The purpose of this assignment is to explore how different concepts are applied whilst undertaking a nursing skill. It is important to build upon the understanding of the centrality of effective relationships and communication when working with service users, families, carers, and the inter-professional care team in a multi-cultural and multi-faith environment. The aim is to show an understanding of how the concepts and nursing skills are important in the nursing practice and relationship-centered care when working together to ensure that care is organized and well-communicated.
Patient empowerment is a concept that enables individuals to gain control over their own lives and increases their ability to act on issues that they define as important. WHO (1998) stated empowerment as “a process through which people gain greater control over decisions and actions affecting their health” Being empowered allows individuals to become more independent as well as increase their self-esteem. Empowerment is a positive concept of power or authority that is given to doing something. This is also a dynamic concept that can be shared, taken, or given to others. Chong & Labong (2011) stated “An individual is vested with power or authority legally or formally to perform certain tasks”.
Patients are less likely to be satisfied due to the lack of effort from the staff, which will lead to the outcome of them having a longer recovery time. Manojlovich (2007) said that “Lack of nursing power may also contribute to poorer patient outcomes” Power has been defined as having control, influence, or domination over something or someone. Benner (2001) argued that power includes caring practices by nurses which will help empower patients. Nurses need power to be able to influence patients, physicians, and other health care professionals, as well as each other. Powerless nurses are ineffective, and the consequence of this is that they are less likely to be satisfied with their jobs. Manojlovich & Laschinger (2002), have mentioned that a lack of nursing power may also contribute to poorer patient outcomes.
Patients are automatically empowered when they are respected as being people who are entitled to understand and know about their care. The importance of empowerment in nursing is that nurses will feel that they have the power to authorize their job, satisfaction in their job and feel appreciated. Although there are several positives to patient empowerment there are also negatives such as, patients may choose to make the wrong decisions due to professionals giving too much information which could lead to unnecessary expenses, for example, if a patient is told there is a chance of them having cancer yet have no proof, it may lead to further unnecessary checks, which would lead to waste of time and less focus on more important patients. However, Le Cam (2014) stated that empowering patients can promote actions that lead to a reduction of inequalities by correcting social injustices affecting patients. In addition, Monteagudo & Moreno (2007), stated that “Many hope that empowering patients to take co-responsibility for the management of their condition will enhance medical outcomes at lower cost”. Being knowledgeable is useful to permit self-responsibility. In this respect, empowering patients means enabling them to make good use of their available knowledge by providing tools, techniques, and support.
The aim of empowering is to help patients improve self-awareness, and self-care and promote the understanding that patients can be equal partners within healthcare decisions. By empowering individuals, you are aiding them to be involved and control the progress of their well-being. Similarly, Barlow et al (2002) mentioned “Self-management allows patients to take back their self-efficacy, independence and empowerment”. Self-management consists of care and encouragement which is provided to people with chronic conditions including their families, to help them understand their central role in managing their illness, make informed care decisions, and engage in healthy behaviors. This is further supported by Barlow et al (2002) who defined self-management as improving the health and well-being of patients. Clinical observations are recorded by the nurse as part of an admission assessment (Nursing Assessment), at the commencement of each shift and a frequency determined by the child’s clinical status and current treatment. For example, required observations during routine check-ups. Royal College of Nursing (2017) mentioned that the main reason for all of these observations is to spot a change in the patient’s condition quickly and accurately, for example, a rise in body temperature might denote an infection or a reduction in the amount of fluid taken which may indicate a general deterioration therefore, portraying the importance’s of observations.
Patient observation is an everyday task for healthcare workers, and clinical observation training will ensure that staff has the skills and knowledge required to make accurate inspections of individuals in their care. Clinical observations ensure that treatment plans are up-to-date and correctly administered, and allow healthcare staff to carry out timely and regular bedside assessments. Observation consists of blood pressure, pulse, respiration, and temperature. Blood pressure is measured using two numbers. The top number, called systolic blood pressure measures the pressure in your blood vessels when your heart beats. The bottom number, called diastolic blood pressure measures the pressure in your blood vessels when your heart rests between beats. Your pulse is the rate at which your heart beats. Your pulse is usually called your heart rate, which is the number of times your heart beats each minute (bpm). But the rhythm and strength of the heartbeat can also be noted, as well as whether the blood vessel feels hard or soft. The normal body temperature of a person varies depending on gender, recent activity, food and fluid consumption, time of day, and, in women, the stage of the menstrual cycle. Normal body temperature can range from (36.5°C) to (37.2°C) for a healthy adult, this can be taken from under the tongue or the axilla. The reason why I chose clinical observation is to make individuals aware of how to promote empowerment. By undertaking clinical observations, it will help to determine a diagnosis and treatment plan. When doing observations, provides a baseline on an individual’s health.
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Clinical Observation Essay.
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