My Personal Experience of Practice in the Rehabilitation Department - Essay Example

?Assist in the Assessment of People’s Health and Well Being Needs Working at the post-recovery unit in the NHS Trust, a man who has recently undergone surgery because of a major fracture was placed under our care. We approached the man and we determined his needs considering the fact that major operations significantly affect the vital signs of a person. I determined whether or not vital signs are present. I monitored his Blood Pressure. I also waited for him to regain consciousness. Knowing what this man has undergone, I prepared the necessary medications that might be demanded from us once the man regains his consciousness. I prepared morphine and other anesthesia in order to later help in lessening the patient’s pain. Feelings At first, I was concerned with respect to whether or not the patient has properly coped with the surgery. I focused on his condition most specifically his blood pressure, heart rate and the experience of pain considering the nature of the surgery that he has undergone. When he woke up, I maintained constant communication with him in order to determine what his needs are and to provide him with whatever he needs in order to recover from the surgery. Evaluation I was relatively satisfied with the manner by which I catered to the needs of the patient under our care. I conducted various tests which enabled be to determine the present status of the patient as well as what he needs in order to recover from the surgery (Hui Su, Fang Tsai, Jen Chen and Chi Chen 2010). Aside from focusing on the heart rate, blood pressure and his experience of pain, I also made sure that the family of the patient was by his side when he regained consciousness (Pudner 2000). I was also on standby in case pain killers must be administered considering the fact that this patient has just undergone surgery (RCN 2007). In addition, I also maintained records wherein I recorder my observations about how my patient was recovering including his other needs that I could address to make him feel better (RCN 2007). My proper response to the needs of the patient under my care was even strengthened by my training in epidural infusion management, patient control analgesia-morphine management, blood glucose monitoring and communication (the certificates in relation to these are appended in this work (Pudner 2000). Analysis The abovementioned performance points out that we properly comply with level 3 of the NHS KSF Framework in a sense that our unit is committed in terms of obtaining a good assessment with respect to the well-being and health of our patients by providing them with the care they need as well as recording every matter in relation to their health care effectively to improve our services. Conclusion The manner by which I responded to this man who has just recently undergone a major operation following a fracture shows the capacity of the members of the post-operative unit to possess the ability to assess the health and wellbeing needs of our patients. This then enables us to come up with suggestions and recommendations as to the different ways by which we could meet the specific needs of our patients. Undeniably, this shows our faithful fulfillment of our duties as contained in our job description in respect to our recognition of our different roles and responsibilities. In addition, this also shows our capacity to maintain close contact with our clients and report all matters related to them in writing through the use of patient records and other pertinent information. Action Plan I will ensure that we come up with recommendations at the conclusion of each patient’s case and forward these to the members of the management so that we could properly cater to the needs of those who has just recently gone through surgery. Assessment and Treatment Planning Description A ten year old child was brought under my care following his surgery as caused by a severe concussion on his head. My first instinct, as usual, was to check the vital signs of the child. Upon determining this, I also looked into his heart rate and as to whether or not he was losing liquids. When the child was first brought to our unit, I realized that he has not fared well with the surgery. His vital signs were dropping and he was in a lot of pain. Furthermore, I also discovered that he was not yet able to eat and drink properly. I also noticed that the child was traumatized because of his surgery. Feelings At first, I was concerned about the child and was worried about how the surgery would affect him. However, during the course of the examination, I began to feel even more worried as there seems to be a bigger problem which requires the proper action of doctors in order to ensure the betterment of the child’s condition. I immediately called the pediatrician of the child who has knowledge of his medical history. Evaluation In general, this situation highlighted the capability of the unit to respond to the psychological and physiological needs of its patients. As regards the good experience, it is guaranteed that our unit has the right knowledge to undertake tasks that are related to the assessment of psychological and physiological functioning (Hui Su, Fang Tsai, Jen Chen and Chi Chen 2010; Fulton and Lyon 2009). Because I realized that there was something wrong with how the child was coping with the surgery, I referred him to the doctors in