It has become increasingly important in the practice of nursing to be able to show one’s genuine consideration as it demonstrates a caring nature towards the client. Perry and Sams (2004) stated that caring facilitates one's ability to understand a patient, recognize a patient’s problems, and to find and implement individualized solutions (p. 263). In order to be regarded as a considerate individual, one must have the necessary attributes to qualify, such as being selfless, empathetic, or accepting. There are also various approaches and techniques to show one’s consideration when interacting with other individuals. This includes being interested in the wellbeing of others, being concerned with the needs of others instead of oneself, or recognizing …show more content…
Personal Experience
The ability to demonstrate a caring behavior did not come naturally. It was through experience and careful teaching that I began to develop my selfless and empathetic nature. As a naïve fifth grade student, I was challenged by my friends to become like them. The majority of my friends were often judgmental towards other students and excluded them. During one of my computer classes, I sat beside Sarah, who was usually a victim of the bullying from other students. When the teacher wasn’t looking, she tried signing in to one of her social media accounts, and as
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The capability of an individual to understand and relate to the client is called empathy. When an individual is effective in empathizing with the client, it can be argued that a patient is likely to feel validated (Davies, 2014, p.198). This validation creates a sense of acceptance and closeness in the relationship between the nurse and client. The client will then comfortably have the ability to express any underlying feelings or problems to the nurse. The comfortability experienced by the client in the relationship will then slowly develop into trust. Davies (2014) states that when the patient trusts the practice nurse, the health professional is provided with a more complete and accurate understanding of the patient’s condition. In this way, empathetic nursing ultimately improves the quality of care that the practice nurse can provide (p.200). An empathetic attitude towards a client helps him/her to realize that the nurses are relatable and that they are human too. This provides the nurse and client relationship with a strong foundation that can further develop into an accepting and open relationship where both parties can benefit. The nurse will be able to provide the client with specific care and be able to feel a sense of accomplishment by caring for the client. The establishment of trust in a nurse and client relationship generates
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
The application of the therapeutic nurse-client relationship is absolutely essential to providing the appropriate care to clients (College of Nurses of Ontario, 1999, p. 3). The therapeutic nurse client relationship consists of four components; respect, trust, professional intimacy and empathy (College of Nurses of Ontario, 1999, p. 3). Though, I have not been able to establish a nurse-client relationship yet, I have established customer-client relationships. Customers react similarly to clients when respect is established. One experience in particular really helped me make this comparison.
Even though skills along with knowledge are key components of nursing, in my opinion, compassion is crucial to the practice. Nursing is a public service and commitment that takes an irrefutable desire to help people in need, When I enter the field, even as a student, my standpoint will always be to treat my patients how I would want an individual to treat my family. Henderson’s concept of holistic care fits together with my beliefs about what nursing embodies. In practice, my goals are to always view each patient as an individual, center my care on the patient and their varying needs be it personal, emotional, or physical, and to encourage patients to be active in their care in hopes of improving outcomes. I will also strive to bring colleagues together and collaborate with them to provide the best care for our patients.
A patient and client are one in the same in the present nursing profession. A client is first and foremost more than a name on a chart or a number in the system. They are a person with thoughts, words, deeds, and a need for care. To truly embody what a client is one needs to combine definitions. A client is a person seeking professional and protective medical care with a need for concern, understanding, and top quality of care. Health and illness are two sides of a coin. Some may view health as the absence of illness and alternatively, illness as the lack of good health. However, each goes beyond being the simple opposite of the other. Health is not just the absence of illness but the embodiment of well-being, comfort, and wellness of body, mind and spirit. Illness can be as simple as a cold, a bodily injury, and on to a disease of the mind. Both health and illness can be simply defined but to truly understand what it is to be healthy and to be ill one must look beyond the simple and see all the aspects of each.
Nursing care is delivered to all clients recognizing that each individual as having different things working together as one unit. Nursing clients can be individuals, family, friends or a community of people. A person is a whole, a biophysical being who is clear and sensible, social, emotional, sexual, and deep down healthy. A person possesses possible ability to discover and give knowledge and skills to others, and to learn, grow, and change. As a clear and sensible being, a person uses their brain to seek out knowledge and truth. In a social setting, a person communicates with others and establishes various roles within society. Emotionally a person is able to offer empathy and compassion in certain situations that bring forth those feelings. Spiritually, a person is always pondering why we are here
Upon the first point of contact between a nurse and patient, the way a nurse communicates through words, gestures or facial expressions can affect the patient's perception of the nurse. Communicating professionally helps to portray the nurse in a good light. This is important as having a positive perception of the nurse's image and behaviour is crucial to building patient trust — one of the key elements of a therapeutic nurse-patient relationship (Bell & Duffy, 2009; Wadell & Skarsater, 2007). The need for the establishment of therapeutic relationship is supported by th...
