NLE Fundamentals of Nursing & the Nursing Process — Introduction to Professional Nursing & Nursing TheoriesCheat Sheet

Term

Nursing (ANA Definition)

Example

Teaching a hypertensive patient about low-sodium diet (health promotion) and monitoring BP response (treatment of response)

Definition

Protection, promotion, optimization of health; prevention of illness; alleviation of suffering through diagnosis and treatment of human responses; advocacy in care of individuals, families, communities, and populations.

Term

Nursing (Virginia Henderson)

Example

Helping a post-operative patient ambulate when they lack the strength to do so independently

Definition

Assists individual, sick or well, in performing activities contributing to health, recovery, or peaceful death—activities the person would perform unaided if they had strength, will, or knowledge.

Term

Nursing (Florence Nightingale)

Example

Ensuring clean, well-ventilated room with adequate light and nutrition to promote healing

Definition

Act of putting patient in best condition for nature to act upon them; focuses on environmental manipulation.

Term

Nursing as Science and Art

Example

Evidence-based protocol (science) applied with empathy and cultural sensitivity (art)

Definition

Science: evidence-based, theoretical, systematic; Art: compassionate, individualized, holistic care delivery.

Term

Person/Client

Example

A diabetic patient, their family, or a barangay health program

Definition

Recipient of nursing care; can be individual, family, community, or population.

Term

Environment

Example

Hospital setting, home environment, community resources, cultural beliefs about illness

Definition

Internal and external surroundings affecting the person; includes physical, social, cultural, spiritual contexts.

Term

Health

Example

A patient recovering from stroke ranges from acute illness → rehabilitation → community reintegration

Definition

Degree of wellness or well-being experienced; dynamic state across the wellness-illness continuum.

Term

Nursing

Example

Therapeutic communication, clinical assessment, advocacy, coordination of care

Definition

Actions, characteristics, and attributes of the person giving care; the professional intervention.

Term

Florence Nightingale — Environmental Theory

Example

Cleaning patient's room, opening windows for fresh air, ensuring adequate nutrition → promotes healing

Definition

Nursing involves manipulating the environment (clean, ventilated, lit, quiet, nourished) to allow natural recovery; founder of modern nursing.

Term

Virginia Henderson — Need Theory (14 Basic Needs)

Example

Breathing, eating/drinking, elimination, movement, sleep/rest, clothing, temperature, hygiene, safety, communication, worship, work, play, learning

Definition

Nurse helps patient meet 14 basic needs to regain independence; substitute, supplement, or complement patient's ability.

Term

Dorothea Orem — Self-Care Deficit Theory

Example

Comatose patient = wholly compensatory; post-op patient learning to walk = partly compensatory; diabetic patient learning glucose monitoring = supportive-educative

Definition

Nursing required when patient CANNOT meet self-care demands; three nursing systems: wholly compensatory, partly compensatory, supportive-educative.

Term

Sister Callista Roy — Adaptation Model

Example

Post-amputation patient adapting to body image change (self-concept mode) and new role as dependent (role function mode)

Definition

Person is adaptive system responding to stimuli; nursing promotes adaptation across 4 modes: physiologic, self-concept, role function, interdependence.

Term

Jean Watson — Theory of Human Caring

Example

Holding patient's hand during distress, listening without judgment, treating patient with dignity and respect

Definition

Caring is essence/moral ideal of nursing; emphasizes transpersonal caring relationship and carative factors (Caritas processes).

Term

Hildegard Peplau — Interpersonal Relations Theory

Example

Phase 1: Nurse introduces self, establishes trust; Phase 2: Nurse teaches, guides, supports; Phase 3: Patient independent, relationship ends

Definition

Nursing is therapeutic interpersonal process; describes nurse-patient relationship in phases: orientation, working (identification/exploitation), termination (resolution).

Term

Madeleine Leininger — Transcultural Nursing

Example

Respecting patient's herbal remedies, involving family in decision-making, avoiding assumptions about illness beliefs

Definition

Nursing must provide culturally congruent care; culture shapes health beliefs, practices, and care expectations.

Term

Patricia Benner — Novice to Expert

Example

Nursing graduate (novice) → 2–3 years experience (competent) → 5+ years specialized experience (expert)

Definition

Nursing skill acquisition progresses through 5 stages: novice, advanced beginner, competent, proficient, expert.

