In any healthcare setting, a patient should be able to influence their own care and treatment. However, there may be particular obstacles that may prevent a patient from voicing their opinions regarding their care and treatment. The purpose of this essay is to discuss three barriers: how a patient can overcome not being empowered; staff having limited knowledge and insufficient training regarding certain mental health issues and poor communication. These barriers will be related to recent clinical experience. The aim of this essay is to consider how each of these barriers diminished the voice of the patient and how these were overcome.
Empowerment is a relatively new concept in healthcare; it follows the theory that every person should be entitled to make decisions about their own healthcare (Gohde, 2011). It is important that a patient can feel empowered – that they can feel instrumental in their own care – so that they may begin to recover. In previous years, patients were passive recipients of care (Latvala, 2000) but now they are more active in making decisions about their care. Patient empowerment is vital in promoting a positive outcome for a nurse – patient relationship (Spence Lashinger, 2010). An example of patient empowerment is the experience of Emily, who is a twenty-five year old female with a diagnosis of anorexia nervosa. Emily was diagnosed eight years ago and subsequently is well known to her local NHS Psychiatric Services. Emily was recently admitted into a Psychiatric Admissions Ward at her local NHS hospital under a Compulsory Treatment Order (Scottish Government, 2004) after attempting suicide following an episode of severe starvation. When the student nurse commenced placement at the ward in which Emily h...
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...an Eating Disorders Review (8) page 293-300
Sanfter JL (2011) “Quality of Life in Relation to Psychosocial Risk Variables for Eating Disorders in Women and Men” Eating Behaviours 12 (2) page 136-142
Scottish Government (2004) The New Mental Health Act – What’s It All About? A Short Introduction. Available online at www.scotland.gov.uk/publications/2004/01/18753/31686, first accessed 28/04/2011
Sheldon LK (2009) “Communication for Nurses”, Second Edition, London, James and Bartlett, page 81-82
Snell L, Crowe M, Jordan J (2010) “Maintaining a Therapeutic Connection: Nursing in an Inpatient Eating Disorders Unit” Journal of Clinical Nursing 19 (3-4) page 358
Spence Laschinger HK (2010) “Towards a Comprehensive Theory of Nurse – Patient Empowerment: Applying Kanter’s Empowerment Theory to Patient Care” Journal of Nursing Management. 18 (1) page 4-13
This essay will discuss how and most importantly, why mental health policy has developed in Northern Ireland throughout the 19th and 20th century. It will first illustrate life inside the asylums, the policies that supported institutionalisation, and why change was needed. Next it will establish the progression in policy to support community and integrated care; it will examine this change and its effectiveness throughout society. Moving onto the 21st century, it will focus on a few of the main policies established throughout this period. Finally a conclusion will be made, assessing the current policy in Northern Ireland and how far we have to go to enhance the quality of life of those struggling with mental illness.
The Scottish Government. 2004. Mental Health (Care and Treatment) (Scotland) Act 2003. [ONLINE] Available at: http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Publications/2004/01/18753/31686. [Accessed 01 March 14].
Mental Health Act 1983- The meaning for this Act is to let achievement to happen, where it’s required, to ensure t...
Smale, G. and Tuson, G. (1993) Empowerment Assessment: Care management and the skilled worker, London, NISW.
Still, the previous advantages discussed should influence the nurse to improve in identifying patient vulnerability. This is evident by this patient where I utilized my interpersonal skills to communicate to this patient so that he/she is aware that he/she is not alone in this journey. Nurses need to utilize models and theories to guide nursing practice. For instance, McCormack’s framework focuses on patient-centered care which influences nurses to understand the patient as a whole and their values (Abley, 2012, p. 42). Being able to identify values will give nurses and myself a better comprehension about the patients resulting in worthiness and belonging expressed. As a result, informing nurses about patient’s subjective vulnerability because a trust and understanding relationship is established. This is supported in a clinical experience where a patient “felt understood and opened up for further interactions based on trust” through an honest, supportive relationship with a nurse (Gjengedal, 2013, p. 134). Nurses should provide patient-focused provision of service, and assist this patient in overcoming his/her obstacle as a way of encouragement. Furthermore, Sellman (2005) explains how encouragement may compromise human flourish (p. 7), it is dependent on the situation and it cannot be assumed all encouragement will lead to harm. This informs nurses to be aware of the consequences that prevent the
In Nursing, there will always be instances where the patient's nurse needs to advocate for their patient. There are numerous reasons why a nurse would advocate for their patient ranging from getting the doctor to change the patient’s orders, helping the patient’s treatment team understand what it is the patient is requiring for the day, to expressing the patient’s last wishes before death. In every situation, the nurse should do what is in the patient’s best interest. Tomajan (2012), “Advocacy skills are the ability to successfully support a cause or interest on one’s own behalf or that of another. Advocacy requires a set of skills that include problem solving, communication, influence, and collaboration”(p. 2). With those skills, the nursing staff will be able to work together to advocate for their patients. Along with those skills, nurses need to keep in mind the three core attributes that are: safeguarding patients’ autonomy; acting on behalf of patients; and championing social justice in the provision of health care. (Bu & Jezewski, 2006)
