Aspects of Pain Practice in Your Clinical Area - Essay Example

Aspects of Pain Practice in your Clinical Area Student’s Name: Institution: Date: Aspects of Pain Practice in your Clinical Area Pain may refer to physical suffering caused by illness. Pain is the major alert or a warning that communicates of a certain aspect of injury or a disease in the body. It is important to note that pain can appear suddenly when the patient least expect (Gupta,Kaur, Sharma, Goyal, Arora, & Murthy, 2010). It can also develop gradually until it becomes severe after long period. The one that appears suddenly is referred as ‘acute’ and it is usually severe from the start. However, this kind of a pain does not last for more than six months. Besides acute pain, the patient may also experience chronic pain which develops gradually and becomes more severe as it prolongs. This lasts for more than six months and one may have it for even years (Hanno, Burks, Clemens,Dmochowski, Erickson, FitzGerald, & Faraday, 2011). Whichever the type of pain the patient suffers; patient-centred care is the most suitable approach a nurse can apply in managing the pain. This is where the care giver involves the patient in pain management process (Stewart, 2001). In this process, the nurse gets the real experience of the patient and in turn, he communicates the progress to him or her. This may take the form of discussion on various issues such as available options of treatment, consequence of each option as well as its psychological effects. As a result, the patient is aware of everything that goes on in pain management process (Kitson, Marshall, Bassett, &Zeitz, 2013). In addition, he or she may use the information to choose the kind of treatment he wants. In this way, the patient becomes integral part of the treatment. In this case, the care giver acts in the best interest of the patient. By using the patient-centred approach in pain management and treatment, the individual patient becomes the judge and the nurse cannot do anything without communicating with him. The nurse only gives proper information to the patient and the two discuss the way forward. This mutual relationship between the nurse and the patient is the most suitable approach in pain management (Aarts,Huppelschoten,Empe, Boivin, Verhaak,Kremer, &Nelen, 2012). It proves to facilitate faster recovery than other approaches that patients do not participate. This approach enables the nurse to know the belief and expectation of the patient concerning the pain and the treatment. The patient is also able to express his feelings freely to the care giver. Consequently, the nurse is therefore in position to know the approach to use when counselling the patient. For the patient-centred care to work appropriately, nurse should apply various principles. These principles are the core elements in delivering most desirable results in pain management. They include two-way communication between the nursing care giver and the patient, collaboration with other care givers and a focus beyond particular patient’s health condition (Abdelhadi,&Drach, 2012). It is important for the nurse to apply all these tenets along with professional ethics. According to research, when the nurse applies the principles when delivering nursing care to the patient, healing takes place quicker due to positive psychological effect on patient. At the same time, the patient-centred care reduces chances of pain reoccurrence (Marshall, Kitson, &Zeitz, 2012). Communication involves dissemination of the right information and receiving the relevant response. This implies that the nursing care provider talks to the patient and in turn the patient responds. This is an essential aspect during diagnosis and also in the process of administering treatment (Epstein, & Street, 2011). Unless there is effective communication between the nurse and the patient, there can never be accurate diagnosis. Note that diagnosis is the basis for treatment and when it is not accurate, treatment definitely becomes wrong. In respect of this, proper communication is vital especially in patient-centred care approach. It allows the care provider to know the precise condition of the patient (Katz, Gerson, & Vela, 2013). On the other hand, the patient gets the right information concerning his health condition. This is the foundation of successful treatment and getting the preventive measure becomes possible. In most cases, pain management requires more than one care provider. The process has different stages and each call for special handling. This implies that the nurse involves his colleagues in carrying out the treatment (Reeves, Soeren, MacMillan, &Zwarenstein, 2013). In patient-centred approach, the care giver informs the patient in case of involvement of another nurse. The nurse and the patient discuss openly the role of the other nurse and how that stage is helping the situation. This allows the patient to prepare psychologically of the change about to happen. Partnership with other care providers also helps in making the situation easier (Reeves, Lewin, Espin, &Zwarenstein, 2011). Any complication that may arise is handled by more than one care provider. This aspect of teamwork allows care providers to realise the case that need special handling by relevant expert. To realise the benefits of patient-centred care approach, the nurse should not only focus on specific condition. He should go beyond particular condition and provide extra care to the patient. This may include preventive measures and how to curb the pain at home (Pelzang, 2010). At this stage, there is a cordial relationship between the care provider and the patient. They freely discuss possible ways