Nurses handle patients at critical times when humanistic care is needed, requiring them to be self-conscious and aware of others’ individuality and distinctiveness. Because they examine how people react, nurses can use the arts and humanities to blend nursing science and art. Art and the humanities help nurses understand human nature by guiding individual perspectives about life, shared humanity, the importance of human activities, and relationships and duties to one another (Damsgaard, 2020). Through a variety of strategies, the nurse improves their practice and guarantees high-quality treatment by applying knowledge from their education and practice. In order to improve population health outcomes, care and behavioral changes were encouraged during the practicum by utilizing foundational knowledge. This reflection focuses on the experiences that were applied in the practicum to integrate knowledge into health promotion and maintenance.
My nursing practice has been greatly impacted by the practicum’s combination of knowledge from the humanities, sciences, and arts. Drawing on the arts has made it easier to understand the subjective experiences of those receiving care on a deeper level, especially when combined with expressive arts therapy and patient narratives (Vaartio-Rajalin et al., 2021). Conversely, scientific principles have strengthened my clinical decision-making abilities and made sure that evidence-based interventions meet accepted medical standards (Hoffman et al., 2021). Furthermore, humanities perspectives such as those from cultural studies and ethics have proven crucial in negotiating the intricate sociocultural contexts of patient care (Young &Guo, 2020) and promoting a patient-centered approach.
For instance, in my practicum, I encountered a 33-year-old Bangladeshi woman with horrible delivery pains. After wanting to give an epidural, the spouse refused to relieve discomfort since cultural beliefs view childbirth as natural. Humanistic nursing concepts, particularly cultural competency, helped me challenge the cultural view of delivery as normal. It enabled me to interact with the husband smoothly while respecting his culture. Using art, I explained to the couple the benefits of labor pain management. Using scientific data, I explained to the husband the different pain-relieving procedures available, emphasizing their efficacy, safety, and benefits in reducing maternal stress and promoting ecstatic births.
In an effort to provide patients with the greatest care and results possible, nurses must prioritize the promotion and maintenance of health. This mostly entails preventing diseases and harmful situations as well as applying the information to treat and preserve the patient’s health—behavioral change strategies in clinical practice aid in improving health and treating illness. In the practicum, the Trans theoretical Model (TTM) was utilized to manage illness and promote health using behavioral change strategies. TMM suggests six stages of behaviour change for health: precontemplation, contemplation, preparation, action, maintenance, and termination (Hashemzadeh et., al 2019). Motivational interviewing, a patient-centered therapy component that discusses change, was used to involve patients in a collaborative, patient-centered transformation process to address the ubiquitous issue of ambivalence about change. As part of my practicum, I helped patients weigh the pros and cons of taking action; I expressed optimism about their possibilities of success while considering patients’ demands, preparation level, and sociocultural setting.
One such case was a patient with type 2 diabetes mellitus. Personalized education sessions were carried out using the Health Belief Model (HBM) to improve the patient’s understanding of the severity and complexity of their condition. The examination of the patient’s beliefs and motivations was made easier by the application of motivational interviewing techniques. Following that, a cooperative goal-setting procedure was started, which enhanced adherence to food and pharmaceutical guidelines. The patient’s HbA1c values significantly decreased as a result of this intervention, demonstrating the effectiveness of behavioral modification techniques in the management of chronic conditions.
The impact of behavioral change strategies on patient outcomes was evident in improved health behaviors, enhanced treatment adherence, and, ultimately, better health outcomes (ElSayed, et., al 2023). Positive lifestyle modifications were demonstrated by patients who actively participated in the collaborative approach, improving clinical indicators. In addition to having a good impact on each patient’s health, the decrease in better diabetes management also helped achieve larger public health objectives.
Having an understanding of information and communication technology, including electronic health records (EHRs), mHealth, and telehealth, has been crucial to my practicum experience. EHRs were essential for patient data analysis and individualized preventive care. Additionally, mHealth apps were used to engage patients in preventative care via reminders, instructional content, and interactive elements. Telehealth platforms improved patient-provider communication and preventive services. Successful ICT integration yielded notable results (Chan, 2021). Using vast EHR data, personalized preventative care programs become more patient-centered. Using mHealth apps improved health knowledge, preventive adherence, and patient participation, supporting patient empowerment aims. Telehealth platforms made early screenings and consultations easier to schedule, helping identify and treat health issues.
The knowledge and skills I acquired throughout the practicum will have a significant impact on my nursing practice since they will encourage a more patient-centred and evidence-based practice. Strategies for behavioral change that are theoretically supported can help execute interventions more successfully by giving providers a more sophisticated understanding of their patients’ readiness to change. In addition to aligning with the Learning Health System’s goal, employing ICT for preventative care places me in a position to support the ongoing digital transformation of healthcare by using technology advancements to enhance patient outcomes. Reflecting on the practicum experience prompts considerations for changes and improvements in my future nursing practice. According to Chan (2021), to address the digital disparity that serves as a barrier to equal healthcare access, technology inclusion must be promoted to ensure that all patients benefit from technology developments.
To conclude, the practicum has shaped my nursing career by establishing a commitment to evidence-based care, patient-centred approaches, and technological innovation. I can traverse the healthcare landscape as a nurse who integrates behavioral change methods with strategic ICT for preventative care. I will strive for quality, ethics, and advocacy in patient outcomes by continuous reflection and proactive problem-solving.
References
Chan, J. (2021). Exploring digital health care: eHealth, mHealth, and librarian opportunities. Journal of the Medical Library Association: JMLA, 109(3), 376. https://doi.org/10.5195%2Fjmla.2021.1180
Damsgaard, J. B. (2020, December 31). Integrating the Arts and Humanities into Nursing. Nursing Philosophy, 22. https://doi.org/10.1111/nup.12345
ElSayed, N. A., Aleppo, G., Aroda, V. R., Bannuru, R. R., Brown, F. M., Bruemmer, D., … & Gabbay, R. A. (2023). 5. Facilitating positive health behaviors and well-being to improve health outcomes: standards of Care in Diabetes—2023. Diabetes Care, 46(Supplement_1), S68-S96. https://doi.org/10.2337/dc23-S005
Hashemzadeh, M., Rahimi, A., Zare-Farashbandi, F., Alavi-Naeini, A. M., & Daei, A. (2019). Transtheoretical model of health behavioral change: A systematic review. Iranian journal of nursing and midwifery research, 24(2), 83. https://doi.org/10.4103%2Fijnmr.IJNMR_94_17
Hoffmann, T. C., Bakhit, M., Durand, M. A., Perestelo-Pérez, L., Saunders, C., & Brito, J. P. (2021). Basing information on comprehensive, critically appraised, and up-to-date syntheses of the scientific evidence: an update from the International Patient Decision Aid Standards. Medical Decision Making, 41(7), 755-767.
Vaartio-Rajalin, H., Santamäki-Fischer, R., Jokisalo, P., & Fagerström, L. (2021). Art making and expressive art therapy in adult health and nursing care: A scoping review. International journal of nursing sciences, 8(1), 102-119. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijnss.2020.09.011
Young, S., & Guo, K. L. (2020). Cultural diversity training: the necessity of cultural competence for health care providers and in nursing practice. The health care manager, 39(2), 100-108. DOI: 10.1097/HCM.0000000000000294
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