There are several professional values that a nurse must possess altruism, autonomy, human dignity, integrity, and social justices are among these. Altruism is being concerned for the well-being and welfare of others; this includes their patients and colleagues. This is demonstrated daily through understanding cultural differences, considering the perspectives of others and mentoring others
According to the College of Nurse of Ontario (2006), empathy is one of the five key components of the nurse-client relationship and is one of the most powerful tools. You don’t need to know how your patient feels to be empathetic but letting them know that you are trying to understand is a good start. It can be used to describe a variety of experiences and had been defined by emotional researchers “as the ability to imagine what someone else might be thinking or feeling” (University of California, Berkeley). Having the ability to empathize doesn’t mean you will or that you are willing to help someone in need but it is an important first step towards a compassionate
As a nurse, it is important to address the needs of a patient during care. These needs are unique to each individual and personalizing it, enable the patients to feel truly cared about. It is important to be educated about these needs as the patients and their families look to you as a guide; therefore, education on things w...
In the nurse-patient relationship, there are three phases that help the relationship develop. Craven and Hirnle (2009) describe the first phase, orientation, “consists of introductions and agreement between nurse and client about their mutual roles and responsibilities” (p. 329). It is in this orientation phase that first impressions are made a...
When asking a nurse why they became a nurse the first statement that they will often provide you with is centered around their love to care for others. To provide effective care it is important for a nurse to care for the whole person not just their injuries. Through the use of therapeutic touch and conversations as well as treating each patient as an individual, this enables more in depth care to be provided to each patient that a nurse treats. I hold this facet up to the highest standards as providing equal and respectful care to each client in regards to their emotional, mental, physical, and cultural needs makes all of the difference to a patient in the healing process and person-centered nursing.
My journey to nursing began with my personal healthcare experience, and has continued to evolve since entering the nursing program at State University. My personal philosophy of nursing is related my life experience and my personal philosophy of life. Using reflection-on-action, I have begun to understand the influences that have lead me to nursing. I discovered client and family centered care to be an important quality when I look at the influential nurses in my life. To develop a positive therapeutic nurse-client relationship, nurses must integrate all 5 dimensions of the therapeutic nurse-client relationship into their practice (CNO, 2006). When it comes to providing client-centered care, the dimensions of trust, empathy and respect are particularly important (CNO, 2006). Illness can be a traumatic experience for patients and their families, and it is important to be empathetic to the patient’s needs, while still trusting the patient to be an expert in their illness and care.
I think it is important that I clarify my own values to ensure that my care is client-centered. Self- reflection during care is also fundamental as it makes me aware of my actions and whether they are establishing a therapeutic relationship or doing the opposite.. Finally, I need to learn to be more empathetic towards my patient’s situations by being interactive, gaining insight and avoid being focused on the task and more on being with the situation. Some things that I will preserve are attentively listening, demonstrating attending behaviours and maintaining my patient’s dignity by ensuring privacy and
Self awareness in nursing refers to how glowing nurses comprehend themselves, their strengths, weaknesses, attitude and ethics in order to better transact with their patients. Self- awareness includes review of self, together with self confidence. Self -regulation express beyond one`s emotion and being trustworthy. For nurses to be able to empathize with their patients and treat them with compassion, they have to be self aware. When nurses are self aware, they are capable to adapt to, or certainly change their attitudes and deed in order to understand how unusual people take care of them hence improving the nurse- patient relationship. Nurses must reflect carefully on whether they can sustain in dependence in caring for a client and whether the relationship interferes with gathering the client’s needs. It is also essential to be sure that providing care to family and friends does not interfere with the care of other clients or with the dynamics of the health care group. Before making the conclusion, the nurse may possibly wish to discuss the situation with colleagues and the employer.
Compassion from a care giver needs to be felt towards patients to ensure that difference will be made. A positive attitude can be contagious towards other employees or the ones being cared for. When a nurse approaches a patient with an upbeat, but calm and confident vibe, the visitor excepts and trusts the work that must be done to them. One is put at ease when they are in the that type of environment. Altruism is the ability to be selfless and instead have a dedication to the welfare of others. () In the nursing profession, an employee shows care and empathy for clients, but must do the same towards themselves. A nurse must maintain calmness within herself when with a patient in order to fully provide security for their patient. It is important for the nurse to prevent becoming tired or stressed which may hinder them carrying out their duty effectively. In order to receive and hold humanistic-altruistic values, a nurse must extend forward continuous love, kindness and mental awareness at all times. Altruism is essential in unlocking a nurse 's compassion and empathy therefore creating a more positive and healing environment for the patient. () Not only must a nurse show the proper care towards ones clients with an appropriate attitude, but taking care of an employees own self needs and requirements are