Patient-Centered Care: Discussion Board Post, NUR-460 Fall 2019

This assignment is a discussion board post addressing a case study on patient-centered care. The student, in response to a scenario involving a 90-year-old patient, explores the role of the nurse in advocating for the patient's understanding of medical instructions, emphasizing the importance of clear communication and support for self-care based on Orem's self-care theory. The student identifies potential cognitive issues, advocates for family involvement, and discusses the significance of patient education in empowering patients. The post also examines the challenges nurses face in providing patient education, such as job frustration and ineffective communication, while highlighting strategies to promote patient engagement in self-care, including wellness programs, health information technology, and mHealth apps. The student concludes with a reflection on personal experiences in patient education, emphasizing the importance of therapeutic communication and patient-centered care in improving health outcomes and the nurse-patient relationship.

Patient-Centered Care
Student’s Name:
Student’s ID:

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Table of Contents
Answer 1......................................................................................................................................................2
Answer 2......................................................................................................................................................2
Answer 3......................................................................................................................................................2
Answer 4......................................................................................................................................................3
Answer 5......................................................................................................................................................3
References...................................................................................................................................................4

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Answer 1
In the given case study, a 90-year-old patient was provided various instructions by the doctor. As
a nurse, I would advocate the patient to ensure that he has understood all the instructions
properly. I would communicate with the patient in a shared and open manner so that he could
express any question or problem freely. Patient self-care is essential for the patients because it
enables them to maintain a quality life. As per Orem's self-care theory of nursing, a nurse needs
to assist the patient in the management of self-care (Finkelman, 2017). Therefore, I would assist
the patient in the provision of self-care so that he could perform freely in managing the
medications of vitamin B12 and check the blood glucose in time. The rationale behind
supporting self-care for the patient is that self-care can help him to recover more quickly as well
as holistically (Edvardsson, Watt & Pearce, 2017).
Answer 2
Yes, I assumed that the patient had cognitive issues and was unable to take care of himself. This
is because when I asked him to repeat the instructions prescribed by the doctor, then he replied
some of the instruction were incorrect. It shows that the patient had a cognitive issue that means
he cannot care for himself. Therefore, the white male was unable to follow the directions
accurately that increase the need of an interpreter. As a nurse, I would advocate the family of the
patient about all the instructions needed for the patient to overcome the health issue. I would give
patient-centered care to him and communicate the whole process in written form so that he could
care for himself.
Answer 3
Patient education is an essential and significant part of every nurse as it empowers the patients to
enhance their health condition (Narva, Norton & Boulware, 2016). Several benefits of patient
education involve a decrease in the number of readmission of patients to the hospitals, reduce the
chance of complications related to medications and prevention of medical situations like
diabetes. The nurses play a significant role in educating patients regarding self-care (Cho et al.,
2015). But most nurses are frustrated with patient education because of numerous reasons. Job
frustration, workplace bullying, poor work-life balance and overwork are some of the reasons
that make the nurses frustrated in providing patient education. Needs of every person are

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different, and they have to perform many responsibilities in work and at home. Some nurses do
not have enough time to do their work well and thus, it creates a lot of frustration for them.
Ineffective communication can also be the reason of frustration because it makes them unable to
educate the patients properly.
Answer 4
Self-care is a vital part of nursing that reduce stress and develop the quality of care for the patient
(Davis, Himmelfarb, Szanton, Hayat & Allen, 2015). The major purpose of patient engagement
in self-care is to ensure that sick persons are actively engaged in learning about the sickness and
treatment available for them by giving support and guidance. The nurses adopt various strategies
to enable the patients to engage in self-care. The wellness program is the strategy that can be
used by the nurses to encourage patients to engage in self-care (Freedland, Carney, Rich,
Steinmeyer & Rubin, 2015). Another strategy is the use of health information technology
through which the patients are pushed to portal registration. By accessing to the portal, the
patients can become more knowledgeable about their health. It also facilitates communication
between healthcare providers and patients. Use of mHealth apps is the other strategy that brings
healthcare into the hands of the patient. Self-care becomes easier as well as effective with the
help of this strategy, and the patients can keep track of their health on mobile devices.
Answer 5
I had significant experience with patient education in my nursing practice. I believed that patient
education is essential for improving the health condition and health behavior of the patients. A
patient with diabetes visits the clinic, and the doctor has prescribed some instructions to prevent
the disease. I observe the patient and ask him to restate the instructions to ensure that he
understands or follow the directions properly. Patient education helps to improve the relationship
between the nurse and the patient. I use therapeutic communication skills to educate the patient
regarding self-care. It develops satisfaction and support in treating the chronic illness of the
patient. I use various methods to engage the patient in self-management education and provide
patient-centered care.

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References
Cho, E., Sloane, D. M., Kim, E. Y., Kim, S., Choi, M., Yoo, I. Y., ... & Aiken, L. H. (2015).
Effects of nurse staffing, work environments, and education on patient mortality: an
observational study. International journal of nursing studies, 52(2), 535-542.
Davis, K. K., Himmelfarb, C. R. D., Szanton, S. L., Hayat, M. J., & Allen, J. K. (2015).
Predictors of heart failure self-care in patients who screened positive for mild cognitive
impairment. Journal of Cardiovascular Nursing, 30(2), 152-160.
Edvardsson, D., Watt, E., & Pearce, F. (2017). Patient experiences of caring and person‐
centredness are associated with perceived nursing care quality. Journal of Advanced
Nursing, 73(1), 217-227.
Finkelman, A. (2017). Professional nursing concepts: Competencies for quality leadership.
Jones & Bartlett Learning.
Freedland, K. E., Carney, R. M., Rich, M. W., Steinmeyer, B. C., & Rubin, E. H. (2015).
Cognitive behavior therapy for depression and self-care in heart failure patients: a
randomized clinical trial. JAMA internal medicine, 175(11), 1773-1782.
Narva, A. S., Norton, J. M., & Boulware, L. E. (2016). Educating patients about CKD: the path
to self-management and patient-centered care. Clinical Journal of the American Society
of Nephrology, 11(4), 694-703.