sarah antunes week 1 health promotion, support argument
I work in the recovery room at a hospital in South Florida. Although we do have emergency surgeries, most of our patients are outpatient and procedures are planned in advance. This provides a good opportunity for advanced practice generalists to educate patients prior to their procedure. In addition to education, advanced practice nurses assess the needs of the patient and community, serve as a resource person, and implement educational programs (Sharma & Romas, 2012). There is a four-step process that can be utilized in every area of nursing for health promotion and disease prevention. It includes: preparation, relationship building and assessment, theory-based intervention, and follow-up and evaluation (Thomas, Hart, & Burman, 2014). I believe that patients who go into surgery knowing what to expect and things to do or not do during their recovery have better outcomes.
In the operative setting you can prepare by researching the patient’s history and physical as related to their proposed procedure. This allows for an advanced practice nurse to provide education catered to the individual and be prepared to answer any questions that may arise. Relationship building and assessment is building trust and setting goals (Thomas, Hart, & Burman, 2014). “A climate of trust facilitates effective communication and enables the client to discuss perceived and real obstacles to learning and performance” (Pender, Murdaugh, & Parsons, 2011, p.250). Theory-based intervention is determined on the patient’s readiness for change. This provides education opportunities based on the patient’s willingness to change and can help overcome barriers to change. Lastly, during follow-up and evaluation an advanced practice nurse is able to determine if goals were met and provide additional education which improves outcomes (Thomas, Hart, & Burman, 2014). Following up with patients after surgery is also a way we can show patients that they are an individual and they matter.
Do you think this four-step process can be useful in your area of practice?
