...right now. I concur with the American Nurses Association’s (2017) proposition that somewhere along the line of health care staffing, there is a failure to associate patient health outcomes and nurse staffing. I also agree with ANA it is vital to have a nurse-driven staffing plan specific to the needs of the designated work areas by establishing an upwardly adjustable and flexible staffing that accounts for changes such as admissions, discharges, and patient acuity. As a medical-surgical/telemetry nurse, I experience inadequate staffing almost all the time. I love being a nurse but that does not mean I would not speak up for patients’ safety. It is protecting not just our patients but also advocating for ourselves as nurses....
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...End-of-life care, and making medical treatment decisions is a complex and emotionally charged topic that APRNs must be knowledgeable about. It is essential that APRNs are familiar and comfortable with taking a Values History, as this form can ethically assist patients and assist them in making well-informed decisions that are in accordance with personal preferences and values. Similar to the Values History, Fischer, Min, Sauaia, & Kutner (2012) highlight the fact that advanced directives may include various documents, including a “broader more comprehensive document outlining goals, values, and preferences for care in the event of decisional incapacity” (p. 3). Questions from various areas of a patient’s life are addressed with this tool; therefore I believe this form is an excellent way to explore personal feelings and attitudes that patients may not have taken the time to think about. However, after reviewing the Values History form, my concern is that it is not a legal document. It would be...
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...quality of care that is given and needed for the patients. By being a nursing home administrator, it is my job to make sure that the HIPPA rules and regulations are being used by all employees. By making sure that HIPPA rules and regulations are being upheld, the nursing home is providing quality care to the patients. When a change happens at a nursing home there can be confusion and conflict with everyone involved. While following the chain of command can be long and even boring, it is needed to keep the communication process smooth and effective. The chain of command does help reduce the risk of a communication breakdown. If a communication breakdown is developed it can cause commotion in any health care facility which could jeopardize everyone involved. With being the nursing home administrator, the first job that I would need to do is have a full understanding of the new policies and procedures. I would need to know how the policies and procedures were put into place and how exactly this will affect the patient’s in the nursing home. In order to do this I would want to speak with the board members so my concerns could be addressed. In order to address these issues I could meet with the board members face to face, use social media, or by electronic communication. There are advantages to having traditional face to face meetings. The members are able to see my body language, facial expressions, and hear the tone of my voice while communicating my concerns. With the traditional...
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...the skin. Ask the patient to breathe slowly and deeply through the mouth, exaggerating normal respiration. To auscultate the back, ask the patient to sit with the head bent forward and arms folded in front, and then have the patient sit more erect with the arms overhead for auscultating the lateral chest. Finally, ask the patient to sit erect with the shoulders back for auscultation of the anterior chest. Auscultate the chest from apex to base, but if the patient is weak or a pulmonary condition is suspected examine the lung bases first to avoid fatigue. Listen systematically at...
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...Schizophrenia, What’s Real? Image a world where reality is distorted and you’re unsure if the voices you’re hearing are real or if you’re the only one that can hear them. You’re paranoid of the people and things around you and things are not what they seem. To some people this scary image is their reality, an actual mental disorder called Schizophrenia. Schizophrenia affects 1.1% of the population which is about 2.2 million people in the United States. The official definition of the disorder is a brain abnormality that interprets reality abnormally and can cause side effects of hallucinations, delusions, and abnormal thinking. The DSM-IV recognizes the disorder and gives it criteria to be met when health care personnel who are diagnosing an individual they believe may have the disorder. The DSM-IV states a person must have at least 2 of the following symptoms: delusions, hallucinations, disorganized speech, grossly abnormal psychomotor behavior including catatonia, or negative symptoms like diminished emotional expression or avolition. At least two of these symptoms must be present for a significant portion of a 1 month period. Last it should at least delusions, hallucinations, or disorganized speech. Next since the onset of symptoms daily functioning like school, work or personal aspects must be lower than what was before the onset of symptoms. Lastly the symptoms can not be a result of substance abuse such as illegal drugs or alcohol (DSM-IV-TR, 2005). The...
