The Professional Nurse’s Role and Expected Outcomes, Essay Example

Within the paradigm of the defining thesis of this essay presented in the preceding couple of parts, this section will be narrowed to make a tentative presentation that will reflect the widening dynamics that comes along with the process of providing care for homebound patients within the framework of responding to unmet needs, which incidentally is the cardinal concern of this study.

Beyond the conventional practice of administering therapeutic services to patients, this group remains convinced that other dimensions to the therapeutic process receives little no attention. Therefore in line with Barry (1998), we are of the opinion that a realistic assessment in consonance with the diagnosis of patients ought to be conducted in a manner that will bring to the fore important details. This includes getting acquainted with relevant indicators such as the prevailing environmental state; the state of health related quality of life; knowledge of the diagnosis; family functioning and what have you. Conducting such an analysis backed by the right tools will achieve a paramount goal of getting to gauge the level of health outcomes within the family and effectively come out with relevant interventions to address needs that touch on all aspects of the patient (Barry, 1998; Emmanuel et al 1999).

Counseling provides the most effective approach to relaying detailed information about the health status of the patient, to both a patient and the family. Emmanuel et al (1999) suggests the use of motivational interviewing strategies to carry out counseling aimed at encouraging behavioral change. Gilbert et al (1992) also argues that with motivational interviewing, a nurse is better positioned to achieve greater impact in encouraging patients to abandon unhealthy behaviors in the self-management structure as opposed to the traditional practice of confrontation. It also produces maximum impact especially during brief encounters (Harris 1997).

The counseling should be carried out with an aim of reaching a point where patient and/family and the attending nurse be able to arrive at a commonly accepted platform as a means of eliciting behavioral changes that will enhance health status. Gilbert et al (1992) recommend that there should be a documented action plan that should be customized to reflect individual needs. The reason for the documentation is to facilitate regular reviews (Marrelli & Hilliard 1996).

Over and above all Robins (2008) admonish that the nurse should be well placed to offer all the assistance needed to provide needed care for the patient by incorporating self-management awareness and skills into the therapeutic process. Evidence from recent research such as Robins (2008) proves that ultimately self-management has proven effective in the facilitation of health consciousness which eventually results in significant drops in emergencies, general hospitalization and loss of productivity.

In many ways, the practical role of the nurse will be ineffective without the capacity to create a system of cooperation with the general practitioner (Montauk, 1998). The goal here is to enhance a considerable latitude that stimulates rapid referrals from both ends of the stick all within the bracket of enhancing the wellness, diagnosis and intervention as opposed to illness.

Reference

Barry C.B. (1998). Assessing the older adult in the home. Home Healthcare Nurse. 16(8):519-29.

Emanuel E.J, Fairclough D.L, Slutsman J, Alpert H, Baldwin D, Emanuel L.L. (1999). Assistance from family members, friends, paid care givers, and volunteers in the care of terminally ill patients. The New England Journal of Medicine. 341(13):956-963.

Evans R, Connis R, Haselkorn, J. Evaluating rehabilitation medicine: effects on survival, function, and home care. Home Health Care Services Quarterly. 1997;16(3):35-53.

Gilbert G.H, Branch L.G, & Orav E.J. (1992). An operational definition of homebound. Health Services Research. 26(6):787-800.

Harris M. D. (1997). The home health aide as a member of the home healthcare team. Home Healthcare Nurse. 15(11).

Marrelli T.M. & Hilliard L. S. (1996). Documentation and effective patient care planning. Home Care Providers. 1(4):198-201.

Montauk S.L. (1998). Home health care. American Family Physician. 58, 1608-14.

Weiss RL, Milone-Nuzzo P (1999). A tool to assess homebound status. Home Healthcare Nurse, 17, 486-90.

Robin Gillies, Thomas Rundall, Stephen Shortell, Mats Brommels & John Ovretveit. (2008). Quality of Care for Chronic Illnesses. International Journal of Health Care Quality Assurance, 21, 190-202.