order to put him under observation as brought about by his weakened vital signs as well as his experience of tremendous pain (Fulton and Lyon 2009). We were also planned in order to properly respond to such situations by preparing and selecting the appropriate equipment that shall be used to cater to the needs of the patients (Pudner 2000). The aforementioned are likewise supported by my certificates in dealing with patients as customers as well as my certificate in PCA (patient control analgesia-morphine) management (Macnee and McCabe 2008). Analysis The post-operative unit was successful in terms of our capacity to assess physiological and psychological functioning and any treatment planning associated with this, taking into consideration the needs of the patient as an individual. It includes our capacity to undergo an extensive review of our patients’ previous medical histories as well as subjecting them to observation in order to determine what is wrong with them. Conclusion The post-operative care unit, undoubtedly, possesses the sufficient amount of knowledge by which they could determine the needs of the patients following the operation that they had to undergo. Action Plan Done differently, I will take the opinions of the members of the family of the patient into consideration as they too have paramount concern over the status of the operation and how the child is responding to this. Undeniably, it is through their participation that we will gain a better understanding of the medical history of the patient along with what has been done to ensure the betterment of his condition. Learning and Development Description A 60-year old woman was recently discharged from the operating room following her surgery in relation to her heart disease. She was assigned to one of the junior nurses whose first instinct was to check her vital signs but failed miserably in terms of properly responding to the needs of this patient. I immediately approached the junior nurse and showed her the Standard Operating Procedure that must be performed on all patients who are recently discharged from the Operating Room. Aside from merely telling her what to do, I showed her how it is done. It was me who monitored the vital signs, obtained the Blood Pressure of the Patient and took her temperature. I also showed her how to properly communicate with the patient in order to cater to her needs. Feelings At first, I was a bit worried because the Junior Nurse was not able to properly accomplish what is expected of her. However, in due time, I felt that as a senior member of the post-operative care unit, it was my obligation to render help to colleagues who are having a hard time with the patients. I also feel embarrassed that we were not really able to develop training programs to effectively address the needs of our patients. We do not really have that much training wherein the members of the Senior Staff train the Junior Members other than in situations where such help is demanded. Evaluation The good thing about this experience is that the members of the Senior Staff possess the ability to respond to the incapacities of the Junior Staff. The bad experience, on the other hand, is demonstrated on the lack of training by which the Senior Staff can help the members of the Junior Staff in dealing with their primary concerns. Analysis My certification with respect to high dependence training and mentorship, along with other senior members of the unit allowed us to properly cater to the development of this aspect of the NHS KSF. Undeniably, these allowed us to impart our knowledge to the junior members in order to enable them to properly respond to our patients (Kaplow and Hardin 2007). This is generally, in coordination with the duty expected from us, as enshrined in our job description which is aimed towards the guidance that we must render to those who do not have that much experience (Hui Su, Fang Tsai, Jen Chen and Chi Chen 2010). Nevertheless, we must continue to improve this aspect by coming up with other training programs by which we could mentor the Junior Nurses (Kaplow and Hardin 2007). It is through the adoption of these innovative programs that we will be able to ensure their proper learning rather than merely showing them what to do whenever the situation calls for it (Pudner 2000). Conclusion In general, whilst the members of the post-operative care possess the ability to ensure compliance with this aspect of the NHS KSF, much has yet to be implemented in order to guarantee its effectiveness. Undeniably, the learning and development initiatives therein must undergo through major improvements. Action Plan I will push for the adoption of training and learning programs to prepare the members of the Junior Staff in addressing the concerns of the patients in our unit. References Fulton, J.S. and Lyon, B.L. 2009. Foundations of Clinical Nurse Specialist Practice. Springer Publishing Company, UK. Hui Su, H., Fang Tsai, Y., Jen Chen, W. and Chi Chen, M. 2010. Health care needs of Patients during Early Recovery. Journal of Clinical Nursing, vol. 19, nos. 5-6, pp. 673-681. Kaplow, R. and Hardin, S.R. 2007. Critical Care Nursing. Jones and Bartlett, UK. Macnee, C.L. and McCabe, S. 2008. Understanding Nursing Research. Sage Publications, CA. Pudner, R. 2000. Nursing the Surgical Patient. Routledge, UK. RCN. 2007. Standards for assessing, measuring and monitoring vital signs. Royal College of Nursing, UK. Read More