Mr. Jones Healthcare Needs and Support for His Family - Research Paper Example

Mr. Jones’ Healthcare Needs and Support for His Family Mr. Jones’ sickness provides an opportunity to understand the healthcare needs of patients and the role that family support plays in the treatment process. The dependent client role is characterized by a heavy reliance on the care of healthcare professionals. However, their cultural behavior is a key determinant of whether they will be cooperative or not. For example, his dominant personality suggests that he will not cooperate with the healthcare providers. Hospitalization and the fear of losing control often serve to increase the anxiety of patients. Furthermore, they encounter internal, external and interpersonal stressors. As a result, the effectiveness of the treatment process depends on the ability of the healthcare process to deal with those stressors as well as the desire of the patient to get well. Mr. Jone’s treatment involves a plan of care that incorporates independent and collaborative treatment intervention measures and guidance and counseling while encouraging interaction with his family. Introduction Human beings suffer from poor health at some point in their life. Similarly, Mr. Jones is experiencing an illness that has made him vulnerable to anxiety due to his fear of losing control. As a result, his treatment involves a multi-pronged approach that is informed by the stage of his illness and a collaborative approach between his family members and the healthcare providers. Stage of illness Mr. Jones is in the dependent client role stage of illness. In this stage, the patient or client is dependent on healthcare professionals for medical services. The client also relies on the professionals for the relief of the symptoms or injuriesTop of Form (Lippincott & Wilkins, 2013).Bottom of Form In the dependent client role, the patient receives and accepts sympathy, care and protection from the stresses and demands of life (Gulanick, 2013). Most importantly, a patient in this stage depends on healthcare professionals while in a healthcare institution. In addition, the patient accepts to adjust to the disruptions of daily schedules. Mr. Jones is in the dependent client role because he was admitted to the hospital, and he has stayed in the hospital for 4 days. The injuries he sustained in the accident and his age make him dependent on healthcare professionals. He sustained head injuries, shoulder dislocation and a fractured right femur. He also has chronic hypertension. According to Clark, Smith and Taylor (2010) it requires close monitoring by healthcare professionals. He also recognizes that he cannot attend to his daily schedules because of his injuries and illness. Though he is the dominant figure in his family and business, Mr. Jones cannot move around or participate in decision making. Cultural behavior Based on Mr. Jones previous behavior and cultural background, I do not believe that he will be cooperative. In his family, Mr. Jones is a dominant figure. He makes all the decisions concerning the family and his business. Therefore, he might belittle any decision made without his input. Mr. Jones’ chronic hypertension has worsened as a result of his refusal to take medication for a number of days. Though he might be uncooperative, Mr. Jones may tell in case he feels pain. Mr. Jones’ uncooperativeness can be viewed in the sense that he avoids medication and he is ambivalent. Avoidance is a common sign of uncooperativeness (Gulanick, 2013). In this case, Mr. Jones has once avoided taking medication for his chronic hypertension. His ambivalent nature is seen in his cultural nature. He makes all the major decisions about his family and business. As a result, he may have unclear expectations of the healthcare services he is receiving. The internal factors that influence Mr. Jones include unpleasant drug side effects and uncomfortable environments. The external factor that influences Mr. Jones is the fact that he is restricted in the hospital. Because of the restriction, he cannot attend to his daily schedules. Anxiety One of the major impacts of Mr. Jones’ illness and injuries is that he is restricted in a healthcare institution. In addition, he cannot make decisions that will influence the actions of his business and condition of his family. This might elevate his anxiety levels because of the feeling that in his absence, his family and business may collapse (Gulanick, 2013). Mr. Jones’ anxiety levels may also be elevated by the fact that the doctors are paying close attention to his chronic hypertension (Carpenito, 2005). The constant probing and medication for the hypertension and injuries sustained in the accident may make him feel uncomfortable. According to Comer, Jaffe & Teton Data Systems (2005) in order to address the patient’s anxiety or reduce the present levels of anxiety, the nurse should provide comfort and reassurance to the patient. In addition, the nurse should ensure that the patient is pre-occupied. This means that the nurse should not leave the patient on himself for a long time (Gulanick, 2013). Most importantly, the nurse should not request for any decisions or make demands to the patientTop of Form (Lippincott & Wilkins, 2013). Bottom of FThe nurse should speak calmly and slowly to the patient, and attend to any physical symptoms of anxiety. Internal, external, and interpersonal stressors Mr. Jones faces a number of external stressors. The most influential external stressors in this case are the injuries sustained in the accident and the fact that he is not running his business. In addition, Mr. Jones has been placed in a new environment, which is restrictive. Trauma from the accident is also an important external stressor. Mr. Jones may be concerned about the nature of his relations with his family, and the state of his home given the fact that he is the decision maker (Gulanick, 2013). The internal stressors affecting Mr. Jones include his feelings of worry and fear about