Term

Betty Neuman — Systems Model

Example

Primary prevention: immunization (strengthen normal line); Secondary: treatment of illness (activate resistance); Tertiary: rehabilitation (restore equilibrium)

Definition

Person is an open system with lines of defense (normal, flexible, resistance) against stressors; nursing prevents stressor impact.

Term

Faye Abdellah — 21 Nursing Problems

Example

Pain, breathing difficulty, elimination problems, emotional support needs

Definition

Patient-centered approach identifying 21 common nursing problems to guide individualized care.

Term

Caregiver Role

Example

Administering medications, wound care, hygiene, positioning, pain management

Definition

Primary, direct-care role; central function of nursing practice.

Term

Communicator Role

Example

Listening to patient concerns, reporting findings to physician, updating family on care plan

Definition

Links patient, family, and interdisciplinary health team.

Term

Teacher/Health Educator Role

Example

Teaching post-MI patient about diet, medication compliance, exercise; teaching mother about infant care

Definition

Provides health teaching—INDEPENDENT FUNCTION under RA 9173; addresses cognitive, affective, psychomotor domains.

Term

Advocate Role

Example

Ensuring patient understands procedure before consent, protecting privacy, reporting unsafe practices

Definition

Protects patient rights, autonomy, and dignity; ensures informed consent and safe care.

Term

Counselor Role

Example

Listening to grief-stricken family, helping patient explore feelings about diagnosis, crisis support

Definition

Supports coping, emotional processing, and decision-making.

Term

Manager/Coordinator Role

Example

Coordinating medications with pharmacy, scheduling tests, delegating tasks to nursing assistants

Definition

Organizes, prioritizes, and delegates patient care; manages resources and workflow.

Term

Independent Nursing Function

Example

Teaching, assessment, documentation, emotional support, comfort measures

Definition

Nurse-initiated action; does NOT require physician order; under RA 9173: health teaching, positioning, hygiene, nursing diagnosis.

Term

Dependent Nursing Function

Example

Administering medications, performing prescribed treatments, collecting ordered specimens

Definition

Physician-ordered action; nurse implements medical orders.

Term

Interdependent/Collaborative Function

Example

Implementing standing protocols, multidisciplinary care planning, wound care team rounds

Definition

Shared responsibility with other health professionals; implemented by consensus.

Term

RA 9173 — Philippine Nursing Act of 2002

Example

Establishes independent functions (health teaching, nursing diagnosis), creates Board of Nursing, mandates license renewal and CPD

Definition

Fundamental law governing nursing practice in Philippines; defines scope, mandates BON/PRC oversight, prescribes licensure requirements and NLE.

Term

Professional Regulation Commission (PRC)

Example

Administers NLE, issues/renews licenses, disciplines violators, sets CPD requirements

Definition

Government agency overseeing professional licensing; establishes and enforces standards for nurses.

Term

Board of Nursing (BON)

Example

Sets exam content, reviews exam results, issues practice advisories, disciplines unethical nurses

Definition

Committee under PRC composed of qualified registered nurses; develops nursing standards, administers NLE, sets licensing requirements.

Term

Nurse Licensure Examination (NLE)

Example

5-hour exam covering Nursing Practice I–IV, Family/Community Health, Legal/Ethical/Professional aspects

Definition

National standardized exam administered by BON/PRC; required to practice as registered nurse in Philippines.

Term

Continuing Professional Development (CPD)

Example

Nurses earn CPD units through conferences, workshops, online courses, publications to renew license every 3 years

Definition

Required ongoing education for license renewal; maintains currency in nursing knowledge and practice.

Term

Independent Nursing Functions (RA 9173)

Example

Prenatal teaching, labor support, post-operative assessment, patient education on disease management

Definition

Actions nurses perform WITHOUT physician order: health education, nursing care in pregnancy/labor/delivery, establishment of nursing diagnosis.

Term

Data Privacy Act (RA 10173)

Example

Patient chart kept confidential, medical information not shared without consent, electronic records encrypted

Definition

Protects patient privacy and confidential health information; nurses must secure records and limit disclosure.

Term

Intuitive/Early Period

Example

Herbolario (herbalist), hilot (massage practitioner) in early Philippines

Definition

Care driven by instinct, folk practice, and traditional healing (pre-modern era).

Term

Religious/Apprentice Period

Example

Nuns providing hospital care; 'Dark Ages of Nursing' when formal care structure collapsed

Definition

Care delivered by religious orders during medieval era; decline after Reformation when hospitals closed.

