Nightingale's reflection on nursing over 140 years ago clearly articulates some of
the same care problems we face today. She said “nursing has been limited to signify
little more than the administration of medicines and the application of poultices
(dressings). It ought to signify the proper use of fresh air, light, warmth, cleanliness,
quiet and the proper use and selection of diet and this should be at the least expense
of vital power to the patient. The goal is to put the patient in the best condition
for nature to act upon him”.
1
The profession of nursing worldwide is refocusing on the implementation of fundamental
nursing care practices using the latest evidence to positively impact the leading
patient errors/injuries including medications, health care acquired infections, falls,
pressure ulcers and failure to rescue or recognize when a patient is deteriorating.
2
To read this article in full you will need to make a payment
Purchase one-time access:
Academic & Personal: 24 hour online accessCorporate R&D Professionals: 24 hour online accessOne-time access price info
- For academic or personal research use, select 'Academic and Personal'
- For corporate R&D use, select 'Corporate R&D Professionals'
Subscribe:
Subscribe to Australian Critical CareAlready a print subscriber? Claim online access
Already an online subscriber? Sign in
Register: Create an account
Institutional Access: Sign in to ScienceDirect
References
- Notes on nursing, what it is, and what it is not.1st American edition. D. Appleton and Company, New York1860 (Available at: http://digital.library.upenn.edu/women/nightingale/nursing/nursing.html#XI [accessed 12/2004].)
- To err is human: building a safer health system.National Academy Press, Washington, DC1999
- National voluntary consensus standards for nursing-sensitive care: an initial performance measure set.National Quality Forum, Washington, DC2004
- Modem learning theory and some new approaches to teaching.in: Gustad J.W. Faculty utilization and retention. New England Board of Higher Education, Winchester, MA1960: 64-72
- Personal paper: beliefs and evidence in changing practice.Br. Med J. 1997; 315: 418-421
- Guidelines in professions allied to medicine: a systematic review of the literature.Cochrane Database. 2002;
- Ventilator-associated pneumonia and pressure ulcer prevention as targets for quality improvement in the ICU.Crit Care Nurs Clin N Am. 2006; 18: 453-467
Merriam-Webster Online Dictionary, http://www.webster.com/dictionary/hygiene [accessed July, 2009].
- Interventional patient hygiene: proactive (hygiene) strategies to improve patient's outcomes.AACN News. 2005; 22: 1-7
- Interventional patient hygiene model: infection control and nursing share responsibility for patient safety.Am J Infect Control. 2008; 36: 59-62
Article Info
Publication History
Published online: October 19, 2009
Identification
Copyright
© 2009 Australian College of Critical Care Nurses Ltd. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
