Professional nursing care was defined by Florence Nightingale as the "finest of the fine arts." Nursing instructors Kay and Karne Lundy and Sharyn Janes define nursing in 2009 as "...an open, caring art, spirit, human science, holistic practices and discipline that uses a commitment to research, knowledge, humanity, education, the creative arts, and peace to facilitate, transform, actualize human potential, and promote wellness and healing for all people and the planet in the present, future, and beyond." Professional nursing requires a number of critical factors.
Professional Nurse Case Management
A Professional Nurse Case Manager (PNCM), sometimes referred to as a continuum-based model nurse, improves the quality of patient care, according to Registered Nurses Llene Morof Lubkin and Pamela D. Larson in their 2005 book "Chronic Illness: Impact and Interventions." A nurse case manager is given the duties of coordinating patient care, including making the nursing assessment, designing a care plan, delegating care to other nursing specialists, coordinating interdisciplinary teams, and evaluating patient care. This PNCM works with both the patient and the patient's family members to ensure that medications are given and treatment is carried out when the patient is released to return home.
Continuing Education
Professional nursing staffs are formally organized to identify areas for further education for newly hired and less experienced nursing staff members, according to Elaine Liebman Cohen and Toni G. Cesta in their survey text "Nursing Case Management." The authors suggest compiling lists from staff members for training topics and scheduling informal discussion meetings on these topics.
Patient Information Document Care
Professional nursing models present patient care as a living document, according to Cohen and Cesta, so that the nursing chart makes clear notation of the plan for patient care and the steps undertaken to meet that plan, including diagnostics, therapeutic treatment and all clinical evaluation. This integrated approach benefits both the professional nurse and the patient.
Use of Informatics
Nursing informatics is the use of technology to improve the quality of nursing care. Professional nursing is enhanced by access to current patient records utilizing integrated mobile technology carts. The nursing staff should be "...placed squarely in the middle of the mobile cart procurement decision-making process," according to Jeffrey Chochinov, senior product manager for Rubbermaid Medical Solutions. Chochinov cites the need for stations to incorporate adjustable keyboards and monitors, a variety of options for lighting, as well as provisions for comfort including care in design to avoid injuries created from repetitive motion.
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