STUDENT HANDBOOK - ITT Technical Institute

development, execution and implementation of nursing judgments based on sound clinicalreasoning. Those judgments are demonstrated by analysis of assessment data, formulation ofnursing diagnoses, establishment of goals, and the planning, implementation and evaluation ofcompetent nursing care.Health Promotion & Maintenance: Health promotion and maintenance for optimal living isaccomplished through healthy lifestyles implementation, illness prevention, disease management,pain alleviation and/or supporting a dignified death. Teaching individuals, families, groups andcommunities to promote and maintain health is a nursing responsibility and inherent in thedevelopment of continuity of care strategies.Nursing Roles: Nursing roles are Provider of Care, Manager of Care, and Member of theProfession. These roles are interrelated and include components essential for entry-levelregistered nurses. The nurse as a provider of care begins by learning the fundamentals and skillsof direct patient care. The individual then continues knowledge and skill acquisition in theprovider role through the application of the nursing process with diverse patient populations fromacross the life span. Always within the provider role is the application of teaching-learningprinciples for health promotion and maintenance.The nurse, as a Manager of Care, coordinates health care interventions with members of aninterdisciplinary team. The team includes not only the nurse but the patient, the patient’s familyand other health care providers. Within the role of Manager of Care, the nurse delegates routinetechnical functions to ancillary personnel but continues to assume patient care accountability andresponsibility. Managing care involves collaboration, mutual respect and the efficient use ofhuman, physical, financial and technological resources to meet patient needs.The nurse, as a Member of the Profession, demonstrates accountability and responsibility forcompetent nursing care and internalizes professional commitment. Life-long learning andprofessional development are expectations due to continually changing health care technologiesand settings. Decisions are made and actions taken that are consistent with ethical, professionaland regulatory standards.Therapeutic Communication Skills: Communication in nursing is a process where informationis exchanged either verbally, nonverbally, in writing or through information technology.Therapeutic communication is a process where nurse-patient interactions promote coping andadaptation strategies, healthy interpersonal relationships and the development of new knowledgeand skills. Communication techniques are used to collaborate with individuals, families, groups,communities and members of the health care team in assessing, planning, implementing,evaluating and reporting nursing care.Competent Nursing Care: Competent nursing care means the integration of essentialknowledge, skills, techniques and judgments to safely and effectively function within the roles ofthe Associate in Science, Nursing graduate: that of Provider of Care, Manager of Care andMember of the Profession. As an evidence-based practice, competent nursing care requires theintegration of theoretical knowledge and technical skill application. Competent nursing care isconsistent with ethical, professional and regulatory standards.