Experience of Valuable Nurse-Patient Interaction

Running head : EXPERIENCE OF VALUABLE NURSE-PATIENT INTERACTION
EXPERIENCE OF VALUABLE NURSE-PATIENT INTERACTION
Name of the Student:
Name of the University:
Author Note:

1EXPERIENCE OF VALUABLE NURSE-PATIENT INTERACTION
This reflective essay summarizes my experiences on my first case as a
Research Nurse assisting the treatment of a 50-year old woman suffering from Rheumatoid
Arthritis. Gibb’s reflective model have been used in this essay. The upcoming paragraphs
encompass the kind of treatment implemented on her keeping her age in mind. It also
includes the various challenges I faced during my tenure leading to misunderstandings and
unwanted circumstances. Most importantly, this essay describes various lessons, which I
learnt from my first interaction with an elder patient. My evolvement as a nurse had been
remarkable with the foundation of a strong relationship with my patient through therapeutics.
Thus, this essay focuses on the importance of a healthy relationship during therapeutic
recovery and the various aspects to be kept in mind while interacting with older people.
As the treatment process continued, various issues aroused due to difference of
viewpoints. My patient was of a different religion where they were not allowed to separate
any piece of clothing or amulets from their body. However, one of the treatment processes
had to be carried out without any ornaments on the body. She was offended at such a
proposal and this issue ultimately lead to her mental isolation, and depression. She felt
deserted and could not communicate smoothly with our staff. I took this issue in a calm but
resolute manner. After hours of consultation and clarifications, she allowed us to carry on
with our medicinal procedures. Being an old woman, one nurse was allocated at her service
for 24 hours as well. After care and mental support, she was happy to confide in me a patient
listener as well as an observer and caretaker. Several coping strategies had to be adopted
since she was suffering physically and from mental trauma. She found the physical exercises
to be strenuous, so they were co-ordinated and amalgamated with more relaxing activities
like yoga, jogging, meditation, allowing her to cope up with the spontaneity of muscle
flexibility. Several interactive sessions with our psychiatrist was organised for her
counselling. She was taken care of as a person and not merely a patient. These strategies

2EXPERIENCE OF VALUABLE NURSE-PATIENT INTERACTION
proved successful as the patient started recovering from the disease and daily activity trackers
reflected signs of her joint flexibility. Moreover, she was happy and satisfied with the
services being provided after few weeks. Though rough at start, I consider myself successful
in the establishment of a healthy therapeutic relationship with my patient. According to
Wiechula et al., (2016), some of the factors affecting the nurse-patient relationship are
knowledge and skills of the nurse, expectations from both sides, ethical cultural values.
Clinical competence as well as support behaviours are the two most important terminologies
to be considered during care of the patient. However, according to Gelso (2014), practice,
theory and research are the main criterias for a stable relationship. Moreover, provision of a
stable therapeutic relationship is also pivotal in emotion- focused therapy as it facilitates a
therapeutic work (Greenberg, 2014).Various theories have been formulated since time
immemorial, regarding the apt nurse patient relationship. For example, the Structural as well
as Functional theory by Artinian states that family of the patient should be considered as an
institution and the intricate mechanism of their functioning along with the social network. It
is followed by the symbolic interaction theories by Hill Hansen, Rose, Turner, which focuses
on the symbolic communication and interactions between members of the families. Other
several theories include Developmental and Family life cycle theory, Family systems and
stress theories (Kalinin et.al. 2018). Interactions with subjects has the ultimate potential to be
connected with each other along with the achievement of the desired goals. Nurses should
approach patients with an aim to achieve active participation of the patients along with
autonomy and freedom of choosing one’s own decisions (Black, 2016). Earlier, studies have
been conducted assessing communication skills and it was found that nurses have less care
and compassion than Doctors (Cherniss, 2016) do. Nowadays, such concepts has changed as
nurses are well trained in stress management. Contemporary strategies include mindfulness
based on stress reduction, which reduces anxiety, stress through conducting of programmes

3EXPERIENCE OF VALUABLE NURSE-PATIENT INTERACTION
(Sharma and Rush 2014). Emotional Intelligence (EI) is another quality required to cater to
the needs of patients and their families effectively. According to leading theorists, EI is
defined as the ability of perceiving various emotions in order to ameliorate understanding of
emotion; thinking and regulation in order enhance personal growth (Foster et al., 2015).
Studies carried out reveal that EI is positively related to team leadership, which enhances the
EI characteristics in patients (Spano Szekeley et al, 2016). It requires suppression as well as
induction of of emotion corresponding to the present situation. Nurses should always mask
their inner feelings and portray an appearance which is assuring and comforting as well. It
involves the use of interpersonal skills. Holistic approach is an effective tool for nurses who
get motivated due to optimum health outcomes and respecting autonomy of the patient
(Dwarsward and Bovencamp,2015). According to Fonagy & Alison (2014), mentalizing is
useful and has a positive impact on therapeutic relationship between nurse and his patient. It
helps in gaining epistemic trust, which is the trust regarding authenticity as well as relevance
of the information, which is transmitted interpersonally. It helps the patient to relinquish and
reduce the kind of rigidity, which is a characteristic of individuals who endure personality
pathology. Flaskas (2018) throws light on the practice of therapeutic relationship in systemic
theory practices with the positive effects being eclipsed by negative ones like understanding
the issues and applying it it in systemic theory. From my experience I understood that
establishment of a stable relationship with the patient depends upon various factors apart
from a strategic, holistic approach. Age of the patient is a very important deciding factor for
proper connection .Older people need more counselling and comforting than other normal
patients especially regarding religious as well as ethical issues. Moreover, such patients abide
by sentiments and logical expression of ideas should be suppressed for such patients. Thus, I
am aware of the assumptions which are usually made whenever any patient is admitted and