Health Care Communication Background- Within the Modern

Health Care Communication

Background- Within the modern nursing paradigm, there must be a clear link between a health outcome and the process that helps ensure those outcomes. Typically, outcomes are classified in terms of preventability, impact, severity and an overall holistic view of the client's safety issues. Positive behaviors that impact individuals either rescue or protect patients from potential or actual events. This is also part of the issue with modern communication and dissemination of information to patients, stakeholders, and the community (Burns and Grove, 2005).

At the heart of healthcare as an institution is, of course, the need to care for the sick and the injured. However, in the contemporary model of healthcare, effective communication during a crisis is not only important, but also vital. Communication by healthcare professionals takes the concern and worry out of the situation; offers a quicker resolution, makes better control of information possible, earns the trust of the public and individual families; and keeps the flow of information consistent and accurate, thus averting potential external problems. Technology has increased the ease and ability for adequate communication -- there are more translators, access to databases, etc. within the field, and certainly there is more information about healthcare available for the layperson. However, the manner in which modern medicine works -- the reality that it is the nurse as opposed to the doctor who tends to follow the patient throughout their care, lends greater credibility to the use of the modern nurse as a paradigm for successful communication and patient advocacy (Nemeth, 2008).

Organizational Overview -- Magnolia Services is a small nursing home/adult care facility located near Chapel Hill, North Carolina. The facility is located in a more upscale area of the city, near shopping, medical facilities, restaurants, golf courses and activities for those who can take advantage. We also have apartment-style community offers all of the amenities of a home without the work. Imagine a life without household chores, yard work or home maintenance. Invite guests to a meal, special event or social outing. With our on-site Active Living Director, scheduled transportation and Anytime Dining program. We also have Respite Care, ideal for people who need recovery care for a few days, a few weeks, or a few months. We have a dedicated staff including a professional nursing director; an RN on staff 24/7, and access to local medical care.

Table 1 -- Information Dissemination

Issue/Info.

Stakeholder

Method

Analysis

Facility Information

Potential Guests, Medical Community, Senior and Aging Groups

Traditional Advertising (newspapers, etc.), Word of Mouth

Cash dependent, out of nursing staff prevue, weak in some cases.

Individual Patient Concerns (Chronic)

Nursing Staff; interface with individual doctor or clinic; patient / client, family members; facility personnel

Weekly staff meeting, individual concerns passed on through charts per shift on days when client is seen; minimum 1x week.

Adequate for non-emergency situations; dependent upon staff recidivism

Individual Patient Concerns (Respite)

Nursing Staff; interface with individual doctor or clinic; patient / client, family members; facility personnel

Weekly staff meeting, individual concerns passed on through charts per shift on days when client is seen; minimum 1x day

Adequate as long as client's physician is in the loop on a regular basis

Emergency Conditions

Nursing Staff; interface with individual doctor or clinic; patient / client, family members; facility personnel

Weekly staff meeting, individual concerns passed on through charts per shift on days when client is seen; minimum 2x day; regular contact with client's physician as needed.

Adequate as long as client's physician is in the loop on a regular basis

Potential Issues

Director of facility; department heads, nursing staff; clients and family

Weekly staff meeting, individual concerns passed on through charts per shift on days when client is seen; minimum 1x week.

Strategically needs improvement to ensure staffing, supplies, and external resources are adequate

Family Issues

Director of facility; department heads, nursing staff; clients and family

Weekly staff meeting, individual concerns passed on through charts per shift on days when client is seen; minimum 1x week.

Quite dependent upon staff and director, procedure likely needs to be systematic and more robust

Theoretical Recommendations - One theory that helps nurses with this aspect is the Neuman theory; fluid and yet combines traditional diagnostic tools (for instance medical tests, indicators, vital stats, etc.) with more intangible, but still no less important, parts of an individual's life. . The thoroughness and robustness of the Neuman theory in action, in particular the array of questions regarding lifestyle, family issues, work, recreation, and the universe of the patient provides a great deal of usable, clinical information to the modern Family Nurse. Then, using the best medical tools available, plus a negotiation and dual-plan (patient and care giver), results in more success for the final patient outcome (Alligood, 2002).

Recent research indicates that mutual goal setting is one of the single most important skills for a nurse to bring to a multidimensional healthcare situation -- even more so if it is multicultural. Patients and their families like a healthcare professional to bring knowledge and background to the session, but they also like to have someone involved that tends to listen, engender conversation, and influence rather than dictate. The modern nurse has the responsibility to share information that helps individuals make informed and positive decisions about their care, about ways that the individual can share in and take appropriate responsibility for that care. People tend to be resistant when being told what to do and are therefore are more likely to work toward goals they choose and support. Instead of investing themselves in a hypothetical outcome, the nurse should let go of the outcome and invest in respect and support of the client (Maurer and Smith, 2005, p. 327). In the larger social context, family participation can sometimes make all the difference in the long-term outcome for a patient. If the family buys into a program, then it is more likely they will actively support whatever program is agreed upon.