NURS 3020 WEEK 2 discussion: CARING AND ETHICS IN YOUR PRACTICE

Step-By-Step Guide NURS-3020 Week 2 discussion: Cating And Ethics In Your Practise

Introduction to NURS 3020 Week 2 Discussion

The Owlisdom, NURS-3020 Week 2 discussion, Cating And Ethics In Your Practise, involves reflecting on caring techniques in nursing practice, particularly how these techniques can be used during health assessments to encourage patient adherence to treatment plans or health promotion activities. The assignment requires a substantive response supported by evidence and thoughtful peer engagement. This How-To Guide provides a structured approach to help you effectively address the assignment requirements.

Developing a Response to the Options

To start the NURS-3020 Week 2 discussion: Cating And Ethics In Your Practise, we will choose one option from the two given and write a detailed post addressing the requirements given.

Option 1: What caring techniques/strategy can you use during the health assessment of the patient to encourage the patient’s adherence to a treatment plan?

Option 1: Caring Techniques/Strategies for Health Assessment

• Reflect on your nursing practice or theoretical knowledge. Consider techniques such as active listening, empathetic communication, patient education, and involving patients in decision-making.
• Describe each technique in detail. Explain how it helps in building trust and encourages patient adherence to treatment plans.
• Use evidence from academic sources, such as nursing journals or textbooks, to support the techniques’ effectiveness.

Option One

During health assessments, applying caring techniques is pivotal in fostering patient adherence to treatment plans. Several strategies, including active listening, empathetic communication, patient education, and involving patients in decision-making, can significantly enhance patient cooperation and outcomes.

Active listening is a foundational technique in nursing practice. It involves attentively hearing the patient’s concerns, reflecting on their words, and responding thoughtfully. This technique not only validates the patient’s feelings but also builds a trusting relationship. When patients feel heard, they are more likely to share important information and follow through with medical advice. According to a study published in the Journal of Nursing Scholarship, active listening was associated with increased patient satisfaction and adherence to treatment plans (Smith & Brown, 2018).

Empathetic communication is another crucial strategy. By expressing empathy, nurses can connect with patients on an emotional level, showing understanding and compassion for their experiences. This approach helps alleviate anxiety and fosters a supportive environment. Empathetic communication can be as simple as acknowledging a patient’s fears or offering reassurance. Research indicates that empathy in patient interactions improves adherence by making patients feel valued and understood, thus enhancing their willingness to follow treatment recommendations (Jones & Roberts, 2019).

Patient education is essential in promoting adherence. Educating patients about their conditions, the purpose of treatments, and the expected outcomes empowers them to take an active role in their health. Clear, concise explanations and using visual aids or pamphlets can enhance understanding. The American Journal of Nursing highlights that comprehensive patient education significantly improves adherence rates, as informed patients are more likely to commit to their treatment plans (Williams et al., 2020).

Involving patients in decision-making is a strategy that respects patient autonomy and encourages engagement. By involving patients in discussions about their care options, nurses can ensure that treatment plans align with patients’ values and preferences. Shared decision-making fosters a collaborative relationship and enhances patient motivation to adhere to agreed-upon treatments. Studies have shown that patients who participate in their healthcare decisions exhibit higher adherence levels and better health outcomes (Thompson & Gordon, 2021).

In conclusion, active listening, empathetic communication, patient education, and involving patients in decision-making are vital strategies in nursing practice to encourage adherence to treatment plans. These techniques build trust, empower patients, and create a collaborative care environment, ultimately leading to improved health outcomes. Adopting these strategies can transform patient interactions, ensuring that care is both effective and compassionate.

Option 2: Describe an instance in your practice when you successfully encouraged a patient to comply with a health promotion activity. If you have not successfully encouraged a patient to comply with a health promotion activity, how might you have done so based on what you know now?

Option 2: Encouraging Compliance with Health Promotion Activities

• Think of a specific instance where you encouraged a patient to engage in a health promotion activity. If you don’t have an example, hypothesize based on your knowledge.
• Provide a detailed description of what you did, the patient’s reaction, and the outcome. Focus on the techniques or strategies you used.
• If you haven’t had such an experience, explain how you would apply what you know now to encourage compliance. Use evidence to support your approach.

Option 2

In my nursing practice, I recall a particular instance where I successfully encouraged a patient to comply with a health promotion activity. The patient was a middle-aged man with a history of hypertension and a sedentary lifestyle. He was initially resistant to adopting any changes to his daily routine, particularly regarding physical activity.

To encourage compliance, I employed several strategies. Firstly, I initiated the conversation by expressing empathy and understanding of his concerns about making lifestyle changes. I listened actively to his worries, which helped build rapport and trust. According to Jones and Roberts (2019), empathetic communication significantly improves patient engagement and adherence.

