BSN 111

Respond to at least one of your peers with an alternate perspective, approach, or question using the 3CQ Model – a Compliment, a Comment, a Connection, and a Question. *See “Tips for Discussion Boards_3CQ Model” Exploring How We As Nurses Can Improve The Illness Experiences Of Our Patients This discussion post highlights how nurses can improve the illness experience of patients beyond the curative care and how caring helps the patient as much as curing disease does. I believe nurses focus too much on curative care than improving the illness experience through caring , not saying nurses must ignore curing the disease and of course as a nurse that could not be possible ,but in my opinion nurses should focus more on caring patients because a person will feel better about him/herself when they receive a warm and thoughtful care through their hard time and when that person feels much better feeling about themselves they will start forgetting their pain and will have hope on getting well soon. As an example we could take the mind-body connection how your thoughts and emotions can influence how the body heals as well as feels, when you feel good mentally your body responds in many ways including how the stress hormones go down even though you are in pain a great mental state can make pain symptoms less painful but if you feel bad about yourself , being hopeless usually makes the recovery path harder so feeling good mentally helps the body heal and makes the illness and pain much easier to experience. Nurses can improve the illness experience through communication, empathy, active listening, respect, person-centred care, presence and so on and to support this opinion I chose to relate Jean Watsons Theory of Human Caring (Caring Science). Watsons theory of human caring explains that nursing is about caring for the whole person, not just curing the disease Mentioning the main idea of this discussion post Although nursing may not cure chronic disease, nursing can make difference in the illness experience. Her theory agrees in cure is not always possible, but care is and caring itself can be healing and nurses can improve the illness experience by being present with patients, showing empathy, compassion, respecting dignity as well as values and mainly building meaningful professional nurse-patient relationships. These caring actions can help patients feel respected, loved, valued and safe during their painful and hard times. Jean Waltons theory states that caring promotes healing even when caring disease is not possible also highlights the whole person rather than just physical symptoms. As evidence we can relate the YouTube video A story about care presents that while nurses could always not be able to cure diseases but them being there to support, having compassionate communication and listening their patient as well us understanding can highly change the patients illness experience. The man gives different ways nurses improved his illness experience by being present with him, sat with him and listened to him and those nurses were emotionally present with him that made him feel valued and understood. References Admin. (2024, May 21). Viewpoint: Caring Science meets Heart Science: A guide to authentic caring practice. American Nurse. Canadian Virtual Hospice. (2012, February 1). A story about care [Video]. YouTube.