Answers:
Challenges faced, and achievements gained while caring for the elderly patients have been time and again pointed out in vast literature. The growing elderly patient population is a matter of key concern for nursing professionals working in geriatric wards across community healthcare settings. In my opinion, one of the most notable challenges faced by nurses against the requirement of maintaining common good is maintaining the patient’s dignity while delivering care. Patient dignity is one of the core values of the healthcare system as the promotion of health is only possible when the individual is respected and honoured.
Research indicates that healthcare service users are constantly being subjected to disrespect and insