Psychosocial Factors And Patient Education
Ann Russell Dernbach DQ1
Introduction
Sister Mary has certain health care beliefs according to her Roman Catholic faith that should be taken into considerations while she is being cared for and receiving patient education. The nurse should have a basic understanding of the Roman Catholic faith. Above all human life is scared. The belief is that God made all human beings, therefore life should be held in the highest regard. Additionally, a human being is the sum of all its entities, including the physical, mental, emotional and spiritual. The nurse should plan care and education to holistically address Sister Mary’s needs. Another fundamental belief is that suffering can convey meaning and spiritual growth. The nurse should anticipate that Sister Mary may underreport her pain or refuse pain medication (Hamel & O’ Rourke, 2002).
Taking into consideration that she is a Roman Catholic nun, what would be the ideal course of patient education as this woman progresses from department to department?
For patient teaching to be effective for Sister Mary it will be important for the nurse to view Sister Mary as an individual while also keeping in mind that she in a nun in the Roman Catholic faith. Beliefs and preferences should not be assumed but a detailed learning needs assessment must be conducted (Falvo, 2011). To establish trust the nurse should start the patient encounter in a calm, professional manner. Care should be taken not to appear condescending; the nurse should not make assumptions about education level or past experiences. Nuns have a great sense of comradery with their sisters and their Mother Superior, it would be advisable to ask if Sister Mary would like anyone present. Also, anointing of the sick or access to a chaplain should be offered. During the neural and physical examination high priority should be given to ensure patient privacy and modesty. Sister Mary should be asked if she would like female providers or if she is ok with male providers as well. This question shows empathy to the fact that Sister Mary has taken a vow of celibacy and discretion. To prepare Sister Mary for radiological exams the nurse should provide both verbal and written education, asking open-ended questions to ensure that Sister Mary understands. While Sister Mary is awaiting the results of her work-up it would be advisable to offer chaplain services. These strategies show that the nurse can effectively educate Sister Mary in an empathic, socially competently manner.
References
Falvo, D. (2010). Effective patient education (4th ed.). Jones & Bartlett Learning.
Hamel, R. P. & O’Rourke, K. (2002). The roman catholic tradition: religious beliefs and healthcare decisions. Retrieved from https://www.advocatehealth.com/assets/documents/faith/roman_catholic3.pdf
Andrea Huppert DQ1
Sister Mary is a Roman Catholic nun that presents to a Level 2 Emergency Department needing a neurological exam, physical exam, radiographs of her facial bones, and a computed tomography scan of her head. What would be the ideal course of patient education as she progresses from department to department?
First, I would have a conversation with Sister Mary regarding the reason she was brought to the Emergency Department. This will help me get an understanding of her situation and what knowledge she has. I would also discuss what her specific values and beliefs are in order to incorporate that into her care. Health for Roman Catholics includes caring for the patient's physiological, psychological, social, and spiritual dimensions (Hamel, 2002). During each process from the different departments her dignity would be maintained, and her education would be focused on values and beliefs. Teaching would occur when the atmosphere is calm collaborating with all healthcare professionals along with the patient (Falvo, 2011). Her decisions regarding her care would be respected and supported in order to ensure adherence during the entire process.
Falvo, D. R. (2011). Effective patient education: A guide to increase adherence (4th ed.). Boston, MA: Jones & Bartlett. ISBN: 97807637666252.
Hamel, R. P. (2002). The roman catholic tradition: Religious beliefs and healthcare decision. Park Ridge Center for the Study of Health, Faith, and Ethics. https://www.advocatehealth.com/assets/documents/faith/roman_catholic3.pdf
Tera Schutt DQ1
Sister Mary is a patient in Level 2 Emergency Department. She must have a neural examination, physical assessment, radiographs of her facial bones, and a computed tomography scan of the head. Taking into consideration that she is a Roman Catholic nun, what would be the ideal course of patient education as this woman progresses from department to department?
The patient education course for Sister Mary as she moves from department to department for testing should start with focus on her religious beliefs. Since we are not all Roman Catholics, or may not have any religious affiliation at all, caregivers will need to first assess their own religious values and be sensitive to how their own beliefs could influence their interaction with Sister Mary(Falvo, 2011). The caregiver should immediately consult with the hospital chaplain to assist in developing a care plan that will be sensitive to her religion, beliefs, values, and morals. The chaplain could offer support in the form of prayer to Sister Mary that would most likely bring peace to her during this scary time. Because of the need for CT head, x-rays of face, and a neuro assessment the family or a LAP should be notified immediately as well so that Sister Mary has a known support person as well as someone that is able to make decisions for her if need be based on her assessment and the results of testing. Sister Mary may ask for her priest to be present as well, which should be obliged. As Sister Mary is moved from department to department, a handoff report from care giver to next caregiver must include the fact that she is a Roman Catholic nun so that each care giver has the opportunity to be respectful and aware of her beliefs and religion and can approach her with the a consistent respect for her beliefs.
