NR 500 Discussion Topic Week 2, Caring Concepts in Nursing

Week 2: Caring Concepts in Nursing This week's topic is centered on the concept of caring in contemporary nursing practice. In your initial response, provide a definition of caring that aligns with your perspective on the concept of caring. Identify your selected program of study specialty track (Executive, Education, FNP, Healthcare Policy, or Nursing Informatics). Describe how you will apply the principles of caring and holistic nursing in your future professional practice. Use at least one outside scholarly article to support your position. Provide an example to illustrate an application to professional practice. Drahosova and Jarosova (2016) define caring as a humane, empathetic, and dignified way to serve and meet the needs of patients and their families. In the FNP specialty, direct interaction with patients requires an inclination towards caring. FNPs provide first hand emotional and physical support to patients. These nurse specialists are guardians to patients as well as negotiators and advocates for them (Drahosova & Jarosova, 2016). As a future FNP, I hope to bridge the gap between the patient and the doctor. This leadership role requires good listening and proactive skills in order to consolidate the needs of the patient with the doctor’s orders. The key traits I will exhibit for patients are attentiveness and assistance. Treating each patient as an individual requires attention to their specific needs. After I zone into their needs, I will be better able to assist in providing holistic care. An example of providing individual, specific, and holistic care starts from admission into a healthcare facility. Anticipating patients’ needs initially and working closely with them allows a satisfying experience on the patients side. It is also important for patients to be involved in their care. As an FNP, I will assist the patient on ways they can participate in their healthcare. These ways include knowing all their medications, knowing all their doctors including specialist, and writing down specific questions they have for the doctor. It is integral that patients and FNPs work together to heal from admission to discharge in all healthcare facilities. References Drahošová, L., & Jarošová, D. (2016). Concept caring in nursing. Central European Journal of Nursing & Midwifery, 7(2), 453-461. doi:10.15452/CEJNM.2016.07.0014 Primary care settings are fast pace environments where it is difficult to provide Individualized, person-centered, and holistic care to each patient. The rapid turnover of patients, most times within hours of admission into an urgent care setting, brings challenges of providing safe, low cost, and satisfying experience. Holistic approach to nursing treats the whole person which includes meeting the physical and mental manifestation. In order to provide holistic nursing into an acute care setting, the whole organization has to be on board. A system wide approach to patient satisfaction should be put in place and mandated to all employees. Many times, just the aesthetics of the environment makes a big difference to the patients’ mental state. A beautifully decorated office space, smiling nurses and staff, and kind words while taking time to listen goes a long way to treating the whole patient, not just their disease. Overhead music or background music is a calming addition to balance the pace of the atmosphere (Mandel, Davis, & Secic, 2014). Reference Mandel, S.E., Davis, B.A., Secic, M. (2014). Effects of Music Therapy on Patient Satisfaction and Health-Related Quality of Life of Hospital Inpatients. Hospital Topics. 92(2): 28-35 The word holistic implies that the care of a patient is centered on many facets. A mind, body, spirit approach acknowledges that a disease process and its outcome depends on many things that influence and affect the patient. This being not only their diagnosed disease, but also their mental health, environment, social influences, and support. A FNP practicing in a holistic approach will evaluate all outside factors that may be attributing to or will affect the outcome of a disease process (Klebanoff & Hess, 2013). In obtaining a history, a FNP should be aware of factors that could affect the patient’s ability to be mentally prepared for a diagnosis and the treatment that may ensue. If they have a history of depression, for example, learning of a cancer diagnosis may require additional support to help them to cope and follow through with the appropriate treatments. Environmentally and socially, the patient may not have a home or the financial means to support the medications and treatments needed. In this case, the FNP can coordinate with social services to help find appropriate programs available in the community. Personal support is also important and a caring FNP can give the patient that one person who helps to bring the many factors together. This, in my opinion, is what I envision holistic care to be. References: Klebanoff, N. A., & Hess, D. (2013). Holistic nursing: Focusing on the whole person. American Nurse Today, 8(10), 9.