Process for the Development of Nursing Standards of Practice for a State

The process for the development of nursing standards of practice for a state typically involves the following steps:

1. Formation of an expert committee: The state board of nursing (BON) typically forms an expert committee to develop the standards of practice. This committee should be composed of nurses from a variety of practice settings and specialties, as well as other stakeholders such as consumers, educators, and researchers.
2. Review of evidence and existing standards: The expert committee will review the evidence on best practices in nursing care, as well as existing standards of practice from other states and national organizations.
3. Development of draft standards: The expert committee will develop a draft set of standards of practice based on their review of the evidence and existing standards.
4. Public review and comment: The draft standards of practice will be released for public review and comment. This is an opportunity for all stakeholders to provide feedback on the standards.
5. Revision and finalization of standards: The expert committee will review the public comments and revise the standards of practice accordingly. The final set of standards will be submitted to the BON for approval.
6. Implementation of standards: Once the BON has approved the standards of practice, they will be implemented across the state. The BON will typically work with healthcare organizations and nursing schools to ensure that the standards are being followed.

Entities Involved in Developing Nursing Standards of Practice

The following entities are typically involved in the development of nursing standards of practice:

• State board of nursing (BON): The BON is the state agency responsible for regulating the practice of nursing. The BON is responsible for developing, implementing, and enforcing the standards of practice.
• Expert committee: The expert committee is a group of nurses and other stakeholders who are responsible for developing the draft standards of practice. The expert committee is typically appointed by the BON.
• Healthcare organizations: Healthcare organizations, such as hospitals, clinics, and nursing homes, are involved in the development and implementation of the standards of practice. Healthcare organizations work with the BON to ensure that their nurses are following the standards.
• Nursing schools: Nursing schools are involved in the development and implementation of the standards of practice. Nursing schools teach their students about the standards of practice and prepare them to follow the standards in their practice.
• Other stakeholders: Other stakeholders, such as consumers, educators, and researchers, may also be involved in the development of the standards of practice. These stakeholders can provide valuable feedback on the draft standards and help to ensure that the standards are meeting the needs of all stakeholders.

How Nursing Standards of Practice Influence the Nursing Process

Nursing standards of practice influence the nursing process in a number of ways. The standards provide a framework for nurses to follow when providing care to patients. The standards also help to ensure that nurses are providing care that is consistent with best practices.

The nursing process is a systematic approach to nursing care that includes the following steps:

1. Assessment: The nurse assesses the patient’s health status to identify their needs.
2. Diagnosis: The nurse diagnoses the patient’s nursing problems.
3. Planning: The nurse develops a plan of care to address the patient’s nursing problems.
4. Implementation: The nurse implements the plan of care.
5. Evaluation: The nurse evaluates the effectiveness of the plan of care and makes adjustments as needed.

Nursing standards of practice influence each step of the nursing process. For example, the standards can help nurses to:

• Assess the patient’s health status comprehensively.
• Identify the patient’s nursing problems accurately.
• Develop a plan of care that is consistent with best practices.
• Implement the plan of care in a safe and effective manner.
• Evaluate the effectiveness of the plan of care and make adjustments as needed.

Example of How Nursing Standards of Practice Influence the Nursing Process in a Specialty Area

One example of how nursing standards of practice influence the nursing process in a specialty area is in the area of critical care nursing. The standards of practice for critical care nurses provide guidance on how to care for patients who are critically ill. For example, the standards specify the types of assessments that critical care nurses should perform, the types of interventions that they should provide, and the types of documentation that they should maintain.

Critical care nurses use the nursing process to provide care to their patients. However, the nursing process for critical care patients is more complex than the nursing process for patients in other areas of care. This is because critical care patients often have multiple and complex health problems.

The standards of practice for critical care nurses help to ensure that critical care nurses are following a consistent and evidence-based approach to care. This helps to improve the quality of care that critical care patients receive.