Characteristics of patient-centered care

Chapter 11: Patient-Centered Care and Professional Nursing Practice

Question 1.

Characteristics of patient-centered care are respect for patients’ values, preferences, and expressed needs (Masters, 2017). A nurse must respect the patients caring for. Everyone has distinct values, preferences and needs, therefore, nurse should be non-judgmental while caring for a patient.

Each PCC characteristic has its importance. For instance, what’s important to the patient should be respected and accepted by the nurse caring for the patient. The nurse should acknowledge that what may be of valuable means to someone may not be to someone else. Also, preferences have an important role in nursing. Hence, a nurse may encounter a patient preferring to be treated by a nurse of the same gender due to religion.

Lastly, a patient may have specific needs that must be addressed in order to achieve proper care. For instance, a patient with low income and is newly diagnosed with diabetes. Patient is unable to purchase the expensive medication needed for his new condition; therefore, unable to achieve proper treatment. As nurses we must understand patients’ needs and be their advocates.

Question 2.

First, I would consider age, gender, culture and race to proceed with an appropriate educational method for this patients’ discharge. Although, the patient is being discharged with home health care, I would not disregard that he is the patient and must be informed of discharge. So, I would go over some suggestions of times that he may take his medications and work around his daily activities schedule. In addition, involving the patient in the treatment plan may motivate the elderly to feeling more efficient and useful.

Furthermore, I would address any medication interactions involved with him. However, I would also hand him documents reinstating the discharge instructions and times discussed considering age related barriers and that the load of information given may be overwhelming. Of course, reassuring him I may answer any questions concerning his new medications and diagnosis. At this point, it is crucial to know if the patient is a visual learner or audio? The nurse may hand out pamphlets or brochures.

Lastly, involving family or home health care nurse in his treatment plan and discharge is an important factor in PCC. Also, I would consult with the patient the importance of taking his medications and sustaining a regimen. Considering, the patient being an elderly male African American he may be resistant at first to proceed with his medical plan and may look for remedy alternatives.

Question 3.

The goal of the nurse in the process of patient education is to assist the patient in obtaining the knowledge, skills, or attitude that will help the patient develop in obtaining the knowledge, skills, or attitude that will help the patient  develop behaviors to meet needs and maximize the potential for positive health outcomes (Falvo, 2004,2011). It’s a nurse’s job to assure that the information being delivered is delivered correctly. In other words, the patients learning abilities, language barriers, or cultural sensitivity that may impede from treatment collaboration.

Thus, assess the patients comfort level in discussing treatment plan. Also, evaluate the patient’s ability to collaborate and if any barriers. Keeping in mind, Age-related changes in cognitive function occur slowly and are thought to begin at approximately sixty-years of age in healthy adults (Miller, 2004). Depending, I would proceed to ask the patient to reinstate what he understood of the information taught to determine if the information was retained by patient.

Lastly, the patient needs to be willing to participate in his plan of care to be able to obtain a good health outcome. Therefore, as a nurse my priority would be in assessing any barriers that may impede a behavioral change. Once the patient is collaborating with the nurse should ask open ended questions to promote better communication between nurse and patient.

References

Falvo, D. (2004,2011). Effective patient education: A guide to increased adherence. Sudbury, MA: Jones & Barlett Learning.

Masters, K. (2017). Role Development in Professional Nursing Practice. Burlington, MA.

Miller, C. (2004). Nursing for wellness in older adults: Theory and practice. Philadelphia,PA: Lippincott.