In The Perinatal Nurse's Guide to Avoiding a Lawsuit, Pat Connors shares her 10 years of experience and the expertise she acquired working as a legal nurse consultant and nurse expert. Working with both plaintiff and defense attorneys, combined with 40 years as a perinatal nurse, affords her a unique ability to educate perinatal nurses as to factors that might lead them to become involved in the dreaded LAWSUIT. At one time, physicians were considered the "captain of the ship" and nurses were expected to do little more than take and follow orders. Today's nurses, well educated, autonomous and expected to possess critical thinking skills, now often find themselves responsible for many tasks once assigned to physicians. The complexity of maternal-child nursing has placed higher demands for assessment and vigilance. This book targets those areas that make perinatal nurses vulnerable to and prime targets for a lawsuit. The Perinatal Nurse's Guide to Avoiding a Lawsuit is replete with case studies and resources highlighting areas of litigation for which perinatal nurses are at greatest risk and addresses strategies to reduce those risks.
This book links quality and reimbursement issues, using a systems approach that clinicians may incorporate into their practice. Updated to provide practical advice for primary care providers (PCPs) about major trends that have emerged over the past five years, such as growing patient enrollment in managed care health plans, performance evaluation of PCPs by outside agencies, and the dramatic increase in billing being audited.Includes a free CD-ROM with customizable forms and checklists.
Evidence should be the basis of all nursing practice and action. This book was written to provide nurses with guidelines for evidence-based nursing care.
Inside this comprehensive reference, you'll find in-depth coverage of the liability risks common to obstetric and neonatal settings. From the basics of healthcare law and its relation to clinical practice, to detailed discussions aimed at specific liability challenges, this resource prepares you for the professional and legal responsibilities of today's perinatal nursing.
"Nurses play a vital role in improving the safety and quality of patient car -- not only in the hospital or ambulatory treatment facility, but also of community-based care and the care performed by family members. Nurses need know what proven techniques and interventions they can use to enhance patient outcomes. To address this need, the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ), with additional funding from the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, has prepared this comprehensive, 1,400-page, handbook for nurses on patient safety and quality -- Patient Safety and Quality: An Evidence-Based Handbook for Nurses. (AHRQ Publication No. 08-0043)." - online AHRQ blurb, http://www.ahrq.gov/qual/nurseshdbk/
Thoroughly updated for its Second Edition, this comprehensive reference provides clear, practical guidelines on documenting patient care in all nursing practice settings, the leading clinical specialties, and current documentation systems. This edition features greatly expanded coverage of computerized charting and electronic medical records (EMRs), complete guidelines for documenting JCAHO safety goals, and new information on charting pain management. Hundreds of filled-in sample forms show specific content and wording. Icons highlight tips and timesavers, critical case law and legal safeguards, and advice for special situations. Appendices include NANDA taxonomy, JCAHO documentation standards, and documenting outcomes and interventions for key nursing diagnoses.
Praise for the First Edition: “Where was this book when I was a new nurse just learning the ropes of labor and delivery? This is a true gem of a book—a must for any new grad going into labor and delivery. I recommend this book for every labor and delivery floor." -Cindy Curtis, RNC, IBCLC, CCE Former Director, The Family Birth Center Culpeper Regional Hospital Lignum, VA "The best one-stop reference book for the experienced and novice Labor and Delivery RN....Finally an excellent Labor and Delivery book by RN's -- for RN's." -Garla DeWall, RNC Presbyterian Hospital in the Family Birthing Center Albuquerque, New Mexico The clinically oriented guide to nursing care during childbirth is distinguished by its strong focus on evidence-based practice as well as its engaging style and user-friendly format. It reviews the nursing process from admission to delivery focusing on proper surveillance and care, comprehensive data acquisition, interpretation, and teamwork. The second edition continues to help labor and delivery nurses make wise decisions in the delivery room, optimizing both maternal and fetal outcomes. It clearly explains the stages and phases of labor, delivery, and pain assessment and management—all supported by proven research. This text provides authoritative guidance on intervention options, creating patient-centered care plans, and improving communication with other members of the obstetrics team. New to the Second Edition: Proper analysis of the partograph to facilitate appropriate patient interventions Updated information about clinical pelvimetry New information on psyche, including the religious, spiritual, and cultural dimensions of care Setting priorities in triage and care related to postpartum hemorrhage Identification of “myths” related to childbirth Individualized patient care related to fetal distress and nonreassuring fetal status Oxytocin infusion and its relationship to permanent Erb’s palsy and autism Updated information on technology, including connectivity between smart IV pumps and the EMR How to distinguish functional from mechanical dystocia and intervene to enhance fetal and maternal safety Key Features: Applies to nursing care of childbearing clients world-wide Focuses on evidence-based practices Written in engaging, easy-to-understand style for new nurses, seasoned practitioners, and nurses seeking certification Enhances effective decision-making to optimize patient care and outcomes Replete with informative references, relevant graphics, and review questions Incorporates research to clearly explain concepts and best practices Provides orientation fundamentals, checklists, and log charts
A useful review tool in preparing for the NCLEX-RN examination, this guide is based on the latest NCLEX-RN test plan - including alternate item formats. More than 2,000 practice questions are included in the book/CD-ROM package, along with test-taking strategies, rationales and top 10 challenge questions to test your knowledge in each subject area.