All registered health professionals in Australia are, under the National Law, required to undertake Continuing Professional Development (Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency, 2015). Continuing Professional Development or CPD is the way through which professionals preserve, enhance, and expand their knowledge and skills that are required of them throughout their professional career (Nursing and Midwifery Board of Australia, 2015). These learning activities would help ensure that a professional’s competence is supported and updated and would at the same time help in the progression of his or her career (Continuing Professional Development, 2012; Katsikitis, et al., 2013). CPD also involves the development of personal qualities of
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Patients with chronic illnesses have been discovered to have comorbidities such as depression and anxiety among many others (Holmes & Scullion, 2015). Yohannes and Alexopoulos supported this finding in their research as well (2014). They described patients suffering from chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) exhibited clinically significant depressive signs that affected their performance of their daily activities (Yohannes & Alexopoulus, 2014). Patients who seek treatment for physical illnesses may experience mental health problems for numerous reasons and these psychological issues can have a great effect on the morbidity and mortality of these illnesses (Lindsay, 2010). Having to stay for days in a hospital and being away from their loved ones makes them feel lonely and having to see different strange faces everyday coming in and out of their rooms makes it much worse. One particular patient in the scenarios was an elderly woman diagnosed with COPD. In the scenario, the patient frequently shows up in the emergency department exhibiting difficulty in breathing. The nurse observed the patient to be frequenting the ED. As she assessed the patient and reviewed her medical history she was able to establish that the patient was presenting symptoms of anxiety, panic attacks, rather than symptoms of COPD. Later, the nurse explained to her the difference …show more content…
It is a fact that nurses are always busy in planning and implementing care to patients that sometimes manifestations of mental health problems end up unnoticed. Patients respond to mental issues uniquely. Some may present with anger or hostility as expression of grief, and some may present signs as simple as silence and oversleeping for depression. On the other hand, eating disorders and OCD root from emotional or psychological distress (Gellatly & Molloy, 2014). Therefore, it is important for all health practitioners, most importantly nurses, to interact with patients in a client-centered manner wherein the atmosphere allows them to express emotions and problems (Dray, et. al., 2014). As nurses, we provide holistic patient care. This type of care encompasses not only the physical but emotional and psychological aspects as well. Nurses are directly involved in the care of patients as well as their families. Nurses are in the position to recognize early indicators of arising problems (Burton, 2014). We are keys in detection of early signs and symptoms of mental disorders especially in the ages and groups where it will most likely develop (Burton, 2014). As nurses, we are there not only to perform nursing procedures but also to therapeutically interact with and respond
Patients with chronic illnesses have been discovered to have comorbidities such as depression and anxiety among many others (Holmes & Scullion, 2015). Yohannes and Alexopoulos supported this finding in their research as well (2014). They described patients suffering from chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) exhibited clinically significant depressive signs that affected their performance of their daily activities (Yohannes & Alexopoulus, 2014). Patients who seek treatment for physical illnesses may experience mental health problems for numerous reasons and these psychological issues can have a great effect on the morbidity and mortality of these illnesses (Lindsay, 2010). Having to stay for days in a hospital and being away from their loved ones makes them feel lonely and having to see different strange faces everyday coming in and out of their rooms makes it much worse. One particular patient in the scenarios was an elderly woman diagnosed with COPD. In the scenario, the patient frequently shows up in the emergency department exhibiting difficulty in breathing. The nurse observed the patient to be frequenting the ED. As she assessed the patient and reviewed her medical history she was able to establish that the patient was presenting symptoms of anxiety, panic attacks, rather than symptoms of COPD. Later, the nurse explained to her the difference …show more content…
It is a fact that nurses are always busy in planning and implementing care to patients that sometimes manifestations of mental health problems end up unnoticed. Patients respond to mental issues uniquely. Some may present with anger or hostility as expression of grief, and some may present signs as simple as silence and oversleeping for depression. On the other hand, eating disorders and OCD root from emotional or psychological distress (Gellatly & Molloy, 2014). Therefore, it is important for all health practitioners, most importantly nurses, to interact with patients in a client-centered manner wherein the atmosphere allows them to express emotions and problems (Dray, et. al., 2014). As nurses, we provide holistic patient care. This type of care encompasses not only the physical but emotional and psychological aspects as well. Nurses are directly involved in the care of patients as well as their families. Nurses are in the position to recognize early indicators of arising problems (Burton, 2014). We are keys in detection of early signs and symptoms of mental disorders especially in the ages and groups where it will most likely develop (Burton, 2014). As nurses, we are there not only to perform nursing procedures but also to therapeutically interact with and respond