Term

Nightingale Era (1854 — Crimean War)

Example

Reduced mortality through clean conditions, trained first nurses, established formal education at St. Thomas' (1860)

Definition

Florence Nightingale's revolutionary work during Crimean War; founded modern nursing based on sanitation, statistics, evidence.

Term

Iloilo Mission Hospital School of Nursing (1906)

Example

Established structured, theory-based nursing training; followed by St. Paul's, PGH nursing schools

Definition

FIRST NURSING SCHOOL IN PHILIPPINES; recognized pioneer of formal nursing education in country.

Term

Philippine Nurses Association (PNA) — 1922

Example

Develops code of ethics, provides continuing education, lobbies for nursing legislation, accredits programs

Definition

ACCREDITED PROFESSIONAL ORGANIZATION of nurses in Philippines; represents profession, sets standards, advocates for nurses.

Term

Primary Prevention

Example

Immunization programs, health teaching on nutrition/exercise, smoking cessation education, water safety

Definition

Prevent disease BEFORE it occurs; promote health and reduce risk; population-focused.

Term

Secondary Prevention

Example

Screening (Pap smear, mammography, BP check), tuberculosis case-finding, early treatment of UTI

Definition

Early detection and prompt treatment; reduce severity; identify disease at early stage.

Term

Tertiary Prevention

Example

Physical therapy post-stroke, cardiac rehabilitation post-MI, prosthetics for amputee, mental health support post-crisis

Definition

Limit disability and promote rehabilitation; restore function after disease; prevent complications.

Term

Hospital/Institutional Nursing

Example

Medical-surgical units, ICU, emergency department, specialty units (pediatrics, obstetrics)

Definition

Acute/chronic inpatient care in hospitals, clinics, and medical facilities.

Term

Community & Public Health Nursing

Example

RHU-based programs, barangay health campaigns, epidemiology, disease surveillance, health promotion

Definition

Population-focused preventive and promotive care in communities; emphasis on health and disease prevention.

Term

School Nursing

Example

Health screening, immunization campaigns, health education, first aid, communicable disease management

Definition

Health promotion, disease prevention, and health services in school settings.

Term

Occupational Health Nursing

Example

Industrial health and safety, ergonomics, occupational disease prevention, worker education

Definition

Workplace health promotion, injury prevention, hazard assessment, wellness programs.

Term

Military Nursing

Example

Armed Forces Medical services, military hospital care, emergency/trauma management

Definition

Healthcare delivery in military settings; combat casualty care, military health promotion.

Term

Private-Duty Nursing

Example

Home-based care for elderly, post-operative recovery, terminal/palliative care

Definition

One-on-one care for individual patients in private settings (home or facility).

Term

Nursing Education & Academia

Example

Nursing instructor in BSN program, nursing supervisor, academic leadership

Definition

Clinical instruction, teaching, faculty roles in nursing schools (requires additional qualifications).

Term

Nursing Administration & Leadership

Example

Nurse manager, director of nursing, hospital administrator, program director

Definition

Management of nursing services, policy development, strategic planning.

Term

Nursing Research & Scholarship

Example

Clinical trials, outcome measurement, evidence-based practice development, publication

Definition

Evidence generation, quality improvement studies, practice-based research.

Term

Autonomy

Example

Patient chooses to refuse surgery; nurse respects choice despite disagreement

Definition

Respect for self-determination; patient right to make own decisions; informed consent required.

Term

Beneficence

Example

Teaching patient about medication side effects to prevent harm

Definition

Do GOOD; act in patient's best interest; promote health and welfare.

Term

Nonmaleficence

Example

Using aseptic technique to prevent infection, proper medication dose to prevent toxicity

Definition

Do NO HARM; avoid causing injury; minimize risk.

Term

Justice

Example

Serving all patients equally in clinic; ensuring vaccines available to poorest communities

Definition

FAIRNESS in resource distribution; equitable access to care; equal treatment regardless of status.

Term

Veracity

Example

Truthfully explaining diagnosis and prognosis; not hiding medication side effects

Definition

TRUTHFULNESS; honest communication; no deception.

Term

Fidelity

Example

Following through on care plan, being present for patient, honoring patient's preferences

Definition

LOYALTY; keeping promises and commitments; maintaining therapeutic relationship.

Term

Confidentiality

Example

Not discussing patient case in hallway, encrypting electronic health records, requiring consent for information release

Definition

Protect patient information; secure records; limit disclosure (reinforced by RA 10173).