Falvo, D. (2011). Effective Patient Education. A guide to increased adherence. Retrieved from https://bibliu.com/app/#/view/books/9780763796181/epub/OPS/xhtml/frontmatter01.html#page_i
Quinetta Petite DQ2
As a healthcare professional it is possible to have reservations when working with a patient like Sister Mary because she is a devout Catholic nun that displays some limitations regarding her what procedures can be done, where, how, and the outcome. It is vital to speak to patients with specific religious beliefs such as Sister Mary with care, respect, boundaries, and open-mindedness in regard to their decision involving their personal health care outcomes. In some cases what may seem like the clear choice for a person who is not religiously devout is harder to comprehend, so it is important to always remain unbiased and patient with others. With that in mind, that level of empathy for an entirely different belief system can be overall hard to understand or hard to overcome as a healthcare worker. Explaining Sister Mary’s potential treatment plans is necessary and requires extra time, care, and effort which some employees may have some reservations about. The New York Times discusses discrepancies in mergers within Catholic hospitals and how they do not always properly explain which procedures are not performed within their facilities. Katie Hafner shares, ‘Most facilities provide little or no information upfront about procedures they won’t perform. The New York Times analyzed 652 websites of Catholic hospitals in the United States, using a list maintained by the Catholic Health Association. On nearly two-thirds of them, it took more than three clicks from the home page to determine that the hospital was Catholic.’ (Hafner, 2018). The inverse needs to be regarded when thinking of Sister Mary and working as a healthcare professional, each procedure needs to be properly explained to her so she can make the well-informed decision to continue with the process. That level of dedication can cause some reservations to some employees, although it is important to always remain dedicated.
Reference
Hafner, K. (2018). As Catholic Hospitals Expand, So Do Limits on Some Procedures. The New York Times. https://www.nytimes.com/2018/08/10/health/catholic-hospitals-procedures.html
Jackie Engelsma DQ2
What possible reservations could a health care professional have in working with Sister Mary? (Discuss the psychosocial responses the professional might have.)
Health care providers have an obligation to provider care that is consistent to every patient regardless of religious background (Swihart, Yarrarapu, Martin, 2021). However, this can be difficult for a provider when they do not share the same religious beliefs. Swihart & et al. state that “religion and spirituality are important factors in the majority of patients seeking care” (2021). This can have an impact on decisions concerning diet, modesty, gender preference of care givers, as well as prayer times that can possibly stand in the way of medical treatment. These situations can be frustrating and confusing for a health provider who does not consider or try to understand religious preferences. When healthcare providers respect a patient’s religious needs, the worries of a patient will decrease, and quality of care will increase (Swihart, Yarrarapu, Martin, 2021) .
Reference
Swihart DL, Yarrarapu SNS, Martin RL. Cultural Religious Competence In Clinical Practice. [Updated 2021 Nov 17]. In: StatPearls [Internet]. Treasure Island (FL): StatPearls Publishing; 2022 Jan-. Available from: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK493216/
Kimberly Kleyn DQ2
What possible reservations could a health care professional have in working with Sister Mary? (Discuss the psychosocial responses the professional might have.)
The challenge for health professionals is in understanding that patients often turn to their religious and spiritual beliefs when making medical decisions. Religion and spirituality can impact decisions regarding diet, medicines based on animal products, modesty, and the preferred gender of their health providers. Some religions have strict prayer times that may interfere with medical treatment.
Healthcare providers should be respectful of a patient’s religious and spiritual needs. Many patient’s anxieties are reduced when they turn to their faith during healthcare challenges. Because many patients turn to their beliefs when difficult healthcare decisions are made, it is vital for healthcare professionals to recognize and accommodate the patient's religious and spiritual needs. Health professionals should provide an opportunity for patients to discuss their religious and spiritual beliefs and tailor their evaluation and treatment to meet their specific needs.
Swihart, D. L. (2021, November 17). Cultural religious competence in clinical practice. StatPearls [Internet]. Retrieved February 14, 2022, from https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK493216/