The Knowledge, Skills and Experience of Nurses
Registered nurses have :
- Broad empirical knowledge
This derives from the fundamental sciences from which nursing is synthesised - such as philosophy, physiology, sociology - from nursing knowledge and research, or from an allied profession, such as medicine, pharmacology or ergonomics. - Tacit knowledge
This enables nurses to act on hunches or intuition and engage in holistic problem solving. This can be particularly significant in unpacking the complexities of change in the health of older people. - Broad experience
This enables nurses to recognise similarities in patterns of events from previous encounters with older people. Registered nurses recognise the subtle changes in an older person’s health status, understand the potential consequences and then
act appropriately. - A broad range of skills
In everyday practice, registered nurses use a variety of skills including :- Observation - for example, recognising significant changes and formulating opinions
- Psychological – for instance, interpersonal communication with residents, their families and colleagues
- Supporting, encouraging, facilitatory and counselling skills
- Reflecting, challenging and giving constructive
feedback.