Reflecting on an Interaction with a Patient: Importance of Nurses in Healthcare Industry

This report reflects on the interaction between a nurse and a patient admitted in a urology ward. The report introduces the concept of nurse as a reflective practitioner by presenting a reflecting report on the practice of care providing to the patient. The report highlights the importance of nurses in the healthcare industry and the need for good communication and patient dealing skills. The report also emphasizes the role of nursing staff in early detection and management of sepsis.

Reflect on an interaction
with a patient

Table of Contents
INTRODUCTION...............................................................................................................3
MAIN BODY.......................................................................................................................3
WHAT? .....................................................................................................................4
SO WHAT?................................................................................................................4
NOW WHAT?............................................................................................................5
Care analysis.............................................................................................................7
CONCLUSION...................................................................................................................9
REFERENCES..................................................................................................................9

INTRODUCTION
The importance of nurses in health care industry can not be clearly defined
because of their immense contribution to the industry. Nurses form the backbone of the
healthcare by maintaining the standard and quality of the care provided to the patients.
Amongst the health care professionals the nurses are the ones who spend the
maximum time with the patients. From asking about patients condition at the time of
admission to the time of patient's discharge a nurse is responsible for taking care of the
patient, which involves making the patient comfortable, checking his vitals,
administering medication, checking and maintaining details about the patient's condition
etc. The relationship between the patient and the nursing staff is very important to
maintain as it can help to uncover important health information. The nurses also check
with the patients about their satisfaction with the care they are being provided with and
about the problems they are facing at the health care setting. The interaction between
the patient and the nurse is guided by certain guidelines like NICE which is a set of
evidence based recommendations for providing health care to the people (Mandal,
Seethalakshmi, and Rajendrababu, 2020).
This report consist of a reflection on the interaction between a nurse and a
patient admitted in a urology ward. This report introduces the concept of nurse as a
reflective practitioner by presenting a reflecting report on the practice of care providing
to the patient. For presenting a reflective report the Borton's model of reflection have
been used in the report because of its simplicity and effectiveness as a tools of
reflective learning (Ingham-Broomfield, 2021).
MAIN BODY
According to the Borton model, the reflective part of the the essay have been
broken down into three sections:
WHAT?
A female patient was transferred to the medical ward from the emergency ward
with sepsis following a Urinary tract infection. She was brought to the emergency ward
when her mother called for an ambulance as she was experiencing severe pain in the
abdomen. On assessment in the emergency ward it was found that she was suffering

from UTI from past week and because of unattended UTI, the condition got severe and
took form of Urosepsis which is sepsis caused by the infection of the urinary tract when
the bacteria in the bladder multiplies to a dangerous level(Lotfi and et.al.2019). After
knowing about the case I was analysed that at initial stage of UTI infection, patient did
not receive the proper medical treatment and and due to irrelevant medical treatment
and care the condition is identified as severe.
After getting admitted in the medical ward, the patients was assessed for the
vitals and was asked about any history or prevalence of any disease and allergies or
interactions to any drug by the nursing staff. The patient was found to be suffering from
Type 1 Diabetes but she had it under control with insulin. On physical assessment the
patient was found to be dehydrated and her chest was found to be warm but her hands
were cold (Lasater and et.al. 2021). This suggested that the patient's body temperature
is elevated but the peripheral body parts are cold which was the physical evidence of
sepsis in the body.
SO WHAT?
The vitals that were recorded at 11:30 p.m. by doing A-E assessment which
suggested elevation in the heart rate, increased respiratory rate, a dramatic drop in
blood pressure was observed. The oxygen levels in the blood were low suggesting that
the patient is hypoxic (McVeigh, and et.al., 2020). I then inquired the patient for the
symptoms and it was found that the pain that she is experiencing is on the scale of 8 out
of 10. It was also told by the patient that she passed urine a few hours which was very
smelly and extremely yellow in colour and she had low urine output. All the vitals were
collected by me on a very quick pace and with utmost care because the case of sepsis
are to be treated very seriously. Then I prepared the patient's chart and the physician
was called immediately(Krick and et.al., 2019). I in the meanwhile took care of the other
aspects of care providing to the patient.
After a while the physician arrived and on assessing the patient's chart, it was
assumed that the patient is suffering from severe sepsis and immediately prescribed
the patient with the appropriate medication to relieve the patient of the pain she is
suffering from(Rezende, de Carvalho and Rezende , 2022). The physician further