The healthcare system can be difficult for clients to navigate and they are often unsure how to access information which puts them at the mercy of others and can lead to feelings of helplessness (Erlen, 2006). Nurses can provide resources to educate patients when they becomes dependent on a health care provider and no longer feel in control of their own body which can lead to fear, hopelessness, helplessness and loss of control (Cousley et al., 2014). The change in roles individuals face can further increase their stress and feelings of powerlessness (Scanlon & Lee, 2006). According to the CNA code of ethics, nurses are responsible for protecting patients from objective risks that place them in an increased level of vulnerability (Carel, 2009). They can do this by providing the resources necessary for patients to educate themselves and be better able to cope with the health challenges they
eating disorder symptoms and weight changes in a large population of males undergoing treatment for eating disorders. Best Practice In Mental Health, 3(1), 52-65. Retrieved from http://ezproxy.memphis.edu/login?url=http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=ofm&AN=510735329&site=ehost-live
In order to facilitate patient empowerment, we must first be in position of self-empowerment. This requires us to self-reflect on our own values, beliefs, and ideas of power. “Nurses must also surrender their need for control, developing instead attitudes of collaboration and mutual participation in decision making.” (Burkhardt & Nathaniel, 2014, p. 517) We must understand that patients have the right to make their own decisions even if they differ from our own. Mutual respect for their thoughts, feelings, and decisions creates a trusting relationship. We must be able to openly listen to our patients needs and communicate effectively in order to empower our patients. They need to know that we are listening, that we understand, and that we are going to provide them with the knowledge and information needed to make their own choices. We must first be...
In today’s modern world of medicine that demands shorter hospital length of stay and decreased readmission rates, there is more pressure than ever on the nurse to quickly but effectively transition the patient from the wholly compensatory system to the supportive-educative system. Orem’s modern day approach to nursing practice allows the patient to assume responsibility of self-care as they can handle it. In the absence of this ability, it is the nurse’s role to fill in and create an environment to improve that patient’s quality of life by regaining that self-care ability. “Supporting self-care can improve health outcomes, increase patient satisfaction and help in deploying the biggest collaborative resource available—patients, their families and communities” (Pearson, 2008, p. 2).
Dubois states, “a conceptualization of empowerment social work as a social justice contract requires a core of ethical preferences that gives due consideration to both the clinical and critical dimensions of empowerment social work” (Dubois, 2007). To approach their clinical work from an empowerment perspective,
Empowerment is about decision-making and autonomy, personal and professionally. Nancy should have empowered her staff’s nurses with the opportunity to be involved in the organization decision-making process. When nurses can influence and control their nursing practice, their autonomy, confidence, and commitment to the organization increase (Manojlovich, 2007). Organizations that empowered nurses to act and guide their everyday challenges using their professional skills, knowledge, and own judgment, shows positives patient outcomes, and less nurse turnover, burnout, dissatisfaction, stress, and powerlessness among their staff (Rao,
Empowerment is a vital factor in creating a positive working environment. Nurses that see their work environment as empowering are more likely to provide quality health care. Positive environments are important for the future of nursing development (Ning, Zhong, Libo, and Qiujie, 2009). Nurses should not only have the ability to recognized differences but also they must have the capacity to transform and change structures within the profession in order to achieved emancipation. To achieve empowerment they must take steps to overcome oppression. They must face their fears and be able to make dialogue with their oppressors and let them know that their actions are unacceptable.
Service user empowerment has recently been at the heart of the UK government’s vision for Health and Social Care, thus shying away from the traditionally paternalistic model in mental health care provision. Leadbetter (2002, p.201) highlighted the complexity in defining the concepts of advocacy and empowerment by stating that ‘empowerment and advocacy are both concerned with a shift of power or emphasis towards meeting the needs and rights of people who otherwise would be marginalised or oppressed. Beyond this generalisation, the concepts of empowerment and advocacy are not simple and as such are almost impossible to define’. Where the term ‘empowerment’ is used, it often covers a whole range of activities from consulting with service users to involvement in service planning. Using the term ‘service user’ was however perceived to stigmatise and label individuals, thus eradicating the notion of empowerment (Rai-Aitkins, Jama and Wright 2002). Due to the complexity in defining the concept of advocacy, this essay will however be best served by Dunning’s understanding of what advocacy entails. Dunn...
Throughout this journal, I have been able to recognize my mistake and realize how it can affect my overall patient care. Patient advocacy is one of the most important role of nurses. As a nursing student, it is time that I step up and advocate for my patients under all circumstances. Although it can be difficult, advocating for patients is one of the most important roles of nurses. “In order to be effective advocates, nurses need to be recognized, and to recognize themselves, as equal partners within the multidisciplinary team.” (Hyland, 2002). Nurses and nursing students need to take charge when it comes to advocating for their patients.