Discuss the Role of the Nurse

The nursing process is a problem solving framework that sets out a guide in practice for nurses to plan care for the service users. ‘It is a cyclic process whereby failure to use it can cause breakdown in the quality of care provided’ (Hogston & Simpson, 2002).

Nursing process consists of four stages; assess, plan, implement and evaluate (Royal College of Nursing, 2012). By using nursing process they can achieve effective nursing care and use reflection to improvise on the care delivered. A model such as the Roper- Logan- Tierney (1998) is used in the nursing process which is well-known and practiced throughout Britain. Also, the skills that are required in order to complete the four stages, using evidence based practice, and how nurses can provide patient centred care and the advantages of effective communication. This essay will be looking at the four stages of the nursing process and the ways nurses’ can use it in delivering good quality care.

Nurses have the role to carry out care planning in practice as part of their professional values as they will be ‘…personally accountable for actions and omission in your practice’ (NMC, 2008). In order to draw a care plan, nurses’ must complete an assessment with the required information that is clear and accurate (Barrett et al 2009). The code (NMC 2008) has obligations to: ‘make a holistic person centred and systematic assessment of physical, emotional, psychological, social, cultural and spiritual needs, including risk and develops a comprehensive personalised plan of nursing care’ which comes back to the point that individualised care is essential.