ordered the nursing staff to collect blood samples and to send them to the testing labs
for confirming the condition of sepsis and told that the sample should be sent in the
urgent category. I was alarmed by the physicians behaviour but the nursing staff tried
not to express that feeling in front of the patient and relatives. I then took the sample
and sent it to the lab immediately(Ferguson and et al. 2019) . After the results confirmed
the presence of sepsis, the physicians prescribed the patient with the required
medication which consisted of corticosteroid, antibiotics and antibacterials and ordered
the nurses to keep the patient in careful observation for next 24 hours.
NOW WHAT?
While observing the patient till the doctor was arriving I tried to communicate with
the patient in order to make her feel comfortable and relaxed. Building a healthy
relationship with a patient is very necessary to provide the patient with the apt health
care and for assuring the betterment of the health of the patient (Kleinpell and
etl.al.,2019). During the small talk the nursing staff learned that the patient is a
university student studying physiotherapy who is the single mother. I even more
intrigued about the reason of carelessness done by the patient even after belonging to
the medical field. I did not expressed any sort of feeling to the patient and only exhibited
the feeling of empathy and humbleness towards the patient. This little conversation
between me and the patient lead to building of feeling of faith and trust towards the
health care setting in the mind of patient (Davies, and et.al 2019).
I was relieved to find the patient getting better but did not think that the care
taking task is completed. The patient was out of close observation but was not
discharged and was told to be kept in hospital care for a couple of days more. I
continued to keep a continuous check on the vitals of patients and the frequency of
blood sample to be sent for testing was reduced.
I was very careful and responsible while taking care of the patient and
administering her the drugs prescribed by the doctor because the compliance with the
prescribed treatment regime was very important in this case (Bleakley and Cole, 2020).
I practised good communications skills with the patients which can help me analysing
their diseases and providing a better medical treatment so that they can overcome with
UTI diseases. Due to their server condition I felt even more empathetic towards the

patient which led to even more effective care providing to the patient. I then observed
the patient closely for the next 24 hours, took care of the hydration level of the patient
on constant basis, provided the patient with a good happy environment so that the
patient can recover with a better speed. I observed the patient's vitals every hour and
also sent samples for tests timely as the doctor specified the first 24 hours to be critical.
I did behave in a calm manner so that the patient does not panic as this will lead to
slowing of the process of recovery of the patient.
After 24 hours it was observed that the medication was able to reduce the
condition of sepsis in the body and the symptoms were also neutralised. The vitals were
also found to be back within the normal range and my efforts in taking close care of the
patient were successful. (Griffiths ans et.al. 2018)
Care analysis
As a nurse my focus on providing high quality care to the patient which can lead
to five positive outcomes on patient health. According to the NICE guidelines I can
delivery the best care to the adult patient which can help in better recovery of the
patient. I ensure about the medical treatment which are delivering to the patient by
consulting their opinions and review about the treatment. I followed the rules which are
provided by the guidelines by delivering appropriate knowledge to the patient and
consulting about the care receiving. I am more focused and responsible for taking best
care of patient and keep in under supervision of senior doctors. I can treat patient with
more respectful and also involving the patient in their own medical treatment and also
ensure about the patient history. I did not reach to any conclusions before actually
knowing the whole situation of the patient. Before starting medical treatment I can
ensure that the patient was treated with respect and kindness by me and how much
patient is get satisfied under my supervision. (Cnossen and et.al., 2021). I can provide
all the food and medication related requirements of the patient.
I did not got indulgent at any point while taking care of the patient and pay more
attention while delivering the best quality care to the patient. After stabilisation of the
condition of patient, I analysed my responsibilities and developed a better treatment
plan for the patient and informed all the symptoms and complexities arises with the
diseases. The patient was explained in detailed about sepsis, the reason that caused

her condition to get this worse. The patient was also told about the medication that have
been prescribed by the physician along with their mechanism of action, its side effects
and interactions related to the drugs involved in the treatment regime (Murray, and
Brent, 2018). I did not use scientific language while explaining things to the patient but
instead used general language to ensure proper understanding of the disease by the
patient. (Harley and et.al. ,2019). I had analysed that patient having diabetes so
directions were also given to avoid injuries as much as possible. I am more focused to
providing the care according to the NICE guidelines governing the care providing at a
health care setting.(Dexter, and Mortimore, 2021.).
It was only through good communication skills of the nurses with the patients
that they were able to make the patient well understood with the condition she is
suffering from. At the time of addressing patient into hospital I am unable to analyses
the patient is suffering from UTI. (Karaca and Durna., 2019). I am more responsible to
behave humble and calm while providing care and should have only one focus that is
helping the patient to get rid of their suffering and achieve their quality of life back in
least time possible.
I am more focuses and pay attention in delivering the bets quality care to the
patient and providing relevant information to the patient. Good communication with
patient can give positive outcomes on patient health. (Reyes and et.al.., 2018). I
observe this case with seriousness which was important in the case of sepsis because if
sepsis spreads to the entire body it can result in multiple organ failure and in more
severe cases it can even result in death of the patient. So a patient with sepsis needs to
be taken care of with the utmost sincerity. I am successful in building a good
relationship with the patient, this resulted in building trust and faith for the health care
professionals in the mind of patient. The patient's trust on the treatment provided by the
hospital is a psychological factor that governs the healing process from the disease
(Moore and et.al., 2019). So that should be one of the priorities of the nursing staff to
build a feeling of trust in the patients.
CONCLUSION
The conclusion that can be derived from the above essay is that the nursing staff
plays a very important role in providing health care to the patient. A good relation

between the nurse and the patient is necessary to retrieving required information for
providing the patient with the apt care and to avoid the chances of medical errors that
can even something prove to be fatal for the patient. Therefore, in a nursing profession
along with medical care providing skills one also needs to have sound communication
and patient dealing skills. In context of case of sepsis the nursing staff plays an
important role in early detection of sepsis which is extremely important for the
management and treatment of sepsis. Also the nursing staff should follow the guidelines
for taking care of people belonging to different age group and suffering from different
diseases.
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