A Journey to Improve Health, Coursework Example

Motivational interviewing is a skill that requires an astute level of knowledge and an understanding of how this process impacts the patient population in different ways. This process requires advanced practice nurses to identify the negative behaviors that are taking place that impact health and to be cognizant of the needs of the patient population at a high level in order to be successful in encouraging behavioral modifications. Therefore, motivational interviewing is a driving force in this process and facilitates an intuitive response (Copeland, McNamara, Kelson, & Simpson, 2015). This also reflects the importance of shaping a learning environment in which patients are able to evaluate their behaviors with guidance and knowledge (Lundahl et.al, 2013). Most importantly, behavioral changes are likely to have a positive impact on their health and will enable them to be more cognizant of how their health may be a direct result of their behaviors in some ways (Droppa & Lee, 2014).

The concept of motivational interviewing also reflects a need to evaluate the conditions under which practitioners are able to work proactively with patients in an effort to produce the desired results, such as working with patients who are addicted to smoking and want to modify this behavior accordingly (Miller & Rollnick, 2012). This exercise provided a number of useful points for discussion, but it also demonstrated that the student must continue to practice the skill of motivational interviewing to be successful in this regard. This process requires greater compassion and understanding of the client’s individual circumstances, thereby necessitating the student’s knowledge and ability to develop a strategy that will have lasting benefits throughout the advanced practice nursing career. At the same time, exploring the dimensions of motivational interviewing with other subjects will enable the student to eventually master this skill so that patients are able to recognize their responsibility to patients and to approach them with a high degree of professionalism and skill.

References

Copeland, L., McNamara, R., Kelson, M., & Simpson, S. (2015). Mechanisms of change within motivational interviewing in relation to health behaviors outcomes: A systematic   review. PatientEducation and Counseling, 98(4), 401-411.

Droppa, M., & Lee, H. (2014). Motivational interviewing: A journey to improve health. Nursing2015, 44(3), 40-45.

Lundahl, B., Moleni, T., Burke, B. L., Butters, R., Tollefson, D., Butler, C., & Rollnick, S. (2013). Motivational interviewing in medical care settings: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials. Patient Education and Counseling, 93(2), 157-168.

Miller, W. R., & Rollnick, S. (2012). Motivational interviewing: Helping people change. Guilford press.