Development of the Professional Role - Essay Example

Development of the Professional Role Development of the Professional Role Introduction This paper is an illustration of my account during my placement, which involved negotiations with my mentor concerning the opportunity towards developing my professional role, and the reflection of the episodes involved during my practice. This analysis makes use of the Gibbs Reflective Cycle, which helps in reflecting the episode of practice that I was involved in. My episode of practice was managing adverse situations. I chose the management of adverse situations as my episode of practice because it is in this section that I spent most of my time learning and it is in this section that I developed vast experience together with other medical practitioners. Using the Gibbs reflective model, I will address issues concerning clinical decision making, management, teamwork and leadership, delegation and supervision of others, quality assurance and the continuity involved in professional development (Bishop, 2009). The themes illustrated above will be discussed according to the Gibbs Reflective Cycle. This will involve an illustration of the development that was involved during the training session to date. The Gibbs reflective cycle will help in demonstrating my fitness for the practice, and it will also help me reflect on my personal and professional development. Using the Gibbs reflective model, I will be in a position to reflect on the skill I would require ensuring I succeed in my practice. An examination of the Gibbs reflective model reveals that the model is normally a cycle that involves six steps that is normally structured to ensure learners explore their feelings concerning their action plan during a practice. The model also normally enables the learner to understand the reasons for challenging their practice and it also enables them analyze how they can improve their knowledge during the practice. The aim of this reflection will be to focus on managing adverse conditions for a patient. This reflection will evaluate adverse conditions can be managed especially for psychiatric patients whose identity will not be disclosed for the purposes of privacy. This reflection will involve my thoughts and feelings, my evaluations and the mental health care that is normally given to patients in line with the Mental Health Care Act (Brown and Libberton, 2007). Description During my placement at the mental health care unit, I was assigned a patient, and my role was to manage the adverse conditions that may affect the patient after being discharged from hospital. I was supposed to report the psychological problems that were experienced by the patient while in the ward. I was supposed to record a follow up of the vital signs exhibited by the patient, and I was also required to record my findings on a chart. My assignment involved the examination of any signs of deterioration that were exhibited by the patient. I was also required to report, and recommend the discharging of patients. This required the development of skills concerning the psychological care required in managing adverse conditions. In my report I was required to address the psychiatric syndromes exhibited by the patient, and I was also supposed to give advice on the recognition of the condition and the management of adverse conditions. The reflection was aligned with the policies that were established by the Mental Health Act 1983. The reflective framework was based on Gibbs reflective model, which entailed reflection, description of the experience, an evaluation of the factors considered during decision making, and an examination of the availability of other choices that can influence the decision making process. It also entailed a description of the lessons that I leant from my experience in the unit. During my placement I was part of the planning team that was involved with the discharge of patients (Caulfield, 2005). The tasks that were undertaken by individuals in the discharging team involved the evaluation of the changes involved when a psychiatric patient is transferred from hospital to his home. This was because safe transition was essential in managing the adverse conditions of such patients to enhance their proper recovery. Being a member of the discharge team, I was assigned the role of offering advice to the relatives of the patient on the importance of developing a rehabilitation facility at home to aid the recovery of the patient at home (Johns, 2004). A reflection of my past experience during my placement at the mental unit, reminds of a time when I was asked to recommend a strategy that would be used to aid the recovery of an adolescent boy who had a mental illness associated with drug abuse, and had just been discharged from hospital. As a member of the discharge team, my recommendations were that psychological care is established, to ensure an effective response to the treatment, and the developments that had been achieved while the patient was still in hospital. However, my opinions were overruled by the patient’s mother who claimed that psychological care could not be undertaken by a member of the family in the home because this would have meant that; more costs are incurred towards the treatment of their son. This did not yield any success despite advices from other mental health professionals from the unit (Drucker, 1995). Feelings Evaluating my feelings during my placement at the mental health unit I can confess that the experience was very unpleasant and I could not effectively discharge my