Reflection on Therapeutic Interaction - Essay Example

? Reflection on Therapeutic Interaction Reflection on therapeutic interaction Nursing care is an extremely importantpart of patient recovery. Nurses mandate the responsibility of mitigating patient trauma and acceptance to current medical situations (Chris 2009). Nursing effort that will lead to positive outcomes from the patient implies successful nursing practices. This determines the rate of healing of the patient and development of personal confidence and thus gaining absolute healing. Without appropriate nursing care, patient recovery might take long and consequently increase trauma levels of the patient. On this perspective, it is thus imperative for nurses to deliver the right practices to enable achievement of appropriate results. These positive outcomes benefit both the nurse and the patient (Kaptchuk 2008). Nursing therapeutic practice is a highly engaging exercise that demands exclusive attention from the nurse (Donaldson 2010). Nursing is also an emotional exercise that involves exchange of emotions and feeling to be able to draw sympathy and empathy since it is a comforting exercise. After the exercise, it is imperative that nurses develop a sense of reflection to enable theme develop improvements in consequent practices. In this regard, while reflecting on a recent therapeutic care I had on a sixty five year old patient, Marylyn Morrison, who had just undergone replacement surgery of the hipbone, I developed a reflective exercise made an evaluation of the steps involved in the care practice and their implications in nursing as a practice. The reflection would then enable future achievement of better outcomes (Smith 2011). Unconditional acceptance As a professional nurse, one is bound to give complete acceptance, not based on any condition such as race, sex or ideology, granted to the patient. In this reflection, it came to my realization that when such acceptance is given to the patient, the same is reciprocated from the patient and thus confidence develops in the patient (Lombard 2011). Such confidence leads to development of mutual trust and thus fosters a faster healing process. In this reflection, Marylyn was hesitant to open up at first but upon realization that the therapeutic care was unconditional, she developed faith and within the duration patient-oriented care was administered to this patient, effective psychological and physical healing processes were achieved at a fast pace; beyond expectations (Thompson 2010.). The learning experience attained from the therapeutic care delivered brought a wider scope of understanding of acceptance that needs to be given to a patient despite some conditions that might be considered slightly out of the ordinary. In her special case, the patient had very complicated social sense of acceptance and was resistant to nursing acceptance. However, relentless unconditional acceptance changed the situation at some point during the delivery exercise. Mitchell and Cormack (2008) argue that acceptance is not easily achieved even if given free of charge. Individual differences account for different reactions to situations. Introverts feel better off staying alone under normal conditions. Due to their solitude nature, they find it hard to accept new social circles in their lives. ON the same note, they also find it hard to open up during therapeutic delivery exercise (Maciocia 2010). While the patient continually showed signs of rejection towards the therapist during the early stages of care, persistent and convincing acceptance given to the patient helped change the situation. After three weeks of the nursing care exercise, the patient learned how to give appropriate response to the unconditional acceptance give during the care. She learned to voluntarily accept in return and thus eased the process of the care exercise. This was a great lesson since acceptance cannot be compelled on an individual. Therefore, unconditional acceptance may take time to be effective but with patience in situations such as the case above, delivering of through giving tireless unconditional acceptance achieves client-oriented nursing care. This type of care takes care of the needs of the patient (Martin 2009). Empathy Secondly, the therapeutic case above brought in another big realization. Empathy plays a major role in a therapeutic process (Millenson 2009). In order for the patient to gain both psychological and physical health, it is imperative that therapists put themselves in their situation, which will result in high levels of comfort from the patient, necessary for recovery. From the case above, realization of the power of empathy is intense. Once the client feels that there is sharing between the two, a bondage of closeness occurs which makes the patient feel attended to at all times. Marylyn was able to respond positively, which helped deliver appropriate therapy. It was also noted that empathy does not only bring a closer relationship between the two but also makes the patient feel more obliged to the caregiver and thus leads to creating trust (Guile 2011). Listening and maintaining silence After learning that listening is a great aspect for