Patient empowerment
Patient involvement is considered as an epic drug in patient management. Chen et al.,
(2015) cites that patient engagement has the potential to achieving the triple aim, which aims at
enhancing health outcomes, improved patient care, and lowered medical costs. Patient
engagement is a primary concern for policy makers with the aim of enhancing care delivery
system, efficiency, and quality. The Affordable care Act contains some provisions that
encourage healthcare providers to actively involve their patients in their care, as well as
empowering them to maintain health and actively manage chronic illnesses. Often, this is
achieved by establishing the best practices by shared decision making (Chen et al., 2015).
Unfortunately, many healthcare workers do not adequately involve their patients in their
management, which violates patients’ rights to self-determination.
Patient-centered care appreciates patients as knowledgeable individuals who need helpers
in attaining good health. (RR) also argues that the patient is an expert of their own health, thus,
nurses need to listen to their patients, regard the patient as the in charge of their wellbeing, and
design culturally-sensitive interventions. By doing this, the nurse promotes patient-centered
approach to care, which enhances self-management. Besides, the patient becomes confident and
can always raise concerns if they feel uncomfortable about some interventions or refuse some
interventions. The nurse, then, has the duty of explaining the significance of interventions and
encourages patients to accept such interventions. However, the nurse should respect patient’s
decision. Another strategy to empower patients is by embracing technology. Mobile health
applications designed to help patients manage their conditions have grown in popularity. (RR)
argues that nurses can utilize these applications enable patients access their laboratory findings,
disease specific information, and individualized health records.
Nurses need to be self-aware when providing patient care. The National Database of
Nursing Quality Indicators provides reports on structure, processes, and outcome indicators that
reflect nursing care in hospital units. The NDNQ databases provides nurses with the opportunity
of developing and implementing action plans and are accountable for instituting specific nursing
interventions (RR). This ensures that nurses identify their strengths and weaknesses, thus, better
patient outcomes.
Our organization strives towards decreasing incidences of falls among elderly patients.
The quality management department educates nurses on evidence-based interventions, including
limiting the use of physical restraints on aged patients, limiting the use of sedative hypnotics as a
first choice of insomnia and delirium medications, and educating patients to always alert the
nurse before getting out of bed or chair.
Empowering nurses ensures job satisfaction and enhanced patient outcomes. Besides, it
translates to empowered patients who are confident about the healthcare system. In my practice
in a Renal unit, a patient who had been diagnosed with hypertension and diabetes a decade
before came in for
References
Chen, J., Mullins, C. D., Novak, P., & Thomas, S. B. (2016). Personalized strategies to activate
and empower patients in health care and reduce health disparities. Health Education &
Behavior, 43(1), 25-34. https://doi.org/10.1177/1090198115579415
Cowan, J. (2014). Five strategies for empowering your patients. Physician Practice.
Montalvo, I. (2007). The national database of nursing quality indicatorsTM (NDNQI®). OJIN:
The Online Journal of Issues in Nursing, 12(3), 112-214. DOI: 10.3912/OJIN.Vol12No03Man02