Term

Code of Ethics for Filipino Nurses

Example

Nurses practice with integrity, respect patient rights, maintain competence, collaborate with team

Definition

Professional ethical standards established by BON/PNA; guides nursing conduct and decision-making.

Term

Health Teaching/Education

Example

Teaching diabetic patient insulin administration (psychomotor), managing emotions about diagnosis (affective), understanding blood glucose monitoring (cognitive)

Definition

INDEPENDENT nursing function (RA 9173); structured process to facilitate learning across cognitive, affective, psychomotor domains.

Term

Cognitive Domain

Example

Patient learns what diabetes is, how insulin works, why blood glucose control matters

Definition

Knowledge acquisition; understanding facts, concepts, principles, procedures.

Term

Affective Domain

Example

Patient accepts need for lifestyle changes, overcomes fear of injections, develops confidence in self-management

Definition

Attitude and emotional development; accepting new beliefs, values, coping with feelings.

Term

Psychomotor Domain

Example

Patient demonstrates proper insulin injection technique, blood glucose fingerstick, proper medication administration

Definition

Skill development; performing techniques, demonstrating competence in procedures.

Term

Readiness to Learn

Example

Acute pain patient NOT ready to learn; post-operative stable patient ready for education

Definition

Assessment of patient's physical, emotional, cognitive, and environmental capacity to learn.

Term

Teach-Back Method

Example

Nurse asks patient to demonstrate blood glucose monitoring or explain medication timing

Definition

Evaluation technique: patient explains/demonstrates learning; verifies comprehension and skill.

Term

Interdisciplinary Health Team

Example

Nurse, physician, pharmacist, physical therapist, occupational therapist, medical technologist, nutritionist-dietitian, social worker, psychologist

Definition

Collaborative professionals from multiple disciplines working toward shared patient/population health goals.

Term

Nurse's Collaborative Role

Example

Coordinating medication schedule with pharmacy, attending team rounds, reporting to physician, consulting specialist services

Definition

Works WITH other professionals; shares information, implements shared plans, advocates for patient within team.

Term

Department of Health (DOH)

Example

Expanded Immunization Program (EIP), DOTS (tuberculosis), maternal-child health, disease surveillance, health promotion

Definition

Philippines' primary health authority; oversees national health policies, disease programs, public health infrastructure.

Term

Rural Health Unit (RHU)

Example

Immunization, prenatal care, disease surveillance, health education, basic treatment, TB-DOTS

Definition

Basic primary care facility at municipal level; provides preventive and promotive services.

Term

Barangay Health Station (BHS)

Example

First-line contact for residents; health education, basic health services, referrals, community health programs

Definition

Community-level facility; provides health services at village level; staffed by health workers.

Term

Body of Knowledge & Theory

Example

Nursing theories (Nightingale, Henderson, Orem, Roy, Watson, Peplau, Leininger, Benner, etc.); nursing research; evidence-based practice

Definition

Distinct discipline with defined concepts, theories, principles, research-based evidence.

Term

Formal Education

Example

Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) in accredited universities; master's programs in specialties

Definition

Structured, credential-granting programs (BSN, graduate nursing); recognized by accrediting bodies.

Term

Code of Ethics

Example

Code of Ethics for Filipino Nurses; established by BON/PNA; addresses patient rights, professional responsibility

Definition

Written professional standards guiding ethical conduct and accountability.

Term

Autonomy & Accountability

Example

Nurses make independent judgments (nursing diagnosis, health teaching); accountable for patient safety and care quality

Definition

Independent practice authority; responsibility for decisions and outcomes.

Term

Service Orientation

Example

Nurses serve vulnerable populations; commitment to health promotion, disease prevention, social justice

Definition

Commitment to societal welfare; profession exists to serve public health needs.

Term

Professional Organization

Example

Philippine Nurses Association (PNA); specialty organizations (CHN, critical care, orthopedic nursing societies)

Definition

Collective representation (PNA); advocates for profession, sets standards, provides education.

Term

Regulation & Licensure

Example

RA 9173, PRC/BON oversee licensure, NLE requirement, license renewal, discipline for violations

Definition

Government oversight ensuring competence and ethical practice; licensure required to practice.

Term

Continuing Education & Research

Example

CPD requirements for license renewal; nursing research advancing evidence-based practice; publication and scholarship

Definition

Ongoing professional development; advancement of nursing science through inquiry.