of promoting good health. They may also discuss unhealthy lifestyle that causes reoccurrence of pain. In this case, the care provider becomes proactive in dealing with causes of pains (Gavin, & Brady, 2013). Such talk creates amicable environment for treatment and platform for counselling after treatment. To effectively deliver proper patient-centred health care, the nurse provides thorough details of the ailment to the patient. This may be done through different ways depending on the extent of ailment and mental condition of the individual patient. When the pain is severe, the nurse may opt to delay the information until such a time when the patient is comfortable. Basically, the patient tends to concentrate on the pain rather than what the care provider tells him. In this case, the communication might not be complete thus unnecessary to both the patient and the nursing care provider. In this regard, the nurse waits for the time when the pain becomes mild and at this point, he provides thorough explanation on the extent of the disease to the patient. Mental condition is a vital aspect in any communication. Whenever the nurse want to communicate to patient about the ailment, it is always important that he first establish whether the patient is in the right mental position. In case of issue other than pain, the nurse may first prepare the patient before giving the information(Jinks, Cotton, Murphy, &Kirton, 2013). Casual talk may serve as a good platform for conversation. This is just to ensure that the pain management and treatment process achieves the benefits of patient-centred care approach. The nursing care provider ensures that the patient understands whatever he informs him. This is essential aspect in communication since it helps the patient to air his views on the basis of the information he has from the nurse. Another aspect of pain management in patient-centred care is exploration of patient’s feelings concerning the ailment and the treatment option. This is where the nurse interviews the patient thoroughly and allows him to express himself freely(Jinks, Cotton, Murphy, &Kirton, 2013). The nurse gets to know the patient’s belief and what he expects from the treatment. This enables the care provider to know the position of the patient and the direction to take in counselling him. Sometimes patients may express despair which is a dangerous aspect in treatment. Note that treatment outcome depends significantly on patient’s belief. In case there is element of despair, nursing care provider counsels the patient to ensure he has hope and positive mentality towards the pain management and treatment process (Hudon, Fortin, Haggerty, Lambert, &Poitras, 2011). When the nurse explores the patient’s feelings, he is able to identify other needs of the patient. Besides nursing care, the patient may have other issues that might affect the treatment and healing process (Grenness, Hickson, Lévesque, & Davidson, 2013). Most of them may have psychological problems that call for immediate attention. These are aspects that increase intensity of pain in patients and the suitable treatment is counselling. The patient may be experiencing rejection from family members and such issue becomes the source of pain. The nurse may recommend the attention of family members which speeds up the healing process. Unless the care provider does this, there is high possibility of re-occurrence of disease and the pain may last longer. This is one of the reasons why acute pain turns into chronic pain. It happens due to other underlying issues that relate to the initial ailment and the nursing care provider fails to address them (Rademakers, Delnoij, Nijman, & Boer, 2012). Patient-centred care prevents such cases by ensuring that the patient receives complete treatment both physically and psychologically. Why is patient-centred care a vital element in pain management and treatment? This approach is suitable in addressing the core source of pain. It also takes a proactive measure in addressing the health problem (Jinks, Cotton, Murphy, &Kirton, 2013). It identifies common cognitions that influence the process of pain management. These include social and physical environment of the specific patient, accessibility of support locally as well as clinical guidelines. Before conducting any treatment, this approach recommends the nursing care provider to establish all these aspects. This enables him to address one challenge at a go in the course of pain management process depending with his priorities. Consequently, this approach becomes a permanent health solution to the patient. Social environment is among the pertinent elements that influence pain management process. This is where the patient receives diverse information concerning his health condition from those around him. In addition, he may be from the people who have certain attitude towards clinical treatment(Holt, & DO, 2013). All these affect him psychologically and it becomes a determinant aspect in the process of healing. When the patient has people with positive thoughts, it is possible that they transmit the same to him. The patient becomes confident that the situation will be better. On the other hand, when the patient receives negative information concerning the disease, he may become desperate. In respect of this, the people whom the patient interact with on daily basis determines his psychological attitude. Physical environment refers to the actual place or the location of the patient. It may also refer to the surrounding condition that has direct influence on the ailment. When the patient lives in a conducive environment health wise, the ailment becomes easier to manage. This is where