Q 1
The acute care nurses hold the most unique and dynamic perspective of patients in the acute care setting which makes them effectively assist patients to transition from one level of care to another. One of the roles of acute care nurses in the planning and coordination of the transition of patients is acting as evaluators and educators of the patient’s plan of care and treatment (Wenger & Young, 2017). They also act as the patient’s advocate and make sure that patients understand their plan of care before being discharged.
Q 2
The role of acute care nurses plays a significant impact on the outcome of patient care after the transition from the acute care setting. The assistance and education provided by the acute care nurses help patients reduce fear in coping up with their health status. According to Ignatavicius et al. (2018), when patients are equipped with knowledge about their condition, their recovery outcome improves because they learn how to identify and prevent another episode. Additionally, the help offered by the acute care nurses minimizes re-admissions as well as safety threats for the patients.
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Q 3
Various barriers hinder the safe transition of patients from the acute care setting to their homes. One of the barriers that are involved in this process is insufficient family and patient education that occurs as a result of time constraints placed on the acute care nurses. Due to limited human resources in different healthcare centers, the acute care nurse cannot offer the required education to his or her patient because he or she has more patients to attend to.
Q 4
Since acute care nurses play a core role in fostering change as well as developing evidence to address the need of patients transitioning to home, the nurses need to increase their knowledge about the health condition of the patient and go beyond the immediate treatments and interventions (Coleman & Boult, 2013). The vast knowledge acquired by nurses may encourage nurses to address the needs of a patient in a way that promotes safe and efficient discharge to their homes from the acute care setting.
References
Coleman, E. A., & Boult, C. (2013). Improving the quality of transitional care for persons with complex care needs. Journal of the American Geriatrics Society, 51(4), 556-557.
Ignatavicius, D. D., Workman, M. L., Rebar, C. R., & Heimgartner, N. M. (2018). Medical-surgical nursing (9th ed.). St. Louis, MO: Elsevier.
Wenger, N. S., & Young, R. T. (2017). Quality indicators for continuity and coordination of care in vulnerable elders. Journal of the American Geriatrics Society, 55, S285-S292.