This article focuses on the difference between a nursing practice problem and a medical practice problem in the field of medicine. It answers questions related to the following:
- Nursing Practice Problem vs. Medical Practice Problem
- Examples of scenarios applicable to each to illustrate the meaning of the two nursing concepts
- Why PICOT question should be premised on a nursing practice problem
Healthcare professionals and nursing students undertake routines that often revolve around addressing between nursing and medical practice problems.
Such a community uses the PICOT process to approach real-world situations by creating PICOT to make informed decisions.
Evidence-based decisions stem from diverse perspectives and require unique approaches to resolution.
In order to ensure patient-centered outcomes and enhance collaboration among interdisciplinary team members, it is paramount to explore nursing and medical practice problems.
Nursing Practice Problem
Nursing practice problem denotes how a patient responds to a given health condition and life processes.
The modalities associated with this nursing care concept include screening, support, trauma prevention, health assessment, relevant patient education, healthcare coordination, action plans, and follow-up care.
Nursing professionals identify this problem in the nursing process, which involves assessment, diagnosis, planning, implementation, and evaluation. They also utilize diverse healthcare resources to offer whole-person nursing care to the patient, family, or community.
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Typically, nursing practice problem is premised on a patient’s holistic needs, such as social, emotional, physical, behavioral, and spiritual support.
It is centered on a patient’s emotions, wellbeing, attitudes, and other responses to treatment and health problems. That said, nurses consider multiple dimensions of patient wellbeing to individualize their needs and offer the best support through the multidimensional quality model.
Nurses experience this challenge when assessing and caring for patients. This problem is related to a patient’s attitudes, emotions, or any responses toward their potential needs or health conditions.
Example of a Nursing Practice Problem
A case scenario where a patient develops anxiety due to a chronic illness like cancer represents a nursing practice problem.
The nursing approach would involve assessing the patient’s anxiety levels, providing emotional support, developing coping strategies, and evaluating the effectiveness of these interventions.
Nursing problems are often geared to be dynamic and require continuous assessment and modification of care plans.
Medical Practice Problem
On the other hand, the medical practice problem is primarily concerned with diagnosing and treating diseases or medical conditions. It is rooted in pathology and the physiological aspects of health and illness.
Physicians typically address such problems through clinical diagnosis, medical interventions, and the management of disease processes.
Example of a Medical Practice Problem
Diagnosing a patient with diabetes mellitus is a medical practice problem.
The physician’s role involves conducting diagnostic tests, prescribing medication, and monitoring the patient’s blood sugar levels.
The focus is on managing the disease to prevent complications and improve the patient’s physical health.
Another scenario of a medical practice problem is when a patient has a toe injury. The medical personnel will identify the injury, such as a bone dislocation or fracture, and prescribe a way to manage the pain.
Nursing practice will involve collaborating with the patient to review aftercare and medication directions.
Furthermore, the nursing practitioner will ensure proper splint care, provide patient education, and may recommend a Registered Nurse (RN) to deliver hands-on care and monitor the patient’s progress in the home setting.
Notable Differences between Nursing and Medical Practice Problems
- Focus and Scope: Nursing practice problems emphasize holistic patient care, while medical practice problems concentrate on diagnosing and treating specific diseases.
- Approach: Nursing professionals employ a patient-centered approach where they manage and care for patients based on their preferences, interests, values, and needs. However, medical practitioners focus on the physiological and anatomical aspects of a condition.
- Diagnosis: Medical diagnosis is intended to determine whether a patient has a disorder that needs medical attention. However, nursing professionals make diagnoses to identify potential ways to promote self-care.
- Interventions: Nursing interventions entail providing patient education, providing social-emotional care, making life modifications, offering behavioral support, and alleviating pain to help the patient recover quickly and regain their well-being. Medical interventions often involve medications, surgical procedures, and other clinical treatments.
- Outcome Goals: Nursing practice is designed to improve the patient’s quality of life and wellness through comprehensive care, whereas medical practice seeks to cure or manage health conditions through evidence-based clinical interventions.
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Collaboration between Nursing and Medical Professionals
Nursing and medical practice problems are integral when it comes to care delivery in healthcare settings.
Nurses need to collaborate with stakeholders like physicians, pharmacists, and the patient’s family to ensure effective care provision and improve patient outcomes.
Without the unique contributions of each stakeholder, healthcare professionals cannot develop comprehensive care plans that accommodate all physiological and psychosocial needs of patients.
Through Interdisciplinary teamwork, people with diverse expertise work together to address all aspects of patient health, contributing to better patient outcomes and satisfaction.
PICOT Question
The PICOT question is used to establish and improve evidence-based practice (EBP), enabling nurses to address the problems affecting the patient. It is the initial step for creating EBP.
Nursing professionals utilize EBP to serve patients, ensuring they receive a high standard of care that contributes to the desired outcomes.
As the question acts like a better-care model, it is grounded on nursing practice problems.
The PICOT framework is applied when a professional performs an eye assessment or provides eye care to minimize the probability of visual abnormalities and help the patient manage psychological obstacles.
Concluding Observations
While nursing and medical practice problems contrast in terms of focus and approach, they are interconnected components of holistic healthcare.
Understanding these differences enables healthcare professionals to work collaboratively and make informed decisions, helping them solve multifaceted problems and offer quality care.
