Why Have Nursing Care Plans?
Nursing care plans make up the whole of the nursing industry, especially in tense situations like the ER where making a mistake on a patient’s record could be a life or death matter. Nursing care plans eliminate this risk by recording exactly what the patient has done for the day (in terms of food, medication, and possibly exercise), and informs the next nurse on-call what they should monitor or give to the patient during their shift. Without this vital information, the hospital system would be sorely amiss and patients would not be receiving the care they desperately need during their stays.
Picture a hospital without a nursing care plan: patients would either neglected or too serviced. Patients would be overdosing on medication left and right, would be over-exerting their strength in rehabilitative work, and would be eating too little or too much food per day. Nursing care plans keep all of this in check without disrupting the hospital’s schedule or patients’ lives. Nurses are the vital life-blood of every hospital and clinic, a fact well recognized by most doctors, although not by the media. The media has portrayed doctors as the care-givers of patients, when in fact it is the nurse who knows their history, sits with the patient when they are scared, and delivers their medication on a daily basis. Nurses need to be kept up-to-date on any changes in the patient’s condition, much more so than doctors, so that they can relay this information to the next nurse who comes on duty.
Doctors count on nurses for this type of information, and any nurse who is not updated on her patient will be met with dire consequences in the medical world. Nursing care plans have come a long way from the original charts that nurses used to deliver messages to new technological advances that allow them the flexibility to mark off a patient through computers or other devices. This has been an important part of updating the medical field – along with updating patient files so that they are now stored on computers rather than loose folders, nursing care plans are now typically stored in the same manner. It is much easier to lose a paper/folder than a computer file (although some would argue the opposite due to computer malfunctions). However, despite any technological set-backs, the nursing care plan continues to march forward and ensure that nurses are in charge of patient care and safety.
Top Online Nursing Programs
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University of Phoenix - RN to BSN. 27 Nursing Degrees. Students interested in reaching their career goals in the healthcare industry as a nurse will reach them at the University of Phoenix. University of Phoenix allows working adults the convenience of taking classes when they can.
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South University - A.S. in Allied Health Science. As an accredited online college, South University offers a respectable Associate’s Degree in Allied Health Science for those seeking to pursue a career in healthcare. The program is offered completely online, allowing students to learn in their own time without sacrificing their current responsibilities.
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LA College - A.A. in Health Care Administration. With a handful of online health programs, LA College is a great choice for students seeking entry-level positions in the healthcare industry. Their Associate’s degree in Health Care Administration will provide students with the basis for a multitude of job opportunities in hospitals, doctor’s offices, clinics, and many others.
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Post University - BS in Mgmt. For Registered Nurses. Post University is dedicated in helping students achieve their personal and professional goals in a timely manner, allowing them to pursue their careers in healthcare more quickly. The Bachelor of Science in Management for Registered Nurses degree will prepare nurses to obtain administrative and management roles that require critical-thinking, decision-making, and leadership skills.
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Herzing University - BSN-Bridge Program. With nursing constituting as the largest healthcare occupation today, Herzing University has created quality nursing programs to fulfill the increasing demand in the industry. At Herzing, students receive hands-on training in order to help them enter the workforce with confidence.
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The College Network - 10 universities offering Nursing Degrees. The College Network is one of the nation's top providers in providing high quality nursing degrees online. Students have the opportunity to pursue a variety of HealthCare degrees that that will allow them to further their career in Nursing.
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Jones International University - B.A. in Health Care Mgmt. Jones International University offers a Bachelor’s program in Health Care Management that will help students become skilled and effective managers in the healthcare industry. Students could work in a variety of different settings upon completion of the program.
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Virginia College - BS in Health Services Management. Virginia College is dedicated in helping students achieve their goals and aspirations to advance in the health care industry. Their Bachelor’s degree in Health Services Management will prepare students for a variety of career options in assistant management or administrative positions within a healthcare facility.
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Western Governors University - B.S. in Nursing. Western Governors University is an accredited online university offering a variety of nursing and healthcare programs for students of all ages. Their Nursing program will incorporate patient education, health promotion, nursing roles, technology, and many other health related subjects.
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Baker College - B.S. in Nursing. Baker College allows students to complete their Nursing degree completely online, at their own pace and time. Their program provides current registered nurses with the opportunity to advance and continue their growth.
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Keiser University - B.A. in Health Services Administration. With several degree options in the healthcare field, Keiser University prepares students for a variety of positions in any healthcare setting. Their mission is to help students develop skills and knowledge that will prepare them for leadership positions upon graduation.
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Indiana State University - LPN to BSN. Students looking to jump start a career will find accredited an accredited RN to BSN nursing degree from the Indiana State University. Indiana State University was originally founded in 1865 and over this time has prepared thousands of students for new, exciting careers.
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