Although nursing practice problems and medical practice problems are related in that they are used for medicine, there are differences between the two. A nursing practice problem is an issue encountered during nursing practice, such as during a patient assessment, related to the patient’s response to a health problem they are experiencing. There are numerous considerations to the nursing practice problems (Fuller, 1982). This ranges from the patient’s signs and symptoms to an illness to their difficulties in completing the activities of daily living due to a fractured extremity. This is due to nursing care involves the entire individual, family or community. Fuller, (1982) states that nursing practice problems, “…deal with modalities of patient care such as support, comfort, prevention of trauma, promotion of recovery, health screening, appraisal and/or assessment, health education, and coordination of health care.”
A medical practice problem is concerned with a medical condition or disease. It identifies a condition, searches for causes, establishes a prognosis, and prescribes a treatment for the condition (Chiffi & Zanotti, 2015).
Chiffi and Zanotti (2015) state, “In conclusion, medical and nursing diagnoses have different goals: a medical diagnosis identifies a variation from a norm, while a nursing diagnosis should judge the existence of a potential for enhancing self-care.”
Consider a patient with a fractured wrist. The physician will set the fracture and prescribe pain medication. These are examples of medical practice problems. The nurse will review the aftercare and medication instructions with the patient. The nurse will also review care of the splint and possibly arrange a visiting RN to help with activities of daily living.
The PICOT question is the first step in establishing or improving evidence-based practice with the goal of solving problems with patients. “Nurses use EBP to provide patients with safe, quality care and to improve outcomes” (Helbig, 2018). The PICOT is based on a nursing practice problem because it is designed to improve patient care. An example of using PICOT for evidence-based practice would be studying the frequency of oral care with the goal of reducing the incidence of ventilator associated pneumonias. It is not designed for disease research.
Using 200-300 words APA format with references to support discussion
Nursing practice problems and medical practice problems indeed share the overarching goal of providing optimal patient care, but they differ in their focus, approach, and scope. Nursing practice problems are centered around nursing care and encompass a holistic view of patient well-being, considering physical, psychological, and social aspects. They deal with various modalities of patient care, including support, comfort, prevention, health promotion, assessment, education, and coordination of healthcare services, all of which contribute to enhancing the patient’s overall quality of life (Fuller, 1982).
On the other hand, medical practice problems primarily pertain to diagnosing and treating medical conditions or diseases. Medical diagnosis aims to identify deviations from the norm, establish the cause, prognosis, and prescribe appropriate medical interventions (Chiffi & Zanotti, 2015). These problems are primarily concerned with the pathophysiological aspects of a patient’s condition.
The PICOT (Population, Intervention, Comparison, Outcome, Time) question is a crucial tool in evidence-based practice (EBP) that helps nurses formulate research questions aimed at improving patient care. While it may involve medical conditions, it is fundamentally rooted in nursing practice because its purpose is to guide the delivery of safe, quality care, and improve patient outcomes (Helbig, 2018). For instance, an EBP initiative to reduce ventilator-associated pneumonias by studying the frequency of oral care in ventilated patients is an excellent example. In this case, the focus is on improving nursing interventions and patient care practices rather than delving into the intricacies of the disease itself.
In summary, nursing practice problems and medical practice problems serve distinct but interconnected roles in healthcare. Nursing practice problems prioritize the holistic well-being of patients through various care modalities, while medical practice problems focus on diagnosing and treating specific medical conditions. The PICOT question, a key component of EBP, is firmly rooted in nursing practice and aims to enhance patient care outcomes.