...to Help Heath Care Professionals Cope A Tool to Help Heath Care Professionals Cope Compassion Fatigue Compassion Fatigue What is Compassion Fatigue? Caring too much can hurt. When caregivers focus on others without practicing self-care, destructive behaviors can surface. Apathy, isolation, bottled up emotions and substance abuse head a long list of symptoms associated with the secondary traumatic stress disorder now labeled: Compassion Fatigue. This used to be labeled as burnout and is a deep physical, emotional and spiritual exhaustion, which can include feeling actual pain. Caregivers such as nurses and physicians as well as families may become less empathetic and unable to give their all to their patients. Learning to recognize the signs and symptoms is the first step towards combatting this problem. Some Key Points * Compassion fatigue is a form of burnout that manifests itself as physical, emotional and spiritual exhaustion * To prevent or recover from compassion fatigue, take time for self-reflection, identify what's important and live in a way that reflects it * To sustain yourself at work, develop “principles of practice” — guidelines of personal integrity that articulate the parameters of your personal values. Commit to live and work within these principles. What is Compassion Fatigue? Caring too much can hurt. When caregivers focus on others without practicing self-care, destructive behaviors can surface. Apathy, isolation, bottled up emotions and...
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...Watson's Theory of Human Caring Dr. Jean Watson, a native of West Virginia, began her career in 1961 where she graduated from the Lewis Gale School of Nursing in Roanoke, Virginia. She then moved to Colorado, where she now lives, to further her education. She attended the University of Colorado and received her Bachelor of Science in Nursing in 1964, then further pursued her Master’s degree in psychiatric-mental health nursing in 1966 and then on to obtain her Ph.D. in educational psychology and counseling in 1973. Today she serves as a legendary Professor of Nursing and holds an endowed Chair in Caring Science at the University of Colorado and is a Fellow in the American Academy of Nursing (Watson,2007). She is the author/co-author of more than 14 books on caring and holds six honorary doctorates. Recently she founded Watson Caring Science Institute, a non-profit organization developed to help spread her nursing theory and ideas. Dr. Jean Watson goal is to have nurses come together, regardless of specialty, and share a common definition that embraces science and philosophical perspective. The common goal has become known as caring-healing consciousness. Watson begins her theory by identifying 10 carative factors of care. Theory Concepts Watson bases her theory of nursing on 10 carative factors: 1. Formation of humanistic-altruistic systems of values: This begins in early development and is molded by life experiences, exposure, learning, and culture. 2. Development...
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...Healing the Mind, Body, and Soul through Caring: Bridging the Science of Nursing and the Human Spirit Verity A. Becher Pueblo Community College, Southwest Campus Introduction Nursing is as much science as it is a study in the human condition. Combining caring and the notion of human flourishing allows the nurse sharpen her understanding of patients’ needs by observing and understanding herself (Husted & Husted, 2008). A nurse is able to better anticipate the needs of her patients by noting similarities and differences between the two of them. With caring in the nursing corner, even under less-than-ideal conditions, one can still create havens of hope, nourishment, and the possibility for flourishing (MacCulloh, 2011). When one thinks of nursing, one cannot help but automatically think of caring. What is caring? What is caring in the context of providing nursing care for another human? Fundamentals of Nursing defines caring as a universal phenomenon that influences the way we think, feel, and behave in relation to one another (p.1298). Breaking the definition down into its individual parts tells us that, as nurses, we are responsible for the emotional (feel), mental (think), and physical (behave) well-being of patients during a time when they cannot fully care for themselves in one or all of these capacities. How decisions and actions move a human life from a state of lesser perfection (well-being and flourishing) to a state of greater perfection, or how our...
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...professional compassion fatigue (PCF). Nurses dealing with the patients’ dying and the emotions of the patients’ loved ones on an ongoing basis can experience PCF. In order, to prevent becoming overwhelmed with PCF the health care workers needs to make the arrangements to take time off, and have an outlet to vent the health care workers feelings. Healthcare care workers need to be aware of the symptoms of PCF which are, anxiety, depression, apathy and intrusive thoughts. The need for nurses that specialize in caring for the death and dying may increase due to the population getting older according to the US census of 2008. Purpose and Research Questions The purpose of this study was to describe if health care workers are experiencing PCF by caring for hospice and/or palliative care population on an ongoing basis. The research questions were as followed: “Are nurses whose job it is to deal with death and dying on a continual basis at risk of developing PCF?” the other one was “What are the consequences (both physical and emotional) of hospice and palliative care nurses continually dealing with death” (Melvin, 2012)? Literature Review This was a descriptive qualitative study, the expected outcome was a comprehensive summary of events in the daily terms of those events. One to one interviewing was used to collected data from six female nurses that worked in the hospice and palliative care settings. Male nurses were not included in the study. Nurses were selected from the northeast...
