I work in hospital and want to tell about the main principles of my work that show main values of my life.
It is important for you to work in a person centred way to ensure each individual you are looking after gets the best possible care. To have this approach we must allow the patient to have an equal say in the care in which they are receiving. As a Clinical Support Worker this can be done by listening to the patient and making sure their concerns are both heard and taken into consideration.
It is also vital that we get to know the patient so that we can tailor their care plan to meet their needs and preferences. For example at work if a patient may not respond well to bright lights and loud noises, we could do our best to keep the area quiet and dim the lights. By leading with a person centred approach it allows the patient to maintain some normality and dignity, therefore making their stay at hospital slightly easier.
It is vital that person centred values are promoted when providing support as no two patients needs are the same. By adapting the way you treat the patient to their individual needs will allow you to give them the best possible care. For example by getting to know the patient and communicating with friends and family it will enable you to create a care plan that fits their personal needs. Therefore allowing the patient to have dignity, respect and maintain their individuality even whilst receiving care in hospital. Maintaining a sense of independence and self-esteem is also an important aspect that contributes to recovery.
The ways to promote dignity in our day to day work:
- We Talk through the care in which is being given.
- We also make sure the curtains are pulled round when personal care is taking place to help them to maintain privacy.
- We respect any religions or beliefs that they may have.
- We listen to the individual and take their needs are taken seriously.
- We have to encourage them to make their own choices to help them maintain some independence. For example this can be done by giving them the choice in what they would like to eat.
- We help patients to remain comfortable at all times.
- We ensure that patient’s personal hygiene is upheld. For example we give bed baths, mouth care and help with toileting when it is needed.
It is important to find out information about the individual as each person you care for has the right to have respect, dignity and have choice. Therefore having this information will allow you to adapt their care plan to meet these needs. This information can be gathered from their friends, families, doctors and many other people. However the best person to ask if possible is the individual, as nobody knows them better than the individual themselves.
In a hospital we work on shifts and we care for different patients every day. So the best way to get to know the patients is by reading their care plans or when you receive handover. If a change in their needs has not been passed on, the care in which they receive will be incorrect. That could lead to their condition possibly getting worse as a result. For example if a patient has become confused overnight and started pulling on their line they will need one on one support to care for them. If this information has not been passed on it could lead to them possibly causing harm to themselves which could have been prevented with the right information.
Keeping your identity and maintaining a good self-esteem contributes greatly to your emotional and spiritual well-being. There are many aspects the combine together to contribute being happy with yourself. For example:
- Physical health
- Mental health
- Relationships – By having healthy relationships with family and friends it can give you a positive outlook on life
- Religion- For many people their religion or beliefs that they follow can give them a purpose in life
- Identity- being allowed to express who you are inside without the fear of hate will allow you to live a happier life.
These factors combined make up who we are as a person and being happy with all of them will allow you to have a good self-esteem.
It is important to allow the patient to have a choice in their future if possible to do so as it allows them to maintain some dignity and have a decision about what happens with their care. You should be get to know your patient, such as their likes and dislikes as then a decision can be made that is in their best interest. End of life care discussion should be encouraged as if the patient loses capacity, the decisions made can meet the patient’s wishes.
We should work in a person centred way to allow us to take into account the individuals values and beliefs. Even if we don’t personally believe in the choices they are making, as they could be making the decision for religious reasons. Even though the individual is sick in a hospital they still have the right to make their own decisions. To not give this choice it goes against the human rights act. It is vital that you work with the individual that you are caring for to ensure that they fully understand the risks that could occur by making that decision.
A care plan is a collaboration by numerous people. For example Doctors, nurses and the patient. This is to ensure that they are receiving the best care for them individually. By using the care plan that has been established for the patient it enables you to listen to their needs and take them into consideration. It also allows them to maintain both dignity and independence as care plan is made with the patient’s best interest at heart.
Giving consent is a basic human right. In a hospital numerous invasive procedures and personal care is given on a day to day basis. By having consent from the patient it protects you against any legal action that could happen. It can also be classed as abuse to not gain consent. By talking to the patient and giving them a choice it allows trust to for. between yourself as the care giver and the individual. This will also typically result in them being more willing to give permission.
If the individual has mental capacity their decisions must be respected. It is vital that you explain the risks to the patient so they are fully aware of consequences that can occur as a result. You should then follow the trusts agreed ways of working and report it to your manager immediately. The patient must be assessed to see if they have the mental capacity to make their own decisions. If they don’t have the mental capacity then someone else will be asked to make decisions that are in the best interest for the patient.
Being caring and listening to what the patient has to say will improve their overall well-being as it shows them that they have a voice in the care that they are going to receive. Therefore giving them independence. Also by having good physical health for example eating healthily and getting exercise will help to release endorphins making them feel a lot better about themselves. By being in a good place with your mental health will automatically improve your wellbeing to an extent as you are proud and ok with who you are as a person.
