Art Of Caring In Nursing

In addition to the complete blood count the doctor had also ordered new electrolytes to be drawn up that day. Electrolytes are ions that are present in the human body and require a particular balance in order for cells to function normally (Pagana & Pagana, 2010). The electrolytes the doctor ordered included, sodium, potassium, chloride, calcium, phosphate and magnesium (Pagana & Pagana, 2010). From these findings only sodium, an electrolyte involved in fluid regulation, pH balance and muscle contractions was found to be elevated (Pagana & Pagana, 2010). At five days post-op her sodium level was mildly high at 148mmol/l and on the date of my care it was 150mmol/l, higher than the normal of 137-145mmol/l.

In addition to electrolytes ordered

Caring promotes patient health, individual growth, and stimulates coping skills, and therefore must always be emphasized in holistic patient care (Zimmerman & Phillips). In addition to its value in patient care it is also a central component of a nurses critical thinking process (Zimmerman & Phillips, 2000). “According to Brookfield (1987), critical thinking is a process of active inquiry which combines reflective analysis with informed action and has an emotive or affective component that is central to this process”(Zimmerman & Phillips, 2000, p. 223). Thus, when a nurse is aware of their patient’s holistic needs they are better able to care for their patient and in doing so enhance their critical thinking abilities (Zimmerman &

When caring for this patient I questioned how can a nurse such as myself provide caring and comfort to a patient who is experiencing nausea and vomiting unrelieved by medications? What I decided to do was draw upon Kolcaba’s comfort theory to address her oral hygiene. Because post-operative vomiting is a major source of patient discomfort and dissatisfaction after surgery (Bradshaw et al., 2002). According to Kolcaba (1994) “comfort is defined for nursing as the satisfaction of the basic human needs for relief, ease or transcendence arising from health care situations that are stressful (p. 1178)”. I provided comfort and demonstrated critical thinking in response to caring by regularly assisting her with oral care using mouth wash to remove the taste of emesis from her mouth. Not only did this increase oral hygiene it made her feel more like herself. Providing or assisting patients with oral care on a routine basis is not only just a comfort measure but a best practice guideline for a patients with a diminished health status (RNAO, 2008). After assisting her with oral care and the insertion of the nasogastric tube a family member said that Patient X smiled for the first time in days. That moment was extremely rewarding as a nursing student, because I knew my critical thinking skills and spending this time with her and meeting her basic made