Self-Care on Stress This Case

Self-CARE on STRESS

This case study is a self-assessment and self-care evaluation of a 41-year-old married woman with two children, a part-time job and who is a part-time nursing student. The current personal health status includes: Weight: 190 lbs, BP 118/78, RR 16, Pulse 72, height 5'6. This work will identify measurable goals to improve personal health, include literature search techniques, including database searching to find our resources for planning health care interventions, implement interventions, including learning and utilizing CAM techniques, Evaluate the attainment of the stated goals. Use past and present behavior patterns, present objective and subjective data, symptoms and signs experiencing, identify factors contributing to present health status. Finally, this work will identify two specific outcome measurable goals and plan up to three interventions towards problem-resolution.

INTRODUCTION

There are three primary components of self-care, which include those of: (1) physical; (2) mental; and (3) spiritual. Physical self-care involves exercise of the body whether it be walking, stretching, dancing, or any type of physical activity. Mental and emotional self-care includes self-acceptance and self-forgiveness. This also includes setting reasonable expectations for oneself and nurturing oneself however, this does not mean overindulgence. Spiritual self-care involves development of some type of practice that gives the mind and soul a workout whether it be meditation or prayer or attendance of church services and gathering with others of the same faith, values and principles. While it is commonly believed that putting, oneself first is selfish this is a myth because one cannot provide care for others if they do not practice self-care. Oftentimes life's demands and the demands of work and parenthood makes it seem that one does not have time for self-care however, this must be a priority if one is to fulfill their desire to provide care for those they love and to whom they are responsible for providing care such as their children.

I. ASSESSMENT - SUBJECTIVE DATA

Subjective data includes any information that the individual answers when asked questions such as "how do you feel"? This information is subjective because the individual level of tolerance for pain of the person may be quite different from another person and furthermore, while some individuals are very aware of the symptoms signaling sickness, tiredness, or depression. The nurse who is working with a patient regarding subjective data may be required to ask the extra question or two digging a little deeper to discover needed knowledge to counsel the patient concerning self-care practices.

II. ASSESSMENT - OBJECTIVE DATA

This individual is overweight for her height by approximately 47 pounds. Blood pressure is in the normal range as well as the pulse rate being in the normal range. Presently there is no cardiovascular risk however, in nine years should the individual's weight and blood pressure remain the same as it is now this female will be in the 20% risk bracket for cardiovascular disease.

III. SPECIFIC OUTCOME GOAL

In the case of this patient, the specific goal, which is set, is for this patient to lose at least 45 pounds. The patient has been advised concerning exercise, a proper diet, as well as advised to take time to eat right instead of grabbing fast food on the go and to take time to plan self-care activities taking time out of the demands that life places upon this female patient.

IV. LITERATURE REVIEW

The work of Elizabeth Scott entitled: "The Importance of Self-Care for Health and Stress Management" states the fact that "self-pampering doesn't always lead to major improvements in overall health the way healthy diet and exercise do, the relaxation you get from it can trigger the relaxation response, which can prevent chronic stress from damaging your health, so in a sense, self-care is good for you inside and out." (2008) in relation to self-care and the individual's emotional health Scott states that taking time out for self-care serves as a reminder to the individual and others in their life that that they too have needs that are important. Third stated by Scott is: "People who neglect their own needs and forget to nurture themselves are at danger of deeper levels of unhappiness, low self-esteem and feelings of resentment." (Scott, 2008) the risk of taking care of others and forgetting about ones' own needs is the risk of burnout "which makes it more difficult to care for others or themselves." (Scott, 2008) the work of Elaine Martin (2005) entitled: "Dorothea E. Orem's Theory" that the conceptual framework of self-care was presented by Dorothea Orem in 1959." Martin states that the theory of self-care "is the practice activities that individuals initiate and perform on their own behalf in maintaining life, health and well-being." (2008) the explicit assumptions of Orem's theory include:

1) Nursing is a deliberate, purposeful helping service performed by nurses for the sake others over a period of time, 2) Persons (human agency) are capable and willing to perform self-care for self or for dependent members of the family, 3) Self-care is part of life that is necessary for health, human development, and well-being, 4) Education and culture influence individuals, 5) Self-care is learned through human interaction and communication, 6) Self-care includes deliberate and systematic actions performed to meet known needs for care, 7) Human agency is exercised in discovering, developing and transmitting to others ways and means to identify needs for and make inputs to self and others. (Martin, 2005)

The implicit assumptions of Orem's theory are stated by Martin to be as follows:

1) People should be self-reliant and responsible for their own care needs as well as for others in the family who are not able to care for themselves, 2) People are individuals with entities that are distinct from others and from their environment. (Scott, 2008)

According to Orem's theory, the concept of health "is defined as 'a state of physical, mental and social well-being and not only the absence of disease or infirmity'. (Scott, 2005) Self-care, according to the principles contained in Orem's theory, is something that the nurse practitioner must teach the patient, as many patients do not place the proper value upon their own self-care and do not understand that they are indeed responsible for self-care and do no one a favor by failing to care for their own physical, emotional and mental and spiritual health.