Experiencing Hospitalization Flashcards
●What is the importance of learning about the hospital environment?
can affect pt health. foreign environment
Patients are “removed” from their own world and daily life/habits and are forced to “fit” within the culture of a hospital.
What is the importance of learning about patients’ experiences in the hospital?
their experience is connected to their health and can affect it.
positive experiences are related to the relationship pt has with staff and communication
What situations arise if one must share a room with another individual?
How might one feel to share a room? Or be in an isolated room all alone?
sometimes pt have to share rooms with a stranger.
sometimes being in a private room can be isolating and scary for certain patients if they are forced to be in isolation for medical reasons. the patient cannot socialize when they are in this scenario.
ID bracelts/hospital attire and its effects on patient?
it is dehumanizing for the pt to wear the bracelet, they are seen as just a number.
ID band is used for pt safety in order to give the right treatment to the right person
hospital gown is not private (open back). it does not belong to patient, it is provided by the hospital.
Effects of medical equipment in room?
this affects pt body image, emotional state. the foreign equipment is scary for them.
it can be uncomfortable and limit the patient’s freedom
scary environment, that might make pt uncomfortable
ways in which nurse connected with patient?
nurse shared a bit of their life with patient.
nurse made patient feel like they were their only patient.
staff was cheerful, used humour, kind, compassionate.
tailoring needs to a specific patient (customize care).
feelings that pt described: felt safe.. (initial feelings; fear, frustration)
Feelings a patient may experience about hospitalization/illness
Anxiety Helplessness Shock Denial Anger Withdrawal Powerlessness
Hospitalization /Illness can be associated with?
Pain
Disability
Death
Worry about family, children, friends, job, house, finances and education
Loss of autonomy
Loss of sense of self, control, security, & identity
Role adjustment & role reversals
The 4 main threats of hospitalization
Powerlessness
Dependency
Depersonalization
Loneliness
Nurses can increase patient power/control by?
Provide explanations (eg. regarding procedures, how incisions are healing)
Allow patient to express feelings
Encourage patient to participate in own care (eg. hygiene)
Do not use medical jargon to provide explanations
Clarify patients’ understanding/perceptions of the situation
Give time for patient to absorb new information
What is Depersonalization?
When a person is seen more as an illness than as a total or whole human being
EX: not closing curtain
Nurses can decrease depersonalization by?
See the world through the patient’s “eyes”
Introduce yourself
Always use patient’s preferred name
Do not talk “down” to patients
Promote personal pictures & belongings
Consider patient’s developmental stage-aspects of patient’s life affected by hospitalization
Impact of illness on family?
Anxiety Shock Denial Anger Withdrawal
FACTORS AFFECTING THE EXPERIENCE OF HOSPITALIZATION/health?
gender, age, culture, socioeconimic state, environment, biological factors, developmental state
In Shattell’s article (2005), there are 3 prominent themes patients experience in the acute care (hospital) environment:?
1) Disconnection versus Connection
2) Fear versus Less Fear
3) Confinement versus Freedom
Disconnection vs. Connection?
+ human interactions ↑ security & power in an environment described as sterile, disorienting & untrustworthy
Friendly & encouraging nurses ↑ comfort & feelings of being cared for
Many + connections were made by non-verbal actions
make or break a patient’s stay
A nurse who is… WILL PROMOTE A POSITIVE NURSE-PATIENT RELATIONSHIP
Caring Friendly Attentive Efficient Organized Use positive non-verbal responses When the nurse sees the patient not for just an intervention but to see if the patient needed anything or to spend non-intervention time with them
Patient feels disconnected when nurse is:
Not friendly Not gentle Not attentive Don’t care Don’t want to help Ignored needs Acted angry Acted frustrated
Fear vs. Less Fear
patient fear in hospital is due to?
Vulnerability
Health/Illness disability
Powerlessness
Patients describe fear as “being alone, at risk, insecure & out of control”
Attentiveness of family, nurses & doctors ↑ feelings of safety & security
Nurse who “check in” with their patients ↓ fear
Nurse advocacy(spokesperson for patient) also ↓ fear
Confinement vs. Freedom
Aspects of the Hospital Environment Which Provide a Sense of Freedom are:
Nurses being “right there for the patient”
Wide open spaces
Nurses “checking in”
Positive relationships with staff
Windows to provide a temporary escape from the sights and sounds of the hospital
Keeping patient doors open
Implications for Nursing Practice
how a nurse behaves directly relates to the patient hospital experience
positive experience with staff = positive hospital experience
patient’s want brief and frequent contact
should encourage family members to visit
