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nursingstandard.com6 4 / 14 June 2017 / volume 31 number 42

evidence & practice / revalidation

The authors of reflective

accounts that are published in

Nursing Standard receive a £50 book token.

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REFLECTIVE ACCOUNT

Mindfulness A CPD article improved Georgina O’Reilly-Foley’s understanding of how mindfulness can be used to reduce stress and enhance compassionate care

This reflective account is based on NS877 Barratt C (2017) Exploring how mindfulness and self-compassion can enhance compassionate care. Nursing Standard. 31, 21, 55-62

These questions are the same as those on the NMC templates that UK nurses and midwives must use for revalidation

Write your own reflective account You can gain a certificate of learning by reading a Nursing Standard CPD article and writing a reflective account. Turn to page 54 for this week’s article. To write a reflective account for Nursing Standard, use the NMC reflective accounts form available here: revalidation.nmc.org.uk/ download-resources/forms-and-templates Complete the four questions about the CPD article you have just read, writing about 800 words in total. Details of how to submit your reflective account are available at: journals.rcni.com/r/reflective-account

What was the nature of the CPD activity, practice-related feedback and/or event and/or experience in your practice? The article discussed how mindfulness and self-compassion can enhance compassionate care. At a time when the NHS is under increased pressure and

media scrutiny, it was useful to read about strategies that support nurses to manage this pressure and maintain high standards of care.

What did you learn from the CPD activity, feedback and/ or event and/or experience in your practice? The article defined mindfulness as a non- judgemental awareness of the present moment. It described how mindfulness is an important aspect of self-compassion, because by becoming aware of their experience, individuals can learn to identify and address harsh or critical ‘self-talk’.

Throughout my pre- registration nurse training, my mentors encouraged me to be mindful and to analyse challenging situations before acting, so that I do not become overwhelmed. Nurses are often required to provide care for several patients with various needs at once; for instance, one patient might require their dressing

to be changed, another might need a commode, one patient has a low oxygen saturation level and another requires pain relief.

Before reading the article, I would often feel unable to cope in situations in which I felt under pressure. However, I have learned to take a step back and assess the situation, thus allowing time for me to prioritise patients based on their needs. Therefore, in the scenario described earlier, care of the patient with the low oxygen saturation level would be prioritised, followed by the patient requiring pain relief, then the patient requiring a

commode, and then the patient requiring their dressing to be changed.

How did you change or improve your practice? After reading the article, I have attempted to become less self-critical and have more self-compassion. When I feel stressed, I take a step back and try to self-talk in positive ways, as suggested in the article. Adapting this mindset has improved my ability to manage stress.

One issue I have experienced in my practice is that in the final year of my nurse training, I have had less time to spend with patients,

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PATIENT VIEW

One-to-one care from dedicated nurses helped allay my anxieties Sarah Broom explains how two nurses in different hospitals took the time and trouble to offer her personalised support

I have had excellent care from two nurses at two different hospitals in Heart of England NHS Foundation Trust in the West Midlands.

Staff nurse Katie O’Neill has looked after me on numerous occasions, and even though Ward 10 at Good Hope Hospital in Sutton Coldfield is so busy, she always makes you feel as if you’re her only patient.

I have watched her with other patients and she always takes the time to make people feel as if they are the most important thing.

She makes me feel less anxious and more at ease, which is especially important on a respiratory ward. She always does this with a smile on her face, and you usually end up with one on your face after she’s been looking after you.

Reassurance Senior sister Judith Paintain, who works in the day surgery unit at Birmingham Heartlands Hospital, also showed herself to be professional and dedicated to her patients.

She looked after me before and after a procedure. I was very anxious and scared because of bad previous experiences.

Jude spent a lot of time talking to me about the procedure beforehand to ease my fears and

arranged for me to look round the unit before I was due to go in, so it was more familiar and less daunting.

Although she was extremely busy – her door was knocked on five times during our meeting – she never made me feel rushed or less important than the other things she had to do.

On the day of the procedure she made sure she was around, came to talk to me and reassure me beforehand, and even accompanied me when I went for the procedure. I am so grateful that she took the trouble to help me through this difficult time when I am sure she had hundreds of other jobs to do.

As the senior sister, she could have let one of the other staff look after me, but she knew I was anxious – we had built up a rapport. She realised how important it was to me that I had someone there who would make me feel at ease and comfortable – and she did just that.

because my responsibilities have increased. I had felt I was losing quality time with patients; however, after reading the article, I realised the importance of being in the moment. For example, when testing a patient’s blood glucose level, I am aware it is important to talk to them and focus on the present task, rather than worrying about the next tasks that have to be completed.

I have also improved my ability to delegate tasks to other members of the multidisciplinary team, which has reduced the pressure I felt. I intend to improve my delegating and prioritising skills over time, and to teach others these skills.

How is this relevant to the Code? Select one or more themes: Prioritise people, Practise effectively, Preserve safety, Promote professionalism and trust The Code theme of practising effectively states that nurses must practise in line with the best available evidence. Evidence indicates that mindfulness can reduce staff burnout and stress, and may improve resilience.

The theme of prioritising people emphasises the importance of treating people with compassion. The article emphasised that mindfulness and self-compassion are important aspects of being able to provide sustained compassionate care.

Georgina O’Reilly-Foley is a nursing student at Southend University Hospital, Essex

Excellent nursing care eased Sarah Broom’s fears

Reproduced with permission of copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission.