...The purpose of this essay is to look at barriers of compassion and what nurses could do overcome these barriers. Three sub topics will be looked at over the course of this essay and a conclusion will be made to evaluate these essays findings and to provide some input into battling these barriers so that patients can receive high standards of patient care. The definition of compassion in the oxford dictionary is ''sympathetic pity and concern for the suffering or misfortunes of others''. Oxford dictionary (2013) However senior lecturer Penny Harrison says there is no accurate definition for compassion as it is a word that can be understood in different ways. Harrison, P. (2009) The importance of compassion is vital in any care setting where there are vulnerable people. The nurses, doctors and any other healthcare professional that is part of the team who deliver the care need to understand how important it is to understand this concept. Delivering compassion care can be something as small as holding somebody’s hand when they are in the later stages of their life, if they feel scared or another thing is as simple as listening to the patient and to hear their problems. The patient will feel better and the nurse should feel good about themselves too knowing that something as small as holding somebody’s hand or listening has benefited that patient. The nursing standard had a report on how student nurses are eager to deliver good and professional compassionate care to their patients...
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...Theoretical Framework of Compassion Fatigue September 11, 2014 Theoretical Framework of Compassion Fatigue Compassion fatigue, which is also known, as secondary traumatic stress is a natural effect that occurs as a result of taking care of patients who are in pain, stressed, suffering, or traumatized. Compassion fatigue commonly affects nurses who show extreme empathy for patients and their relatives. Empathy is the act of putting oneself in another person’s situation or understanding one's feelings (Walker & Alligood, 2001). It has always been a nurse’s role to show empathy to patients and their relatives. In the process of sympathizing and empathizing, nurses can easily develop compassion fatigue. Compassion fatigue affects nurses physically, psychologically, and spiritually in addition to affecting their daily duties. Nurses may intentionally stop working with certain patients or reduce their empathy for patients, and others may have repetitive call-ins to avoid working specific patient populations. These adverse effects can easily lower hospital or institution productivity. Therefore, it is advisable for nurses to be encouraged to seek advice and counseling from counselors, mentors, psychologists, and other responsible persons. It is also necessary for nurses to be aware of the symptoms of compassion fatigue to facilitate taking preventative measures as early as possible. The compassion fatigue theory is connected to the relationship between the patient and the...
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...Caring Nurse Relationship Ryan McQuivey Dixie State College A Caring Nurse Relationship As nursing students prepare for the final days of schooling and the idea of entering into practice, there are many thoughts and feelings that enter the mind. They range from the very simple to the difficult and abstract. When entering into a nursing career, thoughts should be kept at the more simple levels first moving on to more difficult items as knowledge and experience increases. Caring is one of the most basic elements of nursing and a great place to start a foundation to build on. What is caring? Is caring really as simple as it is made out to be? How can nurses develop themselves into caring nurses that focus on holistic healing? What guidelines are there to help nurses learn what caring really is and how to treat patients? The reality is that there are numerous resources available and much research has been done in developing a caring attitude and spirit. What is caring? Is it simply looking after someone? Making sure they are safe? Keeping them informed and involved in their care? The truth is it is all of these and many more. A caring nurse relationship involves an emotional link between both nurse and patient that includes the ability to talk openly about hard situations and reason together (Sumner, 2010). Nurses need the ability to blend the physical demands of caring with the emotional support that patients will require. A true caring relationship will lead the nurse and...
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...about the practices of the profession, many nurses take care of their patients according to their medical knowledge, norms, and ethics. In this essay, I will discuss the history and culture of nursing as well as the beliefs, values, and behaviors of nurses and how they are viewed in society. The history of professional nursing began with...
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... | |Authors | Authors |Resource/ Database |Year of Publication |Research Type |Population/ Sample Size |Outcome Variables Measured |Pertinent Data from Results |Author’s Suggested Conclusions |Comments | |Chou, Y., Shao, M.,Tzeng, W.& Yeh, M. |WGU Library |2010 |Cross-sectional |435 female nurses from five different hospitals |Sleep quality and quality of life in female shift-working nurses |57% had global sleep-quality scores > or = to 5 |Long hours affect nurses sleep quality and information should be given while in school and to managers to improve health |It was interesting to see the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index and World Health Organization Quality of Life Instrument-BREF to be used | |Note: If you locate your articles in the WGU library, you may indicate this in place of the database. Note: Assure you understand the definition of primary research. You cannot use evidence summaries, reviews of literature, guidelines, or standards for your ten pieces of research. Note: Tables/Matrices in APA...