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...Literature Review: Our thesis aims to evaluate work based learning approaches in developing acute skills for nurses in critical care wards. In this section of the literature review, we will discuss policies in the nursing profession, case studies and various approaches to work based acute skills learning programmes. For our purposes we conducted a literature search using popular medical databases and terms such as ‘acute skills’ ‘learning programmes’ and ‘critical care learning’. Our review highlights on the several important approaches to work based learning ranging from reflective practice to experiential learning and work based formal practical training to enhance professional skills. A learning programme for acute ward nurses responsible for caring of critically ill patients has been the central focus of nursing practice development. According to Coad et al (2002), a work-based learning approach has been found to empower ward staff with the necessary skills of nursing and the authors studied the efficacy of a five-day competency based high dependency skills course in enhancing professionalism and quality of care in nursing. The aims of comprehensive critical care are developing leadership potential and enhancing networking opportunities for nurses within critical care and acute ward areas. Critical care is the most challenging aspect of nursing care and acute skills in nursing are enhanced not just by work-based learning programs but also from first hand nursing and...
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...Watson’s Theory: Watson’s Caring Theory originated from her writings in a textbook that was used for a nursing curriculum in Colorado. In her writings the question between the relationship of nursing and human caring gave way to what is now her Theory of Human Caring. Her writings posed as the foundation of what became her theory. Alligood states, “ Watson defines caring as the ethical and moral idea of nursing that has interpersonal and humanistic qualities ” ( Alligood, 2010 ). Watson’s theory focused on the art of caring for the patient entirely. This involved the mind, body and spirit. Her theory provides a model for nursing, allowing nurses to give quality care to patients in every aspect of the person. Watson’s Theory of Human Caring is divided into three elements: the element of transpersonal caring, the element of Carative factors. The element of transpersonal caring gears towards going beyond caring for the patient’s health and includes caring for their humanity. The element of Carative factors are the framework that provides meaning to nursing in general. They are a set of guidelines that promote caring for the patient entirely. The element of the caring moment occurs when the nurse and patient form a human to human transaction that involves caring for the mind, body and spirit. The Caring Moment: The caring moment is defined as coming together in a moment that provides the opportunity for human caring to occur. ( Alligood, 2010). The caring moment creates inner harmony...
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...Caring for Inmate-Patients: A Review of the Literature Caring for Inmate-Patients In 2010, approximately one in every 27 adults (2.8 million) in the United States was behind bars according to a report from the National Commission on Correctional Health Care (NCCHC), 2012. Maintaining a safe and secure environment is the most important mission of correctional facilities - not healthcare. Correctional nurses are challenged to provide inmate healthcare services in a caring relationship that promotes wellness, restores health, and facilitates healing. A great deal has been written by nursing theorists regarding a caring attitude, and that it is fundamental to the nurse’s role. No other health care setting presents such limitations to nurses’ free expression of caring. The purpose of this paper is to conduct a review of the literature on how nurses balance the culture of security and the culture of care while delivering health care to inmate-patients in a correctional setting. Analysis It is well documented in the nursing literature that nursing care for prisoners is both complicated and conflicting. These findings clearly stated that the experiences of caring for inmate-patients vary greatly from that of any other health care setting. Both the infrastructure of a prison coupled with its restrictive security element, directly affects how the health care of inmate-patients is delivered. This is in direct correlation with the findings of Mathis & Schoenly, 2008; Muse...
