Illness

Essay A Paternalism is a situation which the decisions or actions of someone are made by another person, in attempts to keep their safety or best interest at hand. (Vaughn, 2013, p. 71). As a Registered Nurse I have seen instances of medical paternalism, such as a mental health patient deemed as a harm to themselves and/or to society. Patients in this situation are “pink slipped”, allowing the physicians caring for them to make all necessary medical decisions to aid in their treatment back to…

of changing one’s attitudes, values, feelings, goals, skills and/or roles. It is a way of living a satisfying, hopeful and contributing life, even with limitations caused by the illness. Recovery involves the development of new meaning and purpose in one’s life as one grows beyond the catastrophic effects of mental illness.” (Anthony, 1993). Facilitating Geoffrey’s recovery following discharge There are a number of things Geoffrey can do and work at to aid his journey of recovery when he is…

The important role of Critical Care Nurse Nurses have been playing an important role in every aspect of healthcare. One main reason is they are the ones closest to patients and every critical change would be required to report to the doctor. Beside traditional med-surg staff nurse, nurses in the other departments help to contribute to the performance of patients as well. Intensive care nurses are the people who specialized in providing the optimal care for critically ill and unstable patients…

campaigns is a huge outlay for the NHS and the government, but when considering this against the cost of medical intervention for the behaviour or caused illnesses it is usually considered cost-effective. For example, consider that smoking related illness cost the NHS more than five billion pounds every year, whereas in 2010 it is reported that the cost of anti-smoking campaigns for that year was more than 84 million pounds (Nursing Times, 2009). Using the theories of the Health Belief Model…

“Mrs. Smith, your EKG is showing me that you are having a heart attack.” As I place my hand on her shoulder, “take a deep breath, I here now. I will not allow anything bad to happen.” Unfortunately, Mrs. Smith died on the way to the hospital and despite our exhaustive efforts, she could not be revived. The realization that some patients die regardless of the care rendered is something I have come to understand. Eight years in emergency medical services have taken me through the entire spectrum…

Major depressive disorder, a mood disorder, is one of the most common form of mental illness affecting more than 300 million people globally (National Institute of Mental Health [NIMH], 2016; World Health Organisation [WHO], 2017). It is the leading cause of disability worldwide (NIMH, 2016; WHO, 2017). It has a profound impact on the individuals as well as their families (Ahlstrom, Skarsater, & Danielson, 2009b; Luciano et al., 2012). Electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) is a very safe and…

mentally and physically. “There are many challenges that come with this career, but the greatest challenge is taking care of those who do not appreciate your arduous work” (Freelon). Nurses see patients and their families at their worse. When having an illness or injury could result in stress, which may have people act out in ways they would not normally act in. “Communication challenges arise frequently, especially when interacting with patients and family members from other cultures, or with…

Losing someone unexpectedly hurts but when you have a loved one in hospice care the hurt is indescribable. Reading the article, “when a loved one is terminally ill” gives insight with dealing with death. The writer reminds us just because a person is in hospice doesn’t mean they are going to die that moment. The writer describes it as “time stopping” once the diagnosis has been given, as family members we refuse to believe that this is the end. The article helps give guidance, with the…

mental illness the coverage they deserve. An impact of this is people who do have mental illnesses or show signs can go to the doctor and are diagnosed. If they do have a medical diagnosis then they can receive the proper care they deserve such as therapies and medications needed to help control their mental…

use of other family members, but this may not always be appropriate. For example, a family member may be reluctant to tell the patient complex information about their illness. In such cases, professional experts are used for discussing the risks and benefits of treatment or giving information about the prognosis of a serious illness. If talking to a person with hearing problems, it may be useful to use quieter office or private area to avoid the background noise. Additionally, writing on paper…