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...Running head: OLDER ADULTS PATIENT EDUCATION ISSUES ESSAY AND Older Adults Patient Education Issues Essay and Interview Older Adults Patient Education Issues Essay and Interview As healthcare professional, caring for the older adult as a patient is an important and sensitive matter, which requires respect and tolerance because of the generational differences that usually exist between the health professional and the patient. In this 20th century the number and proportion of older persons living in the United States has increased dramatically (Falvo 2011 p.297) representing more than 26% of the United States population. These older adults, including baby boomers place tremendous demands on healthcare due to aging and pathological changes, but they also require lots of support from their professional caregivers and their own children. Studies have shown that the incidence of illness and associated disability increase with age and that over 80% of older adults suffer from multiple chronic illnesses such as diabetes, cardiovascular diseases, arthritis or chronic obstructive pulmonary diseases. In addition to these diseases the older adult is confronted to the normal physiological changes that occur with aging such as cognitive and sensory changes. The older adult who is challenged with visual or hearing problems but is sick will promptly require medical attention and treatment thus the involvement of a healthcare professional with the help of a third party such as a family...
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...those with latent TB developed an active infection in their lifetime and about half of those with active TB will die from the disease. Symptoms may be mild the first few weeks or months of the disease, easily spreading to others due to how highly contagious it is. The farthest back scientists have discovered TB is 2400BC through the spinal fragments of ancient Egyptian mummies. It was also found in bone fragments in South American from 750BC. Records prior to the 19th century have described this disease which then was also called consumption, white plague, dread disease, or the king’s evil. The spread of TB reached a peak during the 19th century Industrial Revolution in Europe where it killed one out of every seven people infected (UK Essays, 2014). The disease eventually spread to the United States when a large number of people immigrated to America and cities became vastly overpopulated and living conditions were poor. Symptoms of tuberculosis are common and easy to identify. These classic symptoms include fever, chills, night sweats, anorexia and weight...
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...TREATING A PATIENT WITH CANCER: MAINTAINING PATIENT QUALITY OF LIFE Introduction Cancer is one of the most prevalent diseases in the U.S. Case (2011) noted that the 2010 report of the American Cancer Society (ACS) indicated that more than a million an d a half new cases of cancer are diagnosed every year. Along with physical disease, cancer also brings a significant impact on the patient’s overall quality of life (QOL). This paper asserts that for optimal patient outcome, healthcare workers, particularly nurses, need to attend to the cancer patient’s overall QOL rather than simply focusing on the physical disease of cancer. This essay will first address the issue of understanding what constitutes the patient’s QOL. Then key factors that directly affect the QOL are reviewed in the context of current best evidence. That will be followed by a section that addresses the nursing implications of this subject. The paper concludes with a brief summary and conclusion about the importance of maintaining patient QOL in cancer patients. The first element, is thus to define what is meant by “quality of life.” The next section of this paper addresses that specific issue. Defining Patient Quality of Life Before patient QOL can be addressed in a nursing practice, it is essential to understand what is meant by QOL. Bahrami (2011) has noted that no specific, well accepted definition of patient QOL exists. One reason for this lack of consensus on QOL is that life quality is a highly...
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...each year. This paper will discuss what heart failure is, and what nursing interventions may be of help to patients who suffer from this disease. My grandmother was recently diagnosed with congestive heart failure. By interviewing her and performing a brief assessment, I hope to recognize a few nursing diagnoses and some interventions that may make her disease more bearable. Heart failure can involve the right side of the heart, the left side, or both. Heart failure usually affects the left side first. Each side of the heart is made up of two chambers the atrium and the ventricle. If either of these chambers loses their ability to keep up with the amount of blood flow then heart failure occurs. Custom writing service can write essays on Congestive Heart Failure Left - sided failure involves the left (lower) ventricle. The left ventricle pumps oxygenated blood to the rest of the body. This chamber is the largest and is essential for everyday function. Systolic failure is a condition that arises when the left ventricle loses its ability to contract. Diastolic failure is if the ventricle loses its ability to relax. Relaxing allows the heart to fill with blood during the resting period between beats. Pulmonary edema occurs when fluid leaks into the lungs due to the backing up of blood in the left chamber. Fluid...
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...people suffer from mononucleosis for months at a time. It is all dependent of one’s immune system. Recuperation is a slow process, which can demand twice as much sleep and resting periods. This disease can drain strength and energy and as well muscle loss. Balance is also affected. Usually exposure to this virus happens at late adolescence for half the population. The peak incidence for girls is 14-16 and boys 16-18. After initial contact with the virus, there is an incubation period of 4-6 weeks and then the symptoms start appearing. Symptoms include fever, sore throat and lymph adenopathy. Fevers may reach as high as 102 degrees Fahrenheit and may remain high for 3-4 weeks. Other symptoms include enlargement of the spleen and liver, fatigue, loss of appetite, periorbital edema, petechiae, and a fine rash. Clinically white blood cell counts and liver enzymes are elevated, and anemia may occur with low platelet counts. Mono is not a fatal disease, but because it is a virus there is no antivirals to treat this disease. Children are advised to avoid contact sports for 6 weeks after...