duties because of the fear that I had. At some point I thought that the decision I had made regarding the recovery of the boy under psychological care in the home was unethical and unprofessional. This kept haunting me as I thought I would have consulted other psychiatrists before making the decision. To ensure the goals put in place by the mental act were achieved, I had to ensure I employ the necessary skill required to effectively and accurately address any adverse conditions that may have resulted if the boy was under psychological care at home (Morton and Palmer, 2000). My other fear was that may be the parents of the boy thought that the hospital staff did not want to take care of their son because of his condition. However, I later convinced myself that these experiences were meant to ensure a growth in my career and they would have also helped me boost my confidence towards my abilities. I also came to realize that some of these experiences I was going through were meant to enable me realize my points of weakness. My reason for recommending the recovery of the patient at home was because I thought if the patient would have stayed in the hospital, he would have been distracted by other psychiatric patients. I also thought that psychological care in the home would have helped the patient interact with other family members hence managing the adverse conditions (Parsley, 1999). This experience enhanced me with the awareness of the importance of consultation before making any decisions. However, my ability to make such decisions especially for such a patient was even questioned by my mentor, who was of a different opinion regarding the management of such an adverse condition (Fry and Johnstone, 2008). During my reflection, I later thought that may be it would have been advisable if I had sought advice from a professional or a family member of the patient before making the decision I had made. My thoughts were guided by the fact that the recovery of such a patient under a critical condition was a responsibility of the family members, the doctors, the nurse and other mental professionals. It is this experience that contributed to my realization of the importance of consultation through communication before resolving to such critical decisions (Power, 1999). An examination of the quality strategy framework reveals that communication is normally one of the essential factors that can contribute to the efficiency needed during the care of a patient. I realized that communication ensures a collaborative decision making process because by consulting with other stakeholders, I would have been in apposition of obtaining other views concerning the decision I made (Griffith and Tengnah, 2010). Evaluation An examination of the mental health care guidance regarding the care of psychiatric patients reveals that hospitals should normally develop ways of managing adverse conditions for patients. It is normally recommended that in addressing the adverse conditions, the psychiatric and psychological problems should normally be addressed (Quinn, 2000). The recommended hospital practices normally include; an evaluation of the physical and psychiatric morbidity of the patient. In managing adverse conditions of such patients, it is normally essential that the medically unexplained symptoms exhibited by the patient are evaluated and consultations should be made. The possibilities of the patient involving in self-harm should also be evaluated and the possibility of such a patient engaging in drug or alcohol abuse should also be evaluated. It is also normally essential that behavioral problems such as the lack of adherence to treatment are addressed (Sale, 2005). An examination of the psychological care that should be given to such patients, reveals that during such adverse conditions most psychiatric patients are normally exposed to a variety of problems that normally require proper skills, in order to, manage the conditions. An evaluation of the different reports written regarding managing adverse condition for such patients reveals that; coordination is normally essential for proper health care to be given to such patients. An evaluation of the mental health care act reveals that one of the fundamental principles of this act is ensuring that the patient’s safety is guaranteed. It is evident that the act was put in place to ensure reduction in the adverse effects such patients are normally exposed to when they are in hospital or at home (Taylor, 2006). An examination of the strategies put in place by the National Health Service reveals that emphasis is normally on the type of leadership available in the hospital. The areas addressed under leadership include; the critical care of such patients, medical management, the general ward and psychological care in the home. These normally help address issues associated with the management of adverse conditions exhibited by patients (Handy, 1993). My decisions to give the recommendations were based on the strategies stated in the mental healthcare act. In the act, it was stated that in managing adverse conditions for psychiatric patients, it is normally essential that an association that is preferred by the patient is created. This should not only be preferable to the patient, but it should also favour the family members, and every other individual involved in the psychological care of the patient. An evaluation of my opinion regarding the recovery of the boy under psychological care at home, I felt that this would ensure the quick recovery of the boy. I thought that this would have