5 Clinical Practice Guidelines for Nurse Practitioners
Higher Education Articles July 18, 2013Clinical Practice Guidelines help those in various medical professions determine the appropriate protocols and procedures for determine disease and treatments in patients. They serve as resources and references for medical professionals, so they can provide the optimum treatment for those in their care. They are easy to follow guides for professionals to look back upon for information.
Nurse practitioners also use Clinical Practice Guidelines to help them perform their own Tasks. There are a number of published guidelines put forth by different organizations such as the American Association of Neuroscience Nurses. The guidelines cover a full range of specialties and situations. Here are five guidelines that most nurse practitioners should make themselves familiar with to excel within their occupation.
Prevention and Treatment of Pediatric Obesity produced by the Endocrine Society
Obesity has become an epidemic in the United States and is quickly spreading around the world. Obesity has been linked to a wide range of diseases and disorders, such as Type II Diabetes. Obesity in childhood places the children at risk for continued weight problems and the related disorders. It can also have social effects on children and their interactions with their peers. It is extremely important for families and health care providers to develop plans to help children fight obesity and retain their health. These guidelines have been developed to assist nurses and other professionals in determining the children who would most benefit from interventions and assistance.
Diagnosis and Treatment of Chest Pain and Acute Coronary Syndrome (ACS): Institute for Clinical Systems Improvement
Nurses who work in hospitals and similar places of emergency care will soon find themselves confronted with patients who are complaining of chest pain. The threat of a heart attack is frequently advertised. Heart disease is prevalent throughout the United States for both men and women. People are taught to look out for potential symptoms of heart difficulties. There will be some people who show up at the emergency room with true heart difficulties while others will be worrying excessively. Nurses are a vital part of making this determination. These guidelines will help nurse practitioners, and other medical professionals make this decision.
Nursing Care of the Woman Receiving Regional Analgesia/Anesthesia in Labor: Association of Woman’s Health, Obstetric and Neonatal Nurses
While labor and delivery can be some of the happiest emergencies in a hospital, nurses must still be attentive and administer the best care. Many women elect to have pain relief during the birth of their child, and others are required to have it for cesarean section. Whenever a patient is receiving medicated pain relief there is a need for monitoring. When it is a pregnant woman, there are two people who need to be carefully cared for. These guidelines will help nurses monitor and protect the health of all those involved.
Post-Operative Pain Management: European Association of Urology
Those who enter the hospital for surgery are extremely concerned with pain management. It can be a truly difficult process for patients, and nurses are critical in assisting with these nerves. These guidelines help nurses and other medical professionals manage pain for patients both pre and post operation and monitor their reactions to the management techniques. These guidelines deal specifically with surgery related to urological difficulties, but there are also general tips and information that nurses working with post-operative patients in other areas may find useful as well.
Chronic Pain: American College of Occupational and Environmental Medicine
These guidelines help nurses assist patients who deal with chronic pain. They offer assistance for creating recommendations and pain management plans. There are notes about disorders such as osteoarthritis and also chronic non-specific pain syndrome. They can be truly beneficial for improving the quality of life for these patients.
Nurses are often faced with a wide variety of conditions and symptoms. Clinical Practice Guidelines have been developed by leaders within these various specialties to improve the quality of care for patients and assist nurses with performing their duties. These are just a few of the many Clinical Practice Guidelines that have been developed. Nurse Practitioners should learn and study the guidelines put forth for their specialties to help them perform their jobs to the best of their abilities.