Course Calendar 2011-2012 - Champlain College Saint-Lambert

3.3 The graduate nurse helps patients become aware of
their personal resources, informs them of the resources
available within their environment and helps them deal with
their specific health-related situation/context. The graduate
nurse pays particular attention to patients who are
vulnerable or at risk.
In co-operation with other health professionals, the
graduate nurse engages in activities intended to correct
practices and policies that may lead to health and social
problems.
4. THERAPEUTIC PROCESS
Principle: All patients who know the diagnosis of their
health-related problem have a need to be cared for,
treated, informed, reassured and comforted. The graduate
nurse assesses the patient’s physical and mental status, and
in collaboration with the patient determines the nursing
care and treatment required to maintain, restore or
improve their health or to help the patient die with dignity.
The graduate nurse encourages patients to participate, to
the best of their abilities, in the care and treatments
stipulated in the therapeutic nursing plan. The graduate
nurse ensures that these interventions are carried out,
provides patients with the assistance they require and
monitors their responses throughout the therapeutic
process.
Elements of Practice:
4.1 The graduate nurse assesses the patient’s physical and
mental health status and formulates the therapeutic nursing
plan. The graduate nurse demonstrates effective clinical
skills and makes appropriate decisions based on patients’
health related situations. The graduate nurse ensures a
therapeutic presence for each patient and reassures the
patient as required. The graduate nurse informs patients of
their state of health, and the care and treatment they will
receive. The graduate nurse provides nursing care and
treatment, and carries out required invasive procedures.
The graduate nurse develops the nursing treatment plan for
wounds and alterations of the skin/teguments and provides
the required care and treatment to patients. The graduate
nurse co-ordinates care and treatment activities for a group
of patients for which he/she is responsible, taking each
patient’s priorities into account. The graduate nurse ensures
that patients receive the care and treatment stipulated for
them in the therapeutic nursing plan.
4.2 The graduate nurse identifies patients’ learning needs
and facilitates knowledge and skills acquisition, supporting
patients in the process.
4.3 The graduate nurse knows the trajectory of the disease,
recognizes mourning and loss reactions in patients, and
accompanies patients and their families as required. The
graduate nurse clarifies the meaning of mourning or loss
with individual patients and their families.
4.4 The graduate nurse ensures that patients are informed
about the diagnostic measures, invasive examinations and
medical treatments that they are undergoing. The graduate
nurse initiates diagnostic measures and performs invasive
diagnostic examinations/tests, according to prescription.
The graduate nurse provides and adjusts medical
treatments, including medications, according to individual
and/or collective prescriptions and protocols of the health
care institution. The graduate nurse intervenes in
emergencies, crises and situations of violence, according to
patients’ needs and policies of the health care institution.
4.5 The graduate nurse ensures that patients know the
desired effects and side effects of medications administered
to them. The graduate nurse evaluates the effects of care,
treatments and medications and monitors for their
effectiveness, including adverse reactions. The graduate
nurse intervenes as the situation requires, makes
appropriate clinical decisions and adjusts the therapeutic
nursing plan as required.
4.6 The graduate nurse ensures ongoing monitoring of
patients’ physical and mental status, so as to track the
evolution of their health status and detecting complications
in a timely manner. The graduate nurse evaluates the
effects of care and treatments in conjunction with relevant
parameters, including clinical monitoring data and patients’
reactions. The graduate intervenes appropriately in relation
to identified problems and risks, and adjusts the therapeutic
nursing plan as required. As relevant to his/her field of
practice, the graduate nurse provides prenatal, perinatal
and postpartum care.
4.7 The graduate nurse provides clinical follow-up for
patients with complex health problems by assessing and
monitoring their condition and adjusting the therapeutic
nursing plan and prescribed therapeutic medical plan. This is
conducted in collaboration with patients within an
interdisciplinary perspective, and in collaboration with
relevant departments and appropriate professional and
health care institutions. The graduate nurse records all
clinical information required for monitoring the patient’s
condition and for ensuring continuity of care and treatment,
including data related to clinical assessments, identified
problems, the therapeutic nursing plan and its adjustments,
interventions and outcomes, as well as patients’ reactions.
The graduate nurse ensures that patients’ records are kept
up to date.