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...get the disorder. Men are more likely than women to get it and younger people usually do not get it. Many people do not understand how this mental disorder affects these people with schizophrenia. Some symptoms of schizophrenia include: hallucinations and diminished ability to speak. One aspect of this disorder is hearing voices, which sometimes tells them to do harmful things. They also have a hard time determining reality from one of their hallucinations. Some people believe that if your parent has the disorder you will be more likely to get it later in your life. Drugs can have a major impact and give you schizophrenia, also infection during birth can cause a child to have schizophrenia. Sometimes they may act with violent behavior so the community just pushes them aside as crazies that need to be locked up. Schizophrenics have a very high suicide rate, partially due to their lack of ability to fit in the normal world. They are ostracized by their very communities and made to feel belittled. The fact of the matter is that suicide is a big problem that strongly affects schizophrenics. According to Verma, “approximately 2 to 12% of all suicides are in direct correlation with symptoms of schizophrenia” (p.127). The patients who are most likely to commit suicide are more lonely ones. In many studies it has been determined that the schizophrenics who have families are less likely to kill themselves or attempt to harm themselves in any way,( Verma,128). On the opposite side of the...
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...Schneider, positive symptoms include hallucinations whereby you hear voices- usually arguments, repeating of thoughts, derogatory, obscene voices which may order the patient to commit acts of violence. Positive symptoms also include delusions whereby patients believe other people are trying to harm them as well as personal grandeur where they believe they are much greater, more powerful and more influential than they really are. According to Slater and Roth, negative symptoms of schizophrenia include a lack of energy, lack of interest in life and hygiene as well as the inability to make decisions. This is referred to as avoilation. Thought process disorder is also another negative symptom. This is the inability to keep to the point, words are thrown together and the inability to finish sentences. Patients experiencing negative symptoms of schizophrenia may also experience loss of emotional responses as well as sudden mood change. Secondary symptoms are additional symptoms that occur from having schizophrenia. These include depression, loss of job and friends etc. There are three main types of schizophrenia. Disorganised, catatonic and paranoid schizophrenia. Disorganised schizophrenia is an extreme expression of disorganisation syndrome. Symptoms of this include an absence of expressed emotion, delusions, loss of interest in life, irresponsibleness etc. Catatonic schizophrenia is whereby a patient may alternate between hyperactivity and stupor (psychosis). Symptoms...
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...symptoms including loss of contact with reality, disorganized thinking, disorganized speech, bizarre behavior, decreased emotional expressiveness, diminished or loss of contact with reality, and diminished to total social withdrawal. Some people can also experience vivid hallucinations, a fake sensory perception, usually voices that are not really there. One percent of the world’s population is affected by schizophrenia, making it the most common form of psychosis. It is important to understand the differences between schizophrenia and psychosis. Psychosis is a term that is used to describe psychotic symptoms. Schizophrenia is a psychosis. There are many different brain disorders that can lead to psychotic symptoms, including tumors, use of illegal drugs, strokes, and infections. Even if a serious case of depression goes on for too long without being treated, psychotic symptoms will start to form. Those few examples just shows that not all psychosis is relate to schizophrenia. This is why doctors may take up to 6 months or more to diagnose a person that may be suspected of having schizophrenia, this is all because the symptoms are clear. They have to be sure that the symptoms are not being caused by brain disorders. Diagnosis: Before the diagnosis is giving by a doctor or psychiatrist, they must complete a psychiatric evaluation on the patient. A medical evaluation, a mental status, a physical exam, and appropriate laboratory tests; these are some of the things a psychiatrist or doctor...