helped the boy establish strong relationships with his family members, and it would have also helped the boy recover from the adverse condition such as mental illness. Being under the care of the family members would have helped his family member monitor the recovery of the boy. My reasons for recommending the recovery of the boy at home instead of the hospital were accompanied by thoughts that; if the boy would have been left in hospital after showing some improvement he might have been affected by the poor conditions. I thought that the conditions at home would have been favourable because of the high degree of cleanliness that was offered at home. I also thought that psychological care at home was suitable for managing the adverse conditions because while at home, the family members would have helped the boy recover from the difficulties, and challenges he would have experienced during recovery. This is because while at home, the family members could have monitored the progress of the boy, and they would have in turn helped in managing the adverse conditions that may have resulted from the disease by alerting professionals (Hood and Leddy, 2006). Concerning the issue about the involvement of the planning team, I thought that there were options that I would have considered. For instance, I thought that the consultation of other stakeholders would have helped me in making decisions regarding the management of the adverse conditions that affected the boy after drug abuse. In the course of involving other stakeholders in that decision making process, I would have sought the advice of the family members. In this instance, I would have known his parents opinion regarding the psychological care of the boy in the home. May be it is through consultation that I would have explained to his parents why I resolved to psychological care of the boy in the home. I also think that the involvement of other stakeholders such as a psychiatric doctor would have helped in terms of the professional advice they would have offered. I have always thought that if I would have involved the various stakeholders in the decision making process then the conflict that arose between the family members, and the hospitals discharge team would not have arisen. I have always thought that this approach would have helped in the management of adverse conditions that affect patients after an illness. I also thought that employing the approach of involving the stakeholders would have helped me address issues such as the special needs that such a patient should be accorded before being discharged from hospital. In this regard, I have always thought that the involvement of other stakeholders through communication is the best way through which adverse conditions affecting a patient after an ailment can be addressed. If these steps are considered, then it is evident that such adverse conditions are likely to be managed from the good relationships that will be developed between the patient and those in his surroundings. If such relationships are established between the patient and his family members, then the adverse conditions that may result are likely to be addressed ensuring compassion for the patient by his family members (Jasper, 2006). Analysis A reflective view of my experience with the patient in the mental unit changed my views concerning the importance of teamwork and the importance of establishing proper communication skills. It is this experience that made realise that when making such critical decisions about a patient, it is not just my opinions that count, but other people’s opinions can help me make better decisions. I realised that in the medical field success is not normally based on individuality, but success can be realised when individuals work as a team. I also realised that some of the tasks that I was assigned such as reporting the patient’s progress and recording the results on a chart would have helped me in planning my work as a nurse. Research reveals that the development of a nursing care plan is normally an essential step in treating a patient, and managing the adverse conditions that may arise during the recovery of the patient. It is evident that most health bodies normally advocate for the creation of such plans by nurses since they normally help in monitoring the diagnosis, the treatment and the recovery of a patients. It is evident that the establishment of acts such as the mental act was, in order to, monitor the recovery of patients as a way of managing adverse conditions that may arise. In an attempt to ensure the proper management of mentally ill patients, the government has normally put in place tools to enhance the safety of such patients. It is evident that one of the reason as to why the mental health act was established was to ensure the management of adverse conditions that may affect such patients. It is evident that for such strategies to be effective, the necessary skill should be employed by all practitioners involved in the care of such patients. The mental act normally requires that those taking care of mentally ill patients provide high quality care for such conditions. It is also normally emphasised that learners willing to take such careers are properly trained regarding issues such as consultation. It is emphasised that students training to be nurses or future medical practitioners should be trained on the importance of critical enquiry. These findings illustrate that communication is normally essential for every individual in the nursing field. It is evident that even when individuals work as a