Chronic Care Across Lifespan - Reflection Assignment

This reflective assignment explores how discrimination still exists in our society and how patients with chronic conditions like asthma can be handled well within the society both at home, schools and even at the hospital.

R AD C R C CAR ACR SS S AUNNING HE : H ONI E O LIFE P N 1
CHRONIC CARE ACROSS LIFESPAN
NAME
INSTITUTION
TUTOR
DATE

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CHRONIC CARE ACROSS LIFESPAN
INTRODUCTION
In this reflective assignment, I will utilize the Gibbs Model. This model has certain
processes that can assist an individual to look at an incidence keenly then think of their thoughts
and feelings as well (Love, Sidebotham, Fenwick, Harvey, & Fairbrother, 2017).I chose the
Gibbs Model since it is easier and more detailed as opposed to the Kolb model. Reflective skills
are important to any medical student and practioners as they assist one to think of what should be
done in an event whereby the same case arises. My patients will not be directly referred by their
real names in my reflection as this ensures their confidentiality as stipulated by the Nursing
Codes of Conducts.
DESCRIPTION
At the end of my lunch break while at the training, I came back to the ward and realized
that there was a certain conversation going on about a certain patient who was experiencing
some obstacles in making changes in their life regarding their health status and wellbeing. Little
had we finished discussing that than a patient came in. He was a man aged 45 years. I conducted
a physical examination and the patient was very weak. On interviewing him about his medical
history, the patient explained that he has been suffering from asthma for quite some time. The
patient complained of how he was experiencing difficulties in adjusting to having to walk around
with his inhaler as other people are discriminating him.
FEELINGS
Throughout the session, I felt very sympathetic for the patient. Despite the fact that
asthma is a chronic infection, it is not advisable for people to discriminate those suffering from

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the condition .Besides, I also felt very nervous handling a patient with asthma as this was my
first patient ever suffering from that particular disease. To a further extent, I also felt ashamed or
embarrassed with such cases since they are very undesirable.
EVALUATION
After that particular incident, I started to think on how well patients with chronic
conditions like asthma can be handled well within the society both at home, schools and even at
the hospital. Cases of discrimination are also common and exercised by some healthcare experts
(Hudelson, Kolly, & Perneger, 2010). This is not correct as all medical experts take oaths to treat
or rather handle all patients equally. During the laboratory session, I also learnt how special
religion plays in giving hope to the patients suffering from chronic conditions.
ANALYSIS
I kept on wondering why someone would be discriminated just because they are sick. All
the sick people should be handled in good manner just the way anyone would wish to be handled
whenever they are sick (Grytten, Skau, & Sørensen, 2011). Holistic intervention is also
necessary especially to patients with chronic conditions as it offers hope for recovery. Nurses
and Doctors should therefore encourage patients even if they are on hospital beds to engage in
spiritual activities like reading verses from their holy books. Spiritual leaders should also be
allowed to make visits in hospitals to offer guidance to the patients.
CONCLUSION
My reflection from this scenario seeks to explore or rather create awareness of how
discrimination still exist in our society. Actually, we are living in a century where discrimination
should not be practiced by anyone. The society should realize that no one really wishes to be

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sick, diseases just occur by chance and they should not be used as the basis for discriminating
others. In fact, when one is sick, he is supposed to be handled with a lot of love and care. I
actually feel embarrassed as medical expert that this things actually exist.
I would also wish to encourage other patients out there who are discriminated to come
out and report such cases. There are several departments at the hospital like the guiding and
counselling that can assist such patients cope up with such nasty behaviors.
During the nursing laboratory procedure, I also learnt different skills and knowledge that
will assist me in future during the holistic nursing practice .I actually learnt that whenever one is
sick, they tend to seek holistic intervention. As nurses, we should therefore encourage or rather
seek out from the patients their religious beliefs then assist or encourage them to seek religious
interventions especially when they are suffering from chronic conditions like kidney failure.
ACTION PLAN.
In order to prevent discrimination or rather to enable patients adjust to their health and
wellbeing, they need encouragement from the society and the health care experts. I also learnt
how important religion is especially to those patients who suffer from chronic conditions as they
offer hope for better lives or quick recovery. As nurses, we should therefore understand the
religious doctrines of the patients before the condition worsens so that they can seek spiritual
intervention.

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References
Grytten, J., Skau, I., & Sørensen, R. (2011). Do expert patients get better treatment than
others? Agency discrimination and statistical discrimination in obstetrics. Journal of
Health Economics, 30(1), 163-180. doi:10.1016/j.jhealeco.2010.10.004
Hudelson, P., Kolly, V., & Perneger, T. (2010). Patients’ perceptions of discrimination
during hospitalization. Health Expectations, 13(1), 24-32. doi:10.1111/j.1369-
7625.2009.00577.x
Love, B., Sidebotham, M., Fenwick, J., Harvey, S., & Fairbrother, G. (2017). “Unscrambling
what’s in your head”: A mixed method evaluation of clinical supervision for
midwives. Women and Birth, 30(4), 271-281. doi:10.1016/j.wombi.2016.11.002