This week’s bible readings made me reflect on my clinical journey of this public health class. Looking back on my first day of clinical in a correctional facility to the last day of my clinical made me realize that I have grown as a nurse and as a person. I admit my anxiety level on my first day at infirmary was to the roof. I had fear that I may provoke a negative feeling of an offender that would trigger chaos at the clinical site. I admit the last day of my clinical was “bittersweet” because I was able to establish a good working relationship with the nurses in the facility. Most of them encouraged me to work with them. The advocacy that I provided to my clients is equal across the board. I may have prioritization over my clients in different …show more content…
To advocate for my patient is the essence of my nursing ministry especially for those who are poor spiritually and poor in lifestyle choices. I will provide individualized advocacy to all my patients no matter what status of life they have. I know that God wants me to be fair at all times, and should not oppress the poor by advocating for them.
I Probably Feel this way because…
I probably feel this way because it is within my Christian perspective to be unbiased and impartial to my God-given clients. I always believe that all my clients are gifts from God. They are planned by God to be my patients for He wanted me to learn from them and grow as a Christian. If I am God’s instrument to my patient, it is mutual that my clients are God’s instrument too, so that I will gain more knowledge and experience in the field.
Influence those around me by… Perhaps I can influence the people around me by letting them witness the exceptional individualized advocacy that I will provide to my clients. The holistic approach nursing care that I can provide to my client is part of my advocacy. The whole being of my clients are being considered whenever I provide best nursing care. It does not matter if they are rich or poor, what matters most is that I advocate above and beyond for the glory of God. To please God is the ultimate
The need for advocacy is most often first noticed by the nurse through empathy. When nurses are able to empathize with their patients it begins the process of advocacy. When the nurse empathizes with their patient an altruistic attitude towards the patient grows, this improves caring and caring is essentially an innate form of professional ethics. The want to advocate by the nurse is greatly enhanced when the nurse truly cares about the patient; which is best developed through empathy. The want to advocate for the patient by the nurse is the biggest factor in positive advocacy outcomes (Reed, F., et. all, 2016). Professional caring combines caring and empathy with nursing knowledge and competency; together these factors enable the nurse to serve as a capable moral agent for their patient within the healthcare system. It is not possible to advocate for a patient properly without being first able to empathize and create a therapeutic nurse-client
Look back: During my third week clinical experience, I did both computer charting and paper charting (for maternal assessment) with nursing care plan. Besides charting, I reported my significant findings of the mother verbally to the primary nurse.
Mrs. Denise Callaway (RN, BSN) is my charge nurse at the hospital in rural Georgia. She is a patient advocate. In her interview, she stated that she is a patient advocate first and foremost. She believes that all nurses, RN?s and LPN?s, have a responsibility to advocate for their patients. She admits that she try to put herself in the patient?s and/or family?s place. She was taught to? do unto others? and she has followed that philosophy throughout her nursing practice. Mrs. Callaway always encourages her staff to see the best in the patients. She never sets in an office. She is always out on the unit helping staff, it does not matter if it is housekeeping, and she is always there to lend a hand when needed. She always includes her patients
My transition into the nursing profession was a major achievement for I am able to use my acquired skills to contribute to the community. As a bedside nurse and a staff member of a large medical establishment, I had to learn how to deliver care to a population that is very diverse. In order for that care to be effective, I must assume the roles of a counselor, therapist, educator, advocate and most of all as an interpersonal facilitator.
Healthcare is viewed in an unrealistic way by most individuals. Many people view a physician as the only means to find a solution to their problem. Nurses are still seen by some as simply “the person who does what the doctor says.” This is frustrating in today’s time when nurses are required to spend years on their education to help care for their patients. In many situations nurses are the only advocate that some patients’ have.
A nurse’s role in our society today is exceptionally significant. Nurses are somewhat idolized and looked to as our everyday “superman”. “The mission of nursing in society is to help individuals, families, and groups to determine and achieve physical, mental, and social potential, and to do so within the challenging context of the environment in which they live and work” (“The Role of a Nurse/Midwife”). Many Americans turn to nurses for delivery of primary health care services and health care education (Whelan). In our country, there is constantly someone in need of health care. There will always be a baby being born or a person dying, someone becoming ill or growing old. Some people due to their physical and/or mental state of health are completely dependent on a nurse and wouldn’t be able to get through the simple obstacles of every day, or achieve the necessary requirements of a simple day without their aid. Not only do nurses help, and assist you when you’re sick, but also act to promote good health to others. They end...