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...Watson's Theory of Human Caring Paper NUR 403 Watson's Theory of Human Caring Paper A caring moment occurs whenever a nurse and patient come together with their unique life histories and extraordinary experiences in a human to human transaction. These moments can be verbal or nonverbal. Examples of nonverbal moments can be as simple as a smile or touch for encouragement or more complex such as preparing their body after death for the family to view. Examples of verbal moments can occur when speaking softly to a new born baby, encouraging the patient to express their concerns and fears or simply by telling them goodbye at their time of death. We need to consider that a caring moment can be different for every patient depending on their needs, concerns and emotional status. According to Jean Watson, this human to human connection expands our compassion and caring and keeps alive our common humanity. The major concepts in Watson's theory include the Human being, Health, Environment or society and Nursing. A human being is a valued person to be cared for, respected, nurtured, understood and assisted. Health is considered to be a unity and harmony within the mind, body and soul; health is associated with the degree of congruence between the self as perceived and the self as experienced. Environment or society provides the values that determine how one should behave and what goals one should strive toward. Nursing is referred to as human science of persons and...
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... Jean Watson's Theory of Human Caring Robyn Waters NUR/403 August 29, 2011 Stephanie Merck JEAN WATSON'S THEORY 2 Abstract Jean Watson, professor, nursing theorist, developed her theory of Transpersonal Caring from her own experiences of nursing and information she received during her higher education years. Her idea was to bring attention to professional nurses. Nursing is becoming more interdisciplinary and involving. Watson's theory is centered to subjective inner healing and a person's experiences. These are achieved by carative factors. Carative factors is the caring process, not the curing process. Watson established ten carative factors. Along with these carative factors, Watson identified seven assumptions. Along with the assumptions, Watson describes the nurse's role. The primary nurse's role is to establish a caring relationship with his or her patient. This can be achieved by caring moments. Moments that transform the patient and nurse connecting them together. Watson classified human needs like Maslow classified his hierarchy needs. As a nurse I contemplate on how I provide my care. I am there to help my patient's meet their human needs. JEAN WATSON'S THEORY 3 Jean Watson's Theory of Human Caring Jean Watson developed the...
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...the practice is Watson’s theory of human caring. The utilization of Watson’s theory of human caring is extremely relevant within the critical care arena, specifically because of the high acuity of the patient population. The practical application of this theory is explored utilizing several important elements to describe a personal interaction between the patient populations. The Caring Moment Defined Watson (2012) defines the caring moment as, “An actual caring moment occasion involves action and choice both by the nurse and the individual. The moment of coming together in a caring moment occasion presents the two persons with the opportunity to decide how to be in the relationship—what to do with the moment” (p. 71). She further explains that if the moment is spiritual then the chance of openness can occur, making the relationship limitless (Watson, 2012). The successfulness of a caring moment allows the human to human interaction to occur, regardless of the personal and social backgrounds of the participants. In each interaction, the participants display different feelings, thoughts, expectations, spiritual beliefs, environmental respects and individual implications. The historical situations that precede the interaction are multifaceted. These interactions are influenced by the previous history, present moment, and imagined future of the person. Experiences of caring moments within nursing allows opportunities for the nurse to have self-identification within others...
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...Provide a written justification (1000 words) detailing the reasoning for the application from a personal perspective, including: My interest for applying in the BSc (Hons) in Mental Healthcare is to expand on my nursing knowledge, develop new skill, gaining knowledge of organisation, structure and process and also keen to keep up to date with technology that is fatal to the care I deliver to the service user (SU). By doing the BSc (Hons) it will gives me the opportunities to specialise in other areas provided by the organisation and enhance career opportunities. * What impact the professional development will have on the individual, the Service, the Charity and the Service Users INDIVIDUAL By doing this degree course it is a process of professional support and learning which enable me to develop knowledge. It will help advancing me in professional growth and current evidence based practice, for example working in a fast demanding environment will give me the willingness to take responsibility for the SU wellbeing, ability to work in a demanding and stressful environment and dealing with occasional aggression in a sensitive and effective way, I will be able to plan and deliver patient care within the health care team. Also I will use my communication and interpersonal skills to emphasize with SU and understand their problems; willingness to be adaptable, flexible and support SU’s to ensure that they have a good care delivery. I will monitor relevant research to improve...
