Chronic Condition Reflection: Patient Care and Nursing Practice

This assignment is a reflective journal entry by a nursing student detailing their experience with a patient, Mr. X, who was admitted to the hospital with aggravated symptoms of osteoarthritis. The student reflects on their initial surprise at the impact of joint pain on the patient's overall well-being, and subsequently analyzes the case using a concept map. The reflection highlights the importance of a holistic, patient-centered, and multidisciplinary approach to chronic condition management, emphasizing the need for interpersonal communication and understanding the patient's psychological and social needs. The student identifies areas for improvement, such as conducting more extensive nursing assessments and engaging in therapeutic communication, and outlines an action plan for future patient interactions, aligning with the standards of the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Australia. The assignment references several research papers to support the student's reflections on chronic condition management, patient care, and evidence-based practice.

Running head: CHRONIC CONDITION: REFLECTION
CHRONIC CONDITION: REFLECTION
Name of the Student:
Name of the University:
Author note:

1CHRONIC CONDITION: REFLECTION
Description
Chronic conditions and illnesses comprise of a number of disease conditions which are
not only incurable but are often associated with detrimental long term negative physiological and
psychological health outcomes [1]. My existing knowledge on chronic condition management
enhance due to my recent experience of encountering Mr. X (identify kept confidential for
privacy) – a patient who was admitted to the hospital where I was working as a nursing student.
Mr. X presented with a history of osteoarthritis and was admitted with a complaint that his
symptoms had aggravated alarmingly, affecting his overall wellbeing. Upon conducting research,
I learned that osteoarthritis is a debilitating condition affecting bones and joints [2].
Feelings
At present, I felt surprised that merely a condition of painful joints could result in Mr. X
losing an interest in engaging with his personal and social life However, upon carefully
conducting nursing and evaluating the case documents of Mr. X, I could comprehend the
complexity of the situation. Osteoarthritis is characterized by cartilage degeneration and loss of
bone volume resulting in uncontrollable joint pain, swelling and stiffness, further resulting in an
inability to engage in personal as well as social activities [3]. Hence, I could understand Mr. X’s
state of mind and just how severely a chronic condition had negatively impacted his
physiological as well as psychological wellbeing.

2CHRONIC CONDITION: REFLECTION
Evaluation
While my ignorance on understanding of the patient’s condition is definitely a negative
highlight of the situation, the positive aspect was that I learned the comprehensive impact of
chronic conditions and hence, will ensure that I consider the same during my future experiences
with such patients. Indeed, taking insights from past experiences are a key way by which nurses
can improve their diagnosis [4].
Analysis
Upon analyzing the situation of Mr. X using the concept map, I learned the need for
conducting a holistic, patient centered and multidisciplinary approach to assessment and
treatment of patients with chronic conditions. Chronic conditions like osteoarthritis have long
terms impacts on the psychological and social wellbeing of an individual and hence, a patient
centered approach must be considered where the patient will directly be involved in the decision-
making process and provide key insights on his/her needs, preferences and opinions [5].
Conclusion
In addition to extensively conducting evidence based research and patient document
evaluation, the concept map development taught me that I should have engaged in therapeutic
and interpersonal communication with Mr. X. Interpersonal communication is an essential
prerequisite in nursing since it develops therapeutic relationships and nursing rapport with the
patient, improves nursing understanding of patient’s conditions and inculcates patient’s
perceptions of feeling safe, secure, comfortable, dignified and respected [6].

3CHRONIC CONDITION: REFLECTION
Action Plan
Hence, if I again encounter a patient with a chronic condition, I will ensure that I engage
in conductance of extensive nursing assessment and understanding of patient needs. This will
include nursing conductance of patient centered, collaborative, multidisciplinary and evidence
based treatment practice as per practice standards of Nursing and Midwifery Board of Australia.

4CHRONIC CONDITION: REFLECTION
References
1. Kogan AC, Wilber K, Mosqueda L. Person‐centered care for older adults with chronic
conditions and functional impairment: A systematic literature review. Journal of the
American Geriatrics Society. 2016 Jan;64(1):e1-7.
2. Fransen M, McConnell S, Harmer AR, Van der Esch M, Simic M, Bennell KL. Exercise
for osteoarthritis of the knee. Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews. 2015(1).
3. Solmi M, Konayagi A, Thompson T, Fornaro M, Correll CU, Veronese N. Network
analysis of the relationship between depressive symptoms, demographics, nutrition,
quality of life and medical condition factors in the Osteoarthritis Initiative database
cohort of elderly North-American adults with or at risk for osteoarthritis. Epidemiology
and psychiatric sciences. 2019 Jan 30:1-9.
4. Xiaohong HU, Wang S, Qiaoling LI. The effect of continuous nursing based on
transtheoretical model on elderly patients with knee osteoarthritis. Chinese Journal of
Practical Nursing. 2018 Jan 1;34(28):2166-70.
5. Zeineddine HA, El-Othmani MM, Sayeed Z, Chambers MC, Saleh KJ. Patient
centeredness in total joint replacement: Beyond the slogan. Orthopedic Clinics. 2016 Oct
1;47(4):697-706.
6. Williams KN, Ilten TB, Bower H. Meeting communication needs: Topics of talk in the
nursing home. Journal of psychosocial nursing and mental health services. 2016 Mar
5;43(7):38-45.

5CHRONIC CONDITION: REFLECTION
7. Nagle C, Heartfield M, McDonald S, Morrow J, Kruger G, Bryce J, Birks M, Cramer R,
Stelfox S, Hartney N. A necessary practice parameter: Nursing and Midwifery Board of
Australia Midwife standards for practice. Women and Birth. 2017 Oct 1;30:10-1.