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...that the level of discrimination would diminish after administration of a personal experience video of hearing voices. Method: A sample N=161 was used where participants filled in questionnaires regarding their behaviour against people who have been previously mentally ill. The questionnaires were filled before and after the participants watched an intervention video. Results: Initial results showed that the mean level of discrimination diminished after the intervention video was administered. A paired sample t-test showed a significant difference between the two situations. Discussion: The study attested to the hypothesis whereby it noted a change in the mean level of discrimination. The findings also open room for further studies on the same. Introduction A lot of research has been done on the levels of discrimination towards individuals who receive psychiatric treatment. Some of the studies have sought to determine the degree of prejudice before and after intervention methods have been applied to the patients. Intervention on persons treated for mental illness has changed the people’s perception on that kind of group (Corrigan, Kerr & Knudsen, 2005). According to Corrigan, Kerr and Knudsen (2005), most employers have agreed to hire people who have been under psychiatric treatment, hitherto. The acceptance, however, depends on the type of therapy the patients have received. Employees who have received videos regarding...
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...Schizophrenia 6/17/2014 A. Hallmark features and diagnostic criteria of schizophrenia 4 1. Introduction 4 2. Defining schizophrenia - Hallmark characteristics 4 2.1 Loss of contact with reality 4 2.2 Hallucinations 4 2.2.1 Auditory hallucinations 4 2.2.1 B. Other hallucinations 5 2.3 Delusions 5 2.3.1 Delusions of persecution: 5 2.3.2 Delusions of grandeur: 5 2.3.3 Delusions of control: 5 2.3.4 Delusions of thought broadcasting and thought insertion and thought withdrawal: 5 2.3.5 Delusions of reference: 6 2.3.6 Other Delusions 6 2.4 Disorganised speech 6 2.4.1 Loosening of associations – 7 2.4.2 Problems with attention – 7 2.4.3 Neologism – 7 2.5 Disorganised or catatonic behaviour 7 2.6 Negative symptomology 7 2.6.1 Apathy and indifference 7 3. Diagnostic criteria – DSM5 classification 8 3.1 Characteristic symptoms 8 3.2 Social and/or occupational dysfunction 8 3.3 Duration 8 3.4 Schizoaffective and mood disorder exclusion 9 3.5 Substance and general medical condition exclusion 9 3.6 Relationship to a previously diagnosed developmental disorder 9 B. Living positively with schizophrenia 10 1. Understanding schizophrenia and its symptoms 10 2. Approaches to treating schizophrenia 10 2.1 Psychotherapy 11 2.1.1 Positive living psychotherapy 11 2.2 Group therapy 11 2.3 Cognitive behavioural therapy 12 2.4 Assertive community treatment (ACT): 12 2.5 Family...
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...level of discrimination would diminish after administration of a personal experience video of hearing voices. Method: A sample N=161 was used where participants filled in questionnaires regarding their behaviour against people who have been previously mentally ill. The questionnaires were filled before and after the participants watched an intervention video. Results: Initial results showed that the mean level of discrimination diminished after the intervention video was administered. A paired sample t-test showed a significant difference between the two situations. Discussion: The study attested to the hypothesis whereby it noted a change in the mean level of discrimination. The findings also open room for further studies on the same. Introduction A lot of research has been done on the levels of discrimination towards individuals who receive psychiatric treatment. Some of the studies have sought to determine the degree of prejudice before and after intervention methods have been applied to the patients. Intervention on persons treated for mental illness has changed the people’s perception on that kind of group (Corrigan, Kerr & Knudsen, 2005). According to Corrigan, Kerr and Knudsen (2005), most employers have agreed to hire people who have been under psychiatric treatment, hitherto. The acceptance, however, depends on the type of therapy the patients have received. Employees who...
