional role that
involves the care of the patients physical and psychological well-being while at the same time
preserving the patients’ dignity (Kozier and Erbs, 2016). Nurses are obliged to certain roles that
they must play when administering care for the patient, depending on patient’s dependency,
whether the patient is fully bed-ridden, has partial mobility, or is able to move around. As the
caregiver, you must also educate your patient on self-supportive care to ensure that not only do
they attain the highest level of care and well-being, but leave the hospital with a sense of
independence and self-reliance.

Furthermore, another role that a nurse must undertake in caring for a patient is being a good and
effective communicator. Communication is an instrumental tool in all nursing roles. Not only
will nurses be obtaining or gathering data from patients, but act as a mediator between other
healthcare professionals and the patient. In exercising this role nurses effectively identify
patients’ problems, prepare a well assessed nursing care plan (NCP), and communicate with
other healthcare providers on the implementation of certain treatments and evaluation of the
patients’ progress with respect to the outcome, that is, discharge. “The nurse must be able to
communicate clearly and accurately in order for a client’s healthcare needs to be met”.
(Fundamentals of Nursing, Kozier & Erbs, 2016)

Equally important to communication, patient or client advocate is another role that a nurse will
have to carry out in the course of the patients stay in the hospital. As a client/patient advocate
you are entitled to protect the rights of the patient whilst he/she is in your care. Nurses are the
representatives of the patients to other healthcare providers in terms of consultation for particular
treatment and relaying patient information to healthcare providers when needed. According to
Leddy & Pepper, this role emerges when nurses intervene on behalf of clients to ensure that
adequate information and decision making resources are provided and that the clients wishes are
respected at all times. (Leddy & Pepper, 2013)

Nursing has evolved over the years with nursing academics constantly reviewing nursing
practices and how to improve client based care in the health centers and hospitals. With the right
attitude and skills that is being received from the nursing educators, these will greatly help me in
upholding the roles as a nurse. Practical education also provides the platform in which these roles
are being put into practice not only to attain high quality results but also produce responsible,
kind, loyal and client-oriented nurses that aid in promoting health and preventing illnesses.
Nursing educators are not only qualified through theory work, but with much accredited
experience in the nursing field, will provide impartation of knowledge through experienced
based practices, providing assurance of high quality healthcare service in the future.

Additionally, in the course of a patients stay at the hospital, there are certain ethical principles
that a nurse must abide by. Beneficence is an ethical principle that a nurse must abide by which
simply means, “to do good” or to act on the benefit of others, promoting their wellbeing and
wellness (Beauchamp and Childress, 2001). Beneficent acts like administering TLC (Tender
Loving Care), to patients with terminal illnesses, kindness, love, empathy, friendship and charity
all help improve patient’s mood, which directly lifts the spirit of nurses in their professional
career. Moreover, non-maleficence is also another ethical principle that will help promote the
administering of professional healthcare service to patients. Non-maleficence simply means to
“do no harm” or to avoid hurt. This particular principle provides justification for the
condemnation of any act that may cause harm intentionally, or any harm done to the patient that
may have the possibility of being avoided, but was not offered. Harm in this context
encompasses all dimensions, that is, privacy invasion, violation of patient’s dignity and the
inhibition of providing basic needs for the patients wellbeing. It is therefore imperative that as
nurses, the administering of care be done in an ethical way.

In a nutshell, nurses equally play an important role as other healthcare professionals when it
comes to administering care to a patient. Patients road to recovery is only going to be a safe
journey with a nurse present, for guidance. The nurses’ roles provide the stepping stones to
which patients will step on, and the ethical principles will serve as a direction for nurses to abide
by in ensuring that, when the patients discharge, they are healed completely. When nurses
effectively utilize their roles and abide by ethical principles, they become expert nurses with a
deeper background of experiences, having a grasp in certain clinical situations.
 REFERENCE LIST
Brooker, C., Waugh, A., (2013). Foundations of Nursing Practice. (2nd Ed). St Louis: Mosby.

Clement, I., (2011) Textbook of Nursing Foundations (1st Ed) Jaypee brothers New Delhi.

Cherry, B., & Jacob, SR., (2011). Contemporary Nursing; Issues, Trends, & Management
(6th Ed). St Louis, Mosby.

Crisp, T., & Taylor, C., (2009) Potter & Perry's Fundamentals of Nursing Practice.3rd ed. St
Louis. Mosby.
Potter, P. A., Perry, A. G., Stockert, P. A., & Hall, A. M. (2013). Fundamentals of Nursing
(8th ed., Vol. 1). Mosby, St. Louis: Elsevier.

Leddy & Pepper, (2013) Conceptual Basis of Nursing Fundamentals (8th ed., Vol.1)