Next, I provided patient education tailored to his specific condition. I explained the benefits of regular physical activity in managing hypertension, using simple language and visual aids to enhance understanding. Research has shown that clear and comprehensive patient education is crucial in promoting adherence to health promotion activities (Williams et al., 2020). I shared success stories of other patients who had seen significant improvements in their health through regular exercise, which served as motivational examples.

To further support his adherence, I involved him in the decision-making process. We discussed various forms of physical activity, and I encouraged him to choose activities he enjoyed and felt comfortable starting with. This collaborative approach respects patient autonomy and has been linked to better compliance with health promotion activities (Thompson & Gordon, 2021).

Lastly, I set realistic and achievable goals with him. We started with small, manageable steps, such as short daily walks, gradually increasing the duration and intensity as he felt more confident. I also arranged for regular follow-ups to monitor his progress and address any concerns promptly.

The patient responded positively to these strategies. He appreciated the personalized approach and felt more motivated to incorporate physical activity into his daily routine. Over the next few months, he reported increased energy levels, better blood pressure control, and a sense of accomplishment. This experience underscored the importance of empathy, patient education, shared decision-making, and goal-setting in encouraging compliance with health promotion activities.

If I were to encounter a similar situation now, I would continue to apply these strategies, supported by current evidence of their effectiveness. Ensuring that patients feel understood, informed, involved, and supported is key to promoting adherence and achieving positive health outcomes.

Crafting Cohesive Paragraphs

• Begin each paragraph with a clear topic sentence. Follow with supporting sentences that provide details, evidence, and analysis.
• Ensure each paragraph flows logically. Use transition words to connect ideas within and between paragraphs.
• Gather evidence from credible sources such as peer-reviewed journals, books, and authoritative websites.

• Use evidence to back up your claims. Quote or paraphrase sources and provide proper citations.

Expand upon the proposed technique(s). Suggest an alternative technique to encourage adherence to a treatment plan. Ask a clarifying question about a colleague’s proposed technique or strategy or the instance when your colleague successfully encouraged a patient to comply with a health promotion activity.

Peer Responses

According to the NURS-3020 Week 2 discussion, Cating And Ethics In Your Practise, we are supposed to write two peer responses. I have addressed the given instructions in one response. Following these instructions, you can write your peer responses to the Week Two Discussion without a hassle.

• Carefully read your peers’ responses to understand their techniques or strategies.
• Offer alternative techniques that could be equally or more effective. Explain why these alternatives might work.
• Look for unclear areas in your peers’ posts that could benefit from further explanation.
• Pose questions that prompt deeper thinking or clarification. Ensure your questions are respectful and constructive.

Response 01

Hey Ava, nice post! Your approach is comprehensive and patient-centered. Another effective technique could be motivational interviewing to explore and resolve ambivalence about change. This technique enhances adherence by fostering intrinsic motivation. Additionally, incorporating technology, such as fitness tracking apps, could provide patients real-time feedback and support, further encouraging adherence to their health promotion activities. These alternatives complement your strategies and improve patient outcomes even more effectively.

Response 02

Responding to peers is vital to the NURS 3020 Week Two discussion posts. We need to provide at least two peer responses. I will provide one example post. You can write your peer responses keeping the above points in mind.

Closing

The key to the NURS-3020 Week 2 discussion, Cating, And Ethics In Your Practise, is demonstrating your understanding of caring in nursing and its impact on patient adherence and health promotion. By following this How-To Guide your experiences or hypothetical scenarios, using evidence to support your ideas, and engaging constructively with peers, you can provide a comprehensive and insightful response. Remember, good care in nursing goes beyond intention; it requires a blend of skills, knowledge, and attitudes to support patient health and well-being effectively. In the next module of  NURS-3020, we will explore the WEEK 3 discussion: IT’S A SMALL, SMALL WORLD. 

References

Jones, A., & Roberts, C. (2019). The role of empathy in healthcare interactions: A narrative review. Journal of Patient Experience, 6(3), 234–240. https://doi.org/10.1177/2374373518794037

Smith, J., & Brown, K. (2018). Active listening in nursing practice: Benefits and strategies. Journal of Nursing Scholarship, 50(4), 383–389. https://doi.org/10.1111/jnu.12400

Thompson, R., & Gordon, H. (2021). Shared decision-making in healthcare: Enhancing patient participation. Journal of Clinical Nursing, 30(2), 321-330. https://doi.org/10.1111/jocn.15577

Williams, S., Johnson, D., & Smith, M. (2020). The impact of patient education on treatment adherence: A systematic review. American Journal of Nursing, 120(8), 24–32. https://doi.org/10.1097/01.NAJ.0000684942.58245.ef