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...My Professional Moral Compass. Distinct moral compass in an individual directs him/her to decide what the correct behavior is and what not the correct behavior is. An Indian nurse, who belongs to the Jain community, considers eating non-vegetarian food and any root-crops is unacceptable, whereas an Indian nurse of Christian or an Islamic religion would perceive it to be just normal to include them in their diet. For the nurse, who follow Jainism it is despicable, but the Christian or Muslim nurse would believe that they are the essential components of their daily diet. Such code of ethics of an individual is developed and refined from the social and cultural background from childhood to adulthood. Every human being initiates to develop ethical standard or character virtually from birth. As they go through developmental phases, they are taught right from wrong, generate empathy for others through interactive observations and understand as to how to behave in a style that is appropriately. They cultivate different perceptions, philosophies, cultural outlooks and distinct ethical concepts, as they go through real life experiences. I attained the basic knowledge of life basically from my parents, church, schools; right from kindergarten, books and from personal reflections. The principles and morals developed over time shaped me as what I am today and help me to interact effectively in society. Some folks follow heroes and heroines as a role model. Specific values,...
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...Provision One Terrian Douglas University of Hartford Provision One There are several ethical provisions that are used as guidelines for professional nurses; however, this paper will discuss ethical Provision One. According to Fowler (2010), the Nightingale Pledge, which was patterned after medicine’s Hippocratic Oath and accepted as the first nursing Code of Ethics, was used as the foundation of formulating Provision One. Although the Nightingale Pledge required that nurses devoted themselves to the welfare of those they were caring for, it lacked emphasis on the compassion and respect for human dignity (Fowler, 2010, p.1). As a result of this, the need for revision was determined and after several years of adding to the code, Provision One was established in 2001. Provision One emphasizes that “the nurse, in all professional relationships, practices with compassion and respect for the inherent dignity, worth, and uniqueness of every individual, unrestricted by considerations of social or economic status, personal attributes, or the nature of health problems” (Fowler, 2010, p.3). In general, I believe that this provision is significant to nursing practice because of the evolving healthcare environment which is changing in ways that has never been envisioned. The complexity of nurses’ responsibilities is expanding and health-care requirements are becoming more uncertain. There is a vast amount of patients that are now being diagnosed with chronic illnesses, such...
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.... Discussion about the different types of seizures people can have is included in the opening tasks of this week’s tutorial. Displayed for students information & awareness on the room display boards is “Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs”, students are asked to interpret this information, discuss & describe how a nurse needs to apply it as professional activity during working hours, keeping in mind OH&S & the level of safety & security. Included in Maslow’s Hierarchy & displayed as a pyramid connecting on thing to the one above are self actualisation, esteem, belongingness & love, safety & physiological needs. For the first case study you have to apply Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs to Mrs Wall the 80 year old with history of MRSA, diagnosed early dementia & dysphagia. Also discuss the risks for the attending nurse, the client (Mrs Wall) & any others whom could be at risk, like her husband, Bill. Part of the work to be done for week 3 is describe & compare the art of nursing & the science of nursing. We are to evaluate how art & how science is applied for case study with Mrs Greentree, what factors could have been changed to make the scenario better for the client & the nurse providing assistance/ care....
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...AN INDEPENDENT VOICE FOR NURSING Work Engagement, Moral Distress, Education Level, and Critical Reflective Practice in Intensive Care Nurses nuf_237 256..268 Lisa A. Lawrence, PhD, RN Lisa A. Lawrence, PhD, RN, Instructional Faculty, Nursing Department, Pima Community College, Tucson, AZ Keywords Critical reflective practice, education level, moral distress, registered nurse, work engagement Correspondence Lisa A. Lawrence, PhD, RN, Nursing Department, Pima Community College, Tucson, AZ E-mail: llawrence@pima.edu AIM. The purpose of this study was to examine how nurses’ moral distress, education level, and critical reflective practice (CRP) related to their work engagement. The study is relevant to nursing, given registered nurse (RN) documented experiences of job-related distress and work dissatisfaction, and the nursing shortage crisis. A better understanding of factors that may enhance RN work engagement is needed. METHODS. A non-experimental, descriptive, correlational design was used to examine the relationships among four variables: moral distress, education level, CRP, and work engagement. The sample included 28 intensive care unit RNs from three separate ICUs in a 355-bed Southwest magnet-designated hospital. RESULTS. There was a positive direct relationship between CRP and work engagement, a negative direct relationship between moral distress and work engagement, and CRP and moral distress, together, explained 47% of the variance in work engagement. Additionally...
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