effective communication, a therapist is bound to apply the same in a therapeutic process (Williams & Davis 2005). While Marylyn expressed many issues in her life before the surgery, she intended that one would listen and understand her experiences and thus be able to understand her actions and ways of judgment without judging her. Appropriate responses helped her to open up more and speak of her past, something that brought feelings of ease within her, helping her to recover emotionally, hence psychological recovery. While giving care to patients and using the patient-oriented approach, it of high value that a therapist maintains silence and avoid interruptions in between the conversations. The listening makes the patient understand the caregiver values the patient, thus develop respect, and hence trust with the former. In her case, the moments of silence heightened her motivation to speak and give relevant information that greatly helped in achieving fruitful therapy. Without listening and maintaining silence, communication barriers are likely to occur and thus fail the care giving exercise (McCoy 2010). Checking behavioral techniques It was also important that behavioral techniques were under high standards of nursing profession. Social interactions have indefinite endings. With a well understanding of situations that create social interactions, it is good to understand such endings (Burnard 2005). Thus, a caregiver understands that social interactions should only lead towards desired endings. Physical behaviors should only suggest nothing beside professional duties. Since client-therapist relationship sometimes become personal, it is imperative to avoid some of these. In the above case, Marylyn made several personal requests but careful handling of such wishes was importance in avoidance of mix-ups of professional and personal relations. This helped in understanding how to handle professional issues away from personal ones. Maintaining professionalism While discharging therapy to a patient using the patient-centered approach; resultant social issues may threaten professional practice of involved practitioners. In order to be aware of resultant consequence, a high level of professionalism must be observed. Since client confidence dictates future cooperation and thus the image of the caregiver, appropriate handling of situation is relevant in regarding the nursing profession. In the above case, the patient requested some events that led to direct family involvement. The results helped in understanding how to approach family affairs of the patient and thereafter maintain high observation of professionalism (Burnard 2010). Conclusion From the discussion above it is evident that different dimensions of consideration in handling the Marylyn case in care giving brought many learning experiences for a therapists. These experiences were important in delivery of accurate and effective patient-oriented therapy. Unconditional acceptance of the patient is important in bringing a warmly feeling to the patient and prepares the patient for care receiving (Owen 2004). Empathy is also important since it opens the patient up and creates a sharing environment. As a practitioner, I understood that it is invaluable to listen to patients since listening makes the patient feel cared for and loved. This in turn helps in communication in the therapy process and thus leading to better patient-centered care giving. Checking behavioral techniques, helps define and observe limits for the involved parties. In her case, personal limits lead to a greater understanding on how to uphold professionalism (Daniel 2011). References Burnard P. 2005. Counselling Skills For Health Professionals. (2nd ed). London: Chapman and Hall. Burnard P. 2010. Effective Communication Skills for Health Professionals. London: Chapman and Hall. Chris, M.N. 2009. The Importance of therapy in healing. Houston, Texas: Wiley & Sons. Daniel, P. H. 2011. Making Therapeutic reflections. Chicago, Chicago: McMillan. Donaldson, E. F. 2010. Medicinal therapy. Seattle: Eastland Press. Guile, T. J. 2011. Therapy procedures for diverse patients. London, UK: McMillan. Kaptchuk T. 2008. The web that has no weaver: Understanding Chinese Medicine. Lincolnwood,Chicago: Contemporary. Lombard, L. G. 2011. Manual for Caregivers. New York, NY: Sage Publishers. Maciocia G 2010. The Foundations of Chinese Medicine. Edinburgh: Churchill Livingstone. Martin, C.M. 2009. Understanding patients during care giving. Harvard; USA: Harvard University Press. McCoy, R. 2010. How to effectively discharge therapy to patients. New York, NY: Cengage Learning. Millenson J.R. 2009. Mind Matters: Psychological Medicine In Holistic Practice. Seattle: Eastland Press. Mitchell A & Cormack M. 2008. The Therapeutic Relationship in Complementary Health Care. London: Churchill Livingstone. Owen, A.2004. The Therapeutic Relationship. Holistic, China: Beijing. Smith, J. K. 2011. Administering patient care. New York, NY: Wiley & Sons. Thompson, R. J. 2010. How to effective discharge therapy. Chicago, Chicago: Nance Publications. Williams, C. & L.Davis, C.M. 2005. Therapeutic interaction in nursing. Paris, Fr: Priete Publishers. Read More