It is of high importance in health care due to the fact that nurses often care for vulnerable patients who may not be able to advocate for themselves in time of needs. Nurses must show patient advocacy by assisting the patient to choose decisions that are beneficial to the patient as well as informing them of their rights (Cole, Wellard, & Mummery, 2014). Because an individual has a right to self-determination and the freedom to choose what is best for themselves, patient advocacy that involves informing the patient should always be done in a professional manner with respect, honesty and dignity (Hanks, 2008). And nurses must show empathy and support of the decision a patient makes. It is also important for nurses to respect and encourage a patient advocacy and continue to ensure the choices of their patients are honored and respected despite of their opinions or beliefs on about them.
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)
Patient advocacy involves acting on behalf of patients who are unable to represent themselves, or those who do not wish to represent themselves (Kimble, 2012). When a nurse acts as an advocate for their patients they are able to empower the weak and vulnerable, releasing them from their discomfort and from unnecessary treatments (Kimble, 2012). During my clinical, there was one patient in particular who needed a patient advocate more than ever. The patient G. R., was quite ill at the time, he had no supports, no family or visitors, and was non-verbal. This patient required the judgment of the nurses in his care, as he had no one to speak for him and could literally not speak for himself. Eventually his care became too complex, and he needed to be sent to the Royal University Hospital (RUH), this was quite concerning to the Rosthern staff, as who would be there to care for him, and stand on his behalf. Using Carper’s (1978) “Five Ways of Knowing” I will examine G.
Throughout my final ten weeks at my placement, I have grown and overcome so many obstacles. I have accomplished a wide range of skills since the beginning and have been improving on them as I gained experience. At my placement as a student nurse, I have gained a lot of confidence, skills, knowledge and experiences that have helped me act and work in a professional way. All the experiences I have had during the ten weeks of my student years have helped me in shaping me into a professional.
This week’s clinical experience has been unlike any other. I went onto the unit knowing that I needed to be more independent and found myself to be both scared and intimidated. However, having the patients I did made my first mother baby clinical an exciting experience. I was able to create connections between what I saw on the unit and the theory we learned in lectures. In addition, I was able to see tricks other nurses on the unit have when providing care, and where others went wrong. Being aware of this enabled me to see the areas of mother baby nursing I understood and areas I need to further research to become a better nurse.
Growing up, I had heard of the McDonald’s hot coffee case, but in multiple contexts. At the time, I was fairly certain that I understood the circumstances of the frivolous case and the jokes that came along with it. Through watching Hot Coffee and gaining exposure to accurate case details, I realized that the image I had in my head was entirely incorrect. By viewing Stella Libeck’s own account of the incident, seeing pictures of the unimaginably painful burns, and learning about how McDonald’s brewed its coffee at very high temperatures, I now understand how much something can be distorted through media and hearsay. After this revelation, I also understand how it can be difficult to ensure that jurors have no prior opinions/exposure to the case, especially when a case can become so publicly known, like in the case of McDonald’s hot coffee or the OJ Simpson trial.
Advocacy is a valuable element to the nursing profession. While some may think that advocacy is not a significant aspect of a nurse’s job, it should be made aware that the nurse is most often the primary point of contact between the client and the physician. With this being said, it is consequential for the nurse to develop a high-level of advocacy for the clients under his or her care.
Some of the most gratifying things about being a nurse is the distinctive role we have with those we care for. Our role encourages openness and transparency for clients and their families to reveal things to us they may not be willing to say under most circumstances. Furthermore, nursing is a life path that comes with incalculable responsibilities to be both a compassionate health care provider and a conscientious advocate. This semester I had the opportunity to experience nursing from the perspective of a Community Health Nurse in Montclair, California. It has given me a chance to practice these responsibilities in different ways. It has also given me a new perspective on nursing.
includes religious leaders or family. Regardless of culturally differences a nurse needs to gain the