team, but they do not communicate effectively with each other then they are likely not to succeed. Communication is essential in providing proper nursing care because even when nurses exchange shifts, they normally have to communicate with each other, in order to, evaluate the progress of a patient. This made me realise my role as a student during my placement at the mental unit. I realised that I was supposed to listen keenly, observe and in case I did not understand anything, I was supposed to communicate with the professionals in the unit. I also realised that the other goal for the establishment of the mental act was to ensure the safety of the patients. In doing this, it was required that hospitals develop stalemates that guide the decisions made by learners regarding patients (Marquis and Huston, 2009). It is evident that in managing adverse conditions associated with mental illness proper guidance and the continuity concerning the care of such patients should normally be assured. This is the reason as to why I also made my decision regarding the psychological care of the patient at home. During my interaction with my mentor I was advised on the importance of consultation before making any critical decisions regarding a patient. An examination of the strategies put in place by other health bodies, reveal that managing adverse conditions is normally necessary in treating patients who suffer severe health conditions that may result to deterioration. This illustrates the emphasis that is normally placed regarding communication during the delivery of healthcare. This made me realise that if I had talked to my mentor before making such a critical decision I would have solved many problems. I also realised that such a critical decision involving the movement of a patient from the hospital to the home, was not just a decision to be made by me, but there were other parties that needed to be aware. I realised that apart from the planning team, there was the multidisciplinary team that was involved and needed to be consulted. My experience made me realise the importance of involving such parties since they would have helped in the planning of the patients transfer. They would have helped me in monitoring the patient’s progress in the home. They would have also helped in the evaluation and the implementation of a proper health care plan that was essential in managing any adverse conditions that may have affected the patient. The lessons I learnt from my experience is that all medical practitioners are normally endowed with the responsibility of taking care of life (McSherry and Pearce, 2007). Conclusion In conclusion, it is essential that all medical practitioners develop proper communication skills to ensure that issues such as the management of adverse conditions are successful. It is evident that the practices the individuals in the medical field engage in should be practices that can ensure that patients are well taken care of. It is evident that in managing the adverse conditions associated with an illness, the limitations that may be imposed by the illness should also be addressed. In addressing this issue, it is normally essential that the patients coping mechanism is evaluated. It is evident that some of the issues that may affect a patient after an ailment include; anxiety disorders, depression, delirium, and substance misuse. These issues should normally be addressed alongside the adverse conditions that may affect a patient after an ailment. This is because it is these issues that can normally result to self-harm for a patient. In managing the adverse conditions associated with an ailment, it is essential that all medical practitioners attending to such a patient develop proper communication skills for the evaluation of the patient’s wellbeing (Rolfe, Freshwater, and Jasper, 2001). Action Plan It is evident that in the management of adverse conditions that may affect a patient after an ailment, it is essential that the safety of the patient is addressed and communication should also be ensured to help in monitoring the progress of the patient. An examination of my situation shows me the importance of communicating with the different stakeholders who surround a patient. The experience I obtained from my placement at the mental unit will help me plan, and apply the essential skills required in managing adverse conditions, my experience has helped realise the importance of talking to a patient’s family members, in order to, obtain their views concerning the wellbeing of the patient. My reflection regarding my experience during the placement has helped me realise some of the mistakes made during such experiences are normally to ensure an individual learns from the experience. It is my experience that has made me realise the importance of communicating with other stakeholders whenever am in the field. My experience has taught me on the importance of seeking other people’s opinion before I make any decisions. My experience during my placement at the mental unit has helped me gain the necessary knowledge regarding the management of adverse conditions that may affect a patient after an ailment. I believe that these experiences built me in a positive way and the next time I go to the field I will be in a position to use my skills properly (Standing, 2010). References Bishop, V., 2009. Leadership for Nursing and Allied Health Care Professions. Berkshire: Open University Press. Brown, J., and Libberton, P., 2007. Principles of Professional Studies in Nursing. 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