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...Freddie Ntunga | Student ID Number: 21608670 Bucks New University Abstract An Essay Discusing the ImpacT of Sickle Cells on an Individual Health & Illness across the Life Span Introduction The concept of health is purely abstract in form and therefore remains indefinable to a great extent. It may be referred to an aspect that is considered to be prima facie with regard to the fulfilment of all kinds of objectives of human life. Being healthy does not essentially refer to being disease free only, as the World Health Organiastion definition of health encompasses a state of well being from the mental, psychological, social and physical perspectives. For providing a comprehensive definition to the concept of health it is vital to focus on the various aspects of health. The definitions of health can either address the functional needs of the humans which would put more attention on the individual’s ability to deal with various kind of situations and head towards its destination or from the humanist approach it can be considered as the state of self actualization that can be linked with empowerment. Health in other words can be stated as a pulpit which begets achievement. Health is the result of the natural environment, the built up environment and the social environment that the individuals are surrounded with from the time of its very conception ( Zhang et al,.2011). The natural environment constitutes the genetic background of the individuals involving certain unique...
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...The physical, emotional, cognitive and behavioral responses from an individual are likely to experience in response to a newly diagnosed condition with a poor prognosis. Imagine a person newly diagnosed with a poor prognosis and what the person response would be? Prognosis is a medical prediction of the future course of a disease and the chance for recovery.This essay will attempt to discuss responses from four aspects which are physical, emotional, cognitive and behavioral when person diagnosed with a poor prognosis. Essay will identifies response of each aspect and give examples. Identify the most of responses associated with grief. Essay introduces Kubler Ross’s Stage of dying theory and use theory to demonstrate emotional responses. A new diagnosis of life-threatening disease has a broad impact on a person's emotional, cognitive, social, spiritual, and physical well-being (Hill, Muers, Connolly, & Round, 2003) When someone confronts life-threaten illness that exceed coping resources, the reaction from emotional, cognitive, behavioral, and physiological is psychological stress. Responses are dependent on wide range of factors, such as the nature of the stressor, individual's physical and emotional capabilities, life experiences, social environment, coping skills, resources, and so on. (N.A. Kasparian.2013) Physical responses depend on disease such as painful, insomnia, headache, tachycardia, hyperventilation, anorexia, and diarrhea and so on. Other responses...
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...Introduction Every day, dozens of unintended incidents done by nurses, happen to patients during their hospitalization globally. I will be talking about one memorable incident, which happened to me during a busy afternoon shift in the Emergency Medicine Department (EMD). Using the Gibbs Reflection Cycle (Jasper, 2003) to guide me in this essay, I will be discussing about how my nursing managers practice transformational leadership in this reflection essay to motivate me to improve me as a better critical thinking registered nurse in EMD. Description This unfortunate incident happened in my work area, where patient with critical conditions receive treatment, Patient Acuity Category (PAC) 1. It was a busy shift and there were dozens of critical cases coming in...
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...Academic reflective essay The essay will focus on the patient involved in the given case study named as Mrs. S. In addition, the essay will give a relevant and brief history of the patient. It will also define the term ‘bio-psycho-social’ and its relevance to holistic care. For the point of discussion, the essay will focus on the management of care for patient with gastrointestinal illness resulting in stoma operation and will discuss the biopsychosocial factors affecting the patient and how this changes ‘normal’ biology, psychology and sociology. The individual chosen to focus on is named as Mrs. S. The patient involved in this case study Mrs. S. is a 48 years old lady who works in school as a teacher. She lives with her husband, Mr. S, in a small town. Her husband works as a builder, which has long working hours, leaving him not much time to look after their children. They have two girls and they are aged 12 and 10. They are a loving family. Mrs. S looks after the children, takes them to school and pick them up. Mrs. S is a very active lady with a very active social life, she likes to meet up with her friends during the weekend; she swims four days a week with her children, and she balances her time with family and her job. She is suffering from mild hypertension, drinks minimal amount of alcohol during the weekends and smokes 5-10 cigarettes a day. The term ‘bio-psycho-social’ refers to the relationship amongst biological, psychological and social characteristics of an...
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...the healthcare industry have made an already stressful environment even more so (Dubnicki, 1991). The purpose of this study is to determine what burnout is, why it is so prevalent in the healthcare sector, and what human resources management can do to prevent burnout. Burnout Defined Pines and Aronson (1988) define burnout as a state of physical, emotional, and mental exhaustion caused by long-term involvement in emotionally demanding situations. Physical exhaustion comes in the form of low energy, chronic fatigue, and weakness. Emotional exhaustion is characterized by the development of negative attitudes toward oneself, work, and life itself. Maslach (1982) defines burnout as a syndrome of emotional exhaustion, depersonalization, and reduced personal accomplishment that can occur among individuals who work with people. Emotional exhaustion is characterized by lack of energy. This kind of emotional state is also referred to as "compassion fatigue." Depersonalization is the development of detached, callous, or even dehumanized response signals. It is the treatment of people as objects...
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