INTRODUCTION TO VOCATIONAL NURSING CHAPTER 15

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INTRODUCTION TO VOCATIONAL NURSINGCHAPTER 15

• CURRENT ISSUES AND FUTURE CONCERNS

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CHANGE

• IS INEVITABLE
• EXPECT CHANGE
• TRY TO BE INVOLVED IN THE PROCESS
• NEW TECHNOLOGY
• NEW TECHNIQUES
• NEW DISEASES
• NEW FELLOW HEALTH CARE WORKERS
• CONSIDER IT AN OPPORTUNITY!!!

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CONCERNS

• OCCUPATIONAL RISKS needlesticks, back injuries,
  hepatitis, TB
• CHEMICALLY IMPAIRED NURSES many excuses, TPAPN
• MAINTAINING COMPETENCE keep learning!

• CONTINUING ED In TX must have 20 CEU/2 yr
  renewal period
• COMPUTERS charting, confidentiality issues
• EMPLOYMENT opportunities plentiful in many
  different areas
• EDUCATION internet education, life-long learning

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CONCERNS

• LTC FACILITIES more prevalent, opportunities
  for LVNs
• CULTURAL DIVERSITY by 2050, 47 population will
  be racial minorities, differences in time mgmt
• DISCRIMINATION among nurses

• NURSING TEAM MEMBERS cross training
• MANDATED NURSE-TO-PT RATIOS in California is
  16 max in med-surg
• NATIONAL LICENSURE TX is a compact state

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CONCERNS

• NURSE SHORTAGE
• ALTERNATIVE THERAPIES
• CRITICAL THINKING ability to apply what is
  learned
• BIOETHICS end of life issues, genetics, organ
  transplants

• END-OF-LIFE ISSUES palliative care pain mgmt
• HEALTHY PEOPLE 2010
• Increase quality years of healthy life
• Eliminate health disparities among different
  races, genders, etc
• VIOLENCE IN THE WORKPLACE mostly from pts but
  can also come from coworkers