White Paper: The Nursing Science of Planning a Positive Care Experience

n today’s fast-paced, tech-driven healthcare environment, the nursing profession is an intricate science that requires a heightened level of intuition to achieve success.

Nurses are key players in almost every area of the hospital and influence multiple points along the care cycle. A 2017 report suggests that nurses are not only responsible for ensuring positive clinical outcomes, but also have quantifiable influence in the areas of finance, quality of care, and clinical team engagement (Thew, 2017). Another study published in Orthopedic Nursing views skilled nurses as key differentiators in the transition “from episodic, provider-based, fee-for-service care to team-based, patient-centered care across the continuum that provides seamless, affordable, and quality care” (Salmond & Echevarria, 2014, p. 1) Furthermore, a study published by BMC Health Services further supports nursing as a key multifunctional science, outlining various nursing elements and practices that can contribute to a more positive patient experience (Kieft, de Brouwer, et al., 2014). It also noted that nurses who strive to deliver patient-centered care often find challenges in balancing costs and external accountability with patient needs and preferences.

Within this White Paper we examine the steps to creating a plan of care, how EHRs can help with plan or care execution, and improving patient experience from a nursing perspective.