Answer

Core components of professional nursing and articulate why they are important to
include in BSN (or RN to BSN) coursework
The American Nursing Association aptly defines nursing as "the protection, promotion,
and optimization of health and abilities, prevention of illness and injury, facilitation of
healing, alleviation of suffering through the diagnosis and treatment of human response,
and advocacy in the care of individuals, families, groups, communities, and populations."
The International Council of Nurses corroborated this definition by adding that nursing
encompasses the autonomous and collaborative care of individuals of all ages, whether
sick or well, and in all settings (whether home and hospitals); the promotion of a safe
environment; research; as well as participation in shaping health policy and in-patient
and health-systems management. the core components of professional nursing include
the following:

1. Safe and quality nursing care 

2. Management of resources and environment
3. Health education
4. Legal responsibility
5. Ethic/moral responsibility
6. Personal and professional development
7. Quality improvement
8. Research
9. Record management
10. Communication
11. Collaboration and teamwork

Why they are important to include in BSN (or RN to BSN) coursework and why it is
important that the professional nurse understand these concepts
1. Safe and Quality Nursing Care
This entails the demonstration of knowledge of the health/illness status of individuals or
groups. It provides the basis of sound decision making in the care of individuals and
groups. This core competence is also needed for the promotion of wholeness, safety
and comfort of patients, setting priorities in nursing care as required by clients/patients
need, ensuring continuity of care, administration of medications and other health-related
procedures, utilization of the nursing process as the framework for nursing care.
Additionally, competency in Safe and Quality Nursing Care helps the nurses in the
formulation of care plans for clients/patients in collaboration with the patients, relatives,
and other members of the health team. Moreover, this competence is needed in the
implementation of planned nursing care to achieve the desired outcomes and evaluate
the progress made in client/patient care.
 
2. Management of Resources and Environment 
This competence helps nurse to organize their workload for effective patient care and
manage the available resources effectively to support patient care. This competence
helps nurses to maintains a safe and therapeutic environment to promote the health of
clients/patients.
 
3. Health Education
Health education is the process is the process of assessing the learning needs of the
patients, families, and communities. The nurses develop the health education plan and
learning materials based on the identified and anticipated needs of the people,
implement the health education plan and evaluates the outcome of health education.
 
4. Legal Responsibility
Knowledge of legal responsibilities help nurses to practice in adherence with the nursing
laws and other relevant legislation requirements including accurate documentation of the
client/patient's care. It also ensures adherence to organizational policies and
procedures, at the and national levels. 
 
5. Ethical and Moral Responsibilities
This teaches nurses to respects the rights of individuals and groups during service
delivery and accept the responsibility and accountability for own decisions and actions. It
also helps nurses to adhere to the national and international code of ethics for nurses.
 
6. Personal and Professional Development
This helps nurses to identify their own learning need and continue their education. It
also helps nurses to get involved in professional organizations, policy development and
civic activities. Personal and professional development also projects the professional
images of nurses while they discharge their responsibilities according to professional
standards.
 
7. Quality Improvement
 The knowledge of quality improvement helps nurses to utilize data for the purpose of
quality improvement while participating in nursing audits and rounds. It helps nurses to
identify, document and report deviations from the expected standard of practice and
recommend improvement measures for the systems and processes.
 
8. Research
This helps nurses to utilize various methods of inquiry in solving problems, recommend
actions for implementation and disseminate the results of research findings. It also
promotes the application of research findings in nursing practice.
 
9. Record Management
Competence in record management help nurses to maintain complete and accurate
documentation of patient care including the outcome of patient care for an efficient
recording and record keeping system. It also helps nurses to gain knowledge of the legal
imperatives in record keeping.
 
10. Communication
Communication is very crucial in nursing practice. Competence in effective
communication helps nurses to communicate effectively with clients/patients,
relatives/caregivers of patients, other members of the health team and the public. This
helps nurses to effectively respond to needs of individuals, groups, and communities.
 
11. Collaboration and Teamwork
This helps nurses to establishes collaborative relationship with colleagues and other
members of the health team and provide well coordinated care for clients and patients. It
also helps nurses to function well as team players and team leaders as well.