his business and family, his memory of the accident and his attitude towards the medication and care. His anticipation to leave the hospital and return to his daily schedule is also an internal stressor. The interpersonal stressors revolve around his management of his medical condition, family and business. As a result, he has interpersonal conflicts. He may be stressed by his inability to balance his family and business, and inability to attend to his children. Stressors Mr. Jones’ family is also faced with a number of stressors. His illness and injuries affect all members of his family. The family was reliant on him for decisions and well-being. The disruption of daily routines during the treatment process is one of the major stressors of the family. In addition, the family will need to realign duties and responsibilities since one of the members is hospitalized (Gulanick, 2013). This will cause stress because of the shift in duties, roles and responsibilities. In addition, the family may experience financial issues. The family will need to pay the medical bills of Mr. Jones while sustaining the needs of each of the members. It is vital to note that even when Mr. Jones was actively engaged in his business, the family was financially unstable. Family members may experience painful emotions because of the state of Mr. Jones. They may feel disbelief and shock because of his injuries and illnesses. Some family members may be angry, saddened, overwhelmed and resentful. The family may experience difficulties sharing their feelings and concerns. As a result, communication problems may arise and cause stress to the family. For instance, family members may be afraid to say something wrong, or introduce a topic at the wrong time. There may be difficulties among family members to plan or talk about the future in case Mr. Jones does not heal completely. Impact on Family System The seriousness of Mr. Jones’ chronic hypertension and his injuries from the accident will affect his family’s system. The family will be affected by the disease process and his healthcare experiences. Mr. Jones and his family members have diverse needs for counseling and education because they play different roles in the family. The medical state of Mr. Jones has disrupted the whole family. They relied on his decisions and engagement with his business. As a result, the other family members will be forced to alter their lifestyles in order to take on the roles of the sick member (Gulanick, 2013). This will in turn affects the member’s normal role functioning. For instance, Mrs. Jones will be required to take on the role of a decision maker within the family. She must also take on the role of running the family business. Mr. Jones’ medical condition will cause additional strain to his children’s education and the family’s economic condition. His children may be forced to interrupt their education or career development so that they can provide support to the family. Plan of care In order to assist Mr. Jones and his family with the issues of family disruptions, I will incorporate independent and collaborative elements in the care plan. I will ensure that the nursing process is interactive to the patient and his family members. I will also incorporate elements of education and counseling in order to support the family during the decision making process. Most importantly, I will incorporate independence or autonomy. This means that my plan of care will reflect the family’s freedom and autonomy to make decisions and participate in nursing care (Gulanick, 2013). According to Jansson, Pilhammer and Fosberg (2009) the patient and nurse should emerge as partners in a relationship that is based on trust. This means that the interventions will be directed towards the maximization of the family and patient’s strengths, promotion of adaptive responses to stress and maintenance of integrity (Carpenito, 2005). The plan will establish a relationship with the patient and his family members and assess the relationship between the patient and his family. The plan will also assess the communication patterns of the family and provide family support systems and resources. The support systems and resources will ensure that the family can positively cope with Mr. Jones’ illness. The plan will also incorporate collaborative therapeutic interventions. Conclusion In conclusion, an evaluation of Mr. Jones’ healthcare needs and the support he has received from his family provides valuable insights on the important factors that influence the treatment process. In addition, it demonstrates that illnesses such as severe hypertension have a significant effect on family systems. As a result, the family unit must play an important role in any intervention measure aimed at treating patients. Furthermore, the success of healthcare processes relies on the skills and talents of healthcare professionals, the support of their families and the adoption of a multi-pronged approach. References Clark, E.C., Smith, L, F, P & Taylor, R, S. (2010). Nurse led interventions to improve control of blood pressure in people with hypertension: systematic review and meta-analysis. British Medical Journal, 3925, 341.doi: 10.1136/bmj.c3995 Carpenito, L. J. (2009). Nursing care plans & documentation: Nursing diagnoses and collaborative problems. Philadelphia: Wolters Kluwer Health/Lippincott Williams & Wilkins. Comer, S., Jaffe, M. S., Teton Data Systems (Firm), & STAT!Ref (Online service). (2005). Delmar's geriatric nursing care plans. Australia: Thomson/Delmar Learning Gulanick, M. (2013). Nursing care plans: Nursing diagnosis and intervention. St. Louis: Mosby. Jansson, I., Pilhammer, E & Forsberg, A. (2009). Obtaining a Foundation for Nursing Care at the Time of Patient Admission: A Grounded Theory Study. The Open Nursing Journal, 3, 56-64  doi:  10.2174/1874434600903010056 Lippincott, W. & Wilkins. (2013). Nursing care planning made incredibly easy!. Philadelphia: Wolters Kluwer Health/Lippincott Williams & Wilkins. Read More