the environment is clean free from any contamination. In some cases, patient may live in unhealthy environment that poses potential risk to him(Holt, & DO, 2013). In such case, the ailment develops into a critical condition which intensifies the pain. In patient-centred care, the nurse establishes whether the patient lives in a healthy environment or not. This helps him to identify the exact cause of ailment. In addition, he may advise his family members on the best way to ensure the environment is healthy for the patient. Dialogue between the patient and the nursing care provider helps in establishing these facts. Availability of affordable nursing support is also another element that influences pain management. There are several factors that determine availability of affordable nursing care in particular location. These are nature of medical/health facilities and availability of qualified nursing staff in those facilities. When there is affordable health facility, the patient is able receive the necessary nursing care (McCormack, Manley, &Titchen, 2013). It also reduces the cost of nursing care which is the main challenge to most patients. However, most local areas do not have efficient health centre to offer patient-centred care. Others are quite expensive and most patients may not afford the charges. This contributes to patients succumbing to pain and eventually they die before seeking proper treatment. Clinical guidelines may also hinder or promote pain management process. When the nursing care provider complicates the process, the patient may give up. However, patient-centred care approach addresses this challenge (Rosewilliam, Roskell, &Pandyan, 2011). Frequent communication between the care provider and the patient helps in eliminating complications. It allows the patient to judge the process and this reduces chances of despair. Each stage in pain management involves the patient thus he is able to focus on treatment rather than time taken in the process. Nature and extent of ailment determines the clinical guidelines. When the treatment period is short and guidelines are clear to the patient, healing takes place faster. This is because patient is able to adhere to the process from the beginning until he completes it. To manage critical ailments that take long period to treat, nursing care providers usually prepare the patient in advance (Holt, & DO, 2013). He provides explanation of each stage in pain management process. This way, patient is able to engage the care provider when he feels necessary especially in case of any progress. Patient is also in position to understand his role in the process thus creating understanding between him and the care provider. This aspect creates positive attitude towards any medication the nurse may provide to the patient (Webster,Perruccio, Jenkinson,Jaglal, Schemitsch, Waddell, & Davis, 2013). Without this kind of cooperation, the process may seem long and many patients develop negative attitude. Major aim of patient-centred care is to eliminate such element in patient and to create environment for faster healing. Experts recommend that nursing care providers ought to embrace teamwork with other relevant medical professionals throughout the process. This requires extensive consultation whenever necessary to prevent further complications (Reeves, Lewin, Espin, &Zwarenstein, 2011). This facilitates early discharge to enable the patient to continue with normal life at home. To realise this, nursing care providers need to cooperate with early discharge schemes within the medical facility. Lengthy admission in hospital affects patient’s psychology and he may end up thinking his condition is critical. Due to this, early discharge is important only to engage him in clinical visits depending with the nature of specific case. Patient-centred care approach encourages early visit to medical facility. Note that whenever there is aspect of pain the body, it is a clear signal that there is problem that need urgent attention. To simplify the pain management process, patients should seek medical attention as early as possible. This prevents ‘acute’ pain becoming ‘chronic’ which is a symptom of a serious disease. Management of acute pain may take less than a month but chronic pains takes even years. It drains the patient’s strength and has high cost in treatment. This accounts for significant percentage of preventable deaths in the society (Canning, 2013). This kind of pain management approach has various benefits. The patient is able to understand every process in the course of treatment. This helps him manage the condition after discharge since he has the explanation from care provider. The approach also cultivates positive attitude towards the medication which leads to quicker recovery. As a result, the process becomes cheaper to the patient due to short stay at the hospital (Stewart, Ryan, &Bodea, 2011). The patient is also able to help others especially to prevent the ailment since he has reliable information from the nursing care providers. These benefits give relevance to patient-centred care approach throughout the world. Reference: Aarts, J. W. M., Huppelschoten, A. G., van Empel, I. W. H., Boivin, J., Verhaak, C. M., Kremer, J. A. M., &Nelen, W. L. (2012). How patient-centred care relates to patients' quality of life and distress: a study in 427 women experiencing infertility. Human reproduction, 27(2), 488-495. Abdelhadi, N., &Drach‐Zahavy, A. (2012). Promoting patient care: work engagement as a mediator between ward service climate and patient‐centred care. Journal of advanced nursing, 68(6), 1276-1287. Canning, C. G. (2013). 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