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...MANU 556- Current Issues in Health and Nursing Unit 3: Health Care Systems Learning Objectives: 1. Discuss the quality impact of “corporation” of health care through mergers and acquisitions. 2. Look at the effect of staffing that is based on patient outcomes and not nursing interventions. 3. View the trends in long term care as a continuum along the life of an individual. 4. Described the impact of the Philhealth Insurance on nursing practice. Basic health and medical care is a pervasive social need. Taken as a whole, the collective subsystems of health care form a unique system. In a broad sense, the health care delivery system refers to the major components of the system and the process that enables individuals to receive health care. The health care system is defined as all of the structures, organizations, and services designed to deliver professional health and wellness services to consumers. Traditionally, Philippines health care has been organized around the physician and the hospital. A triad of client, nurse, and physician became the basis of health care delivery, although not all members had equal status. Today, health care is increasingly more complex. Nursing personnel constitute the largest group of health care providers in the Philippines. They are the health care personnel who both deliver and coordinate care for clients. Therefore nurses are poised to be the care providers most prepared for population health and care coordination roles. As...
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...Marijuana in this society has been seen and used recreationally, and because of this it keeps it out of place for medical treatment. What many do not know it that our body has its own natural cannabinoids and cannabinoid receptors which form the endocannabinoid system; this system regulates or mood, memory, appetite and pain sensation and marijuana enhances these present processes in our body. Dr. Spiegel then mentions two patient cases of his that he encountered over the past year and both patients have used medical marijuana to treat their disorders. The first case is about a young man living in Boston who suffered from a cancerous tumor in a place where there was no hope of removing surgically. His physicians dismissed the idea of using marijuana as medicine and were blind to the idea of using marijuana to improve his diminished appetite, chronic nausea, unbearable pain and even the will to live. The second case is about a patient who was diagnosed with depression and anxiety. After a period of time living with multiple antidepressants and other medications, the patient decided to use medical marijuana. Her mood, motivation and outlook significantly improved by the use of marijuana daily and she still remained the same person she was before. Dr. Spiegel mentions...
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...Movie Review: Out of Darkness Letitia Y. Wright CO 810 – Abnormal Psychology Katherine James, PhD, LPC, NCC Ashland Theological Seminary February 10, 2014 Abstract The purpose of this paper is to review the depiction of a person suffering with and living with the mental condition of Schizophrenia in the movie, Out of Darkness. The film has a dynamic cast including: Diana Ross as Paulie Cooper (the individual suffering with schizophrenia), Rhonda Stubbins-White as Zoe Price (Paulie’s sister), and Beach Richards as Ms. Cooper (Paulie’s mother). There are a number of other characters portrayed in the film; however for the purpose of this paper, the focus is on these three. The first portion of the paper gives a brief description of the initial onset of Schizophrenia for Paulie; however, as a back drop, it is imperative to note that the film opens with Paulie having already been diagnosed with the condition some 18 years prior and waking up with a full episode of dealing with this diagnosis. Additionally, the paper will explain the mental illness, explore the criterion for being diagnosed with the mental illness and describe ways the disorder was portrayed accurately as well as some of the inaccuracies of this disorder portrayed in the film. Finally, the paper will focus on how my own view as well as the view of the lay persons view may have been effected by the film and its portrayal of this mental illness. Movie Review: Out of Darkness Imagine if you will,...
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...Therefore, it becomes necessary for nursing home staff and visitors to learn to communicate compassionately and effectively with elderly and disabled residents. Some elderly adults may not have exercised communication skills recently due to diminished contact with relatives, friends, community activities, and the working world. Furthermore, age-associated disability and their treatments - i.e. medications - can seriously limit communication skills among the elderly and disabled. Whether minor or serious, these changes in basic communication skills pose a potential obstacle for optimal relationships with nursing home providers. If compassion and understanding are not applied by the nursing home community, then the opportunity to maintain the elder's self-esteem and satisfying communication decline. Tips for Good Communication in the Nursing Home The following recommendations will improve communication with the elderly, disabled and hearing impaired; not only in the nursing home, but in any setting: Body language is very important. Try to position yourself at eye level with a cheerful countenance. If the elderly resident is upset or confused, try to respond to the emotion that you see. Let them see in your eyes and hear it in your voice that you really care, but do not baby them. Do not assume that a resident has certain disabilities such as impaired hearing or loss of comprehension skills. Approach them as if there are no disabilities and make adjustments as you see the...
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