Values

• ENVIRONMENT (primary)
• Environmental manipulation
• Clean, ventilated, lit, quiet space promotes healing
• Ensure sanitation, light, fresh air, nutrition

Property

Florence Nightingale

Values

• PERSON (14 basic needs)
• Independence in meeting needs
• Patient needs: breathing, eating, elimination, movement, sleep, hygiene, safety, communication, worship, work, play, learning
• Help patient meet needs → regain independence

Property

Virginia Henderson

Values

• PERSON (self-care deficit)
• Self-care agency
• Three nursing systems: wholly compensatory, partly compensatory, supportive-educative
• Promote patient's ability to meet own self-care demands

Property

Dorothea Orem

Values

• HEALTH/ENVIRONMENT (adaptation)
• Adaptation to stimuli
• Four modes: physiologic, self-concept, role function, interdependence
• Help person adapt to health-illness change across all modes

Property

Callista Roy

Values

• NURSING (caring process)
• Caring as essence
• Transpersonal caring relationship; Caritas processes
• Provide compassionate, humanistic, holistic care

Property

Jean Watson

Values

• NURSING (interpersonal)
• Therapeutic relationship
• Three relationship phases: orientation, working (identification/exploitation), termination/resolution
• Establish therapeutic nurse-patient relationship; facilitate growth

Property

Hildegard Peplau

Values

• Nurse-initiated (no order required)
• Health teaching, nursing diagnosis, assessment, positioning, hygiene, emotional support, environmental safety, documentation
• Explicitly recognized in RA 9173
• Nurse is accountable for outcomes and quality

Property

Independent

Values

• Physician-ordered
• Medication administration, prescribed treatments, specimen collection, ordered tests, diagnostic procedures
• Carried out under RA 9173; nurse executes physician orders
• Nurse accountable for correct execution; physician accountable for order appropriateness

Property

Dependent

Values

• Shared with other professionals
• Standing protocols, multidisciplinary care planning, wound care rounds, infection control measures, referrals, team coordination
• Collaborative actions within healthcare team framework
• All team members accountable for their contribution; nurse coordinates and reports

Property

Interdependent/Collaborative

Values

• Patient cannot perform self-care
• Nurse does everything for patient
• Comatose patient, total paralysis, newborn infant, critically ill patient
• Maintain life, meet all self-care needs

Property

Wholly Compensatory

Values

• Patient can participate somewhat
• Nurse and patient share self-care activities
• Post-operative patient learning to ambulate, patient with paraplegia doing ROM, patient with one arm eating
• Gradually increase patient participation

Property

Partly Compensatory

Values

• Patient capable of self-care with help
• Nurse teaches, guides, supports; patient performs self-care
• Diabetic patient learning glucose monitoring, post-MI patient learning cardiac rehab, pregnant woman preparing for labor
• Maximize patient independence and self-care agency

Property

Supportive-Educative

Values

• BEFORE disease occurs (before illness)
• Health promotion, risk reduction, disease prevention
• Health education, immunization, nutrition counseling, exercise programs, safety measures, stress management, hazard reduction
• EIP (immunization), water sanitation programs, smoking cessation education, dengue prevention in barangay

Property

Primary

Values

• EARLY disease stage (disease onset)
• Early detection, prompt treatment, limit disease progression
• Screening (BP, Pap smear, TB screening), early diagnosis, immediate treatment initiation, case-finding, surveillance
• TB screening at RHU, prenatal screening for complications, BP checks in hypertension clinics, early STI treatment

Property

Secondary

Values

• AFTER disease established (disease/recovery phase)
• Limit complications, promote rehabilitation, restore function, prevent relapse
• Physical therapy, counseling, rehabilitation programs, disability management, palliative care, support groups, functional training
• Post-stroke rehabilitation, cardiac rehab after MI, psychosocial support for mental illness, amputation care/prosthetics

Property

Tertiary

Values

• Knowledge acquisition
• Facts, concepts, principles, procedures, understanding
• Lecture, discussion, reading, videos, demonstrations, case studies
• Oral/written exams, Q&A, teach-back of information

Property

Cognitive

Values

• Attitude and emotional development
• Feelings, values, acceptance, beliefs, coping, motivation
• Group discussion, role-modeling, counseling, storytelling, reflection, peer support
• Observation of attitudes/motivation, group discussion feedback, behavioral change

Property

Affective

Values

• Skill and technique development
• Manual techniques, procedures, physical performance, coordination
• Demonstration, practice, return demonstration, supervised practice, simulation, coaching
• Return demonstration, skill checklist, observed performance, competency validation

Property

Psychomotor