If you are looking to improve patient outcomes on travel nursing assignments, there are a number of ways to go about it. In addition to maintaining appropriate relationships with those you are treating, you can also improve your nursing practices in order to provide patient-centered care that supports positive recovery results. So, what exactly does that entail?
Technology and other advancements
One great benefit of working as a travel nurse is that you will be exposed to a number of working environments. In most cases, each healthcare facility will run things a little bit differently. On top of that, you are likely to be introduced to new techniques and technology on each of the travel jobs you work. Instead of being intimidated by the idea of trying something new, embrace the knowledge as an opportunity to better your nursing practices. You will be able to take learned skills to your next jobs, which can help to improve patient care and health along the way.
Talk to the patient, ask questions
No matter what type of case you are dealing with on travel nursing jobs, it’s important to ask questions of the patient. This will help you to better gauge whether or not treatment decisions are effective. You may also uncover symptoms or side effects to medications that you would not otherwise be aware of. Additionally, while you are learning about the patient, you are also engaging them. Some people become worrisome while receiving medical care and may feel as though they are being overlooked during their recovery process. But talking with a patient and taking time to ask questions and actually listening to his or her answers, you are showing that you care. This is a vital step toward putting the patient first.
Basic guidelines and principles
While there are improvements you can make to your daily interactions with patients and you can regularly keep up with research in your field, there are some basics that every individual working nursing jobs should keep in mind. Some of the guidelines to keep in mind when it comes to patient interactions and developing your nursing care plan include:
- Showing compassion and empathy for the struggles and difficulties that come with health issues
- Treating patients as individuals, not as their medical conditions
- Respecting the age, gender, race, culture and religion of each individual
- Communicating important information, including treatment plans and procedures, clearly and concisely to patients in ways that they are able to understand and comprehend
- Including the individual in the decision-making process when it comes to healthcare options
- Listening to questions or concerns that a patient may have reading their care
As an RN, you are viewed as a reliable source of information. In fact, according to the Jacksonville University School of Nursing, 84 percent of Americans consider the honesty and ethics of individuals who work in the nursing profession to be “high” or “very high.” This is in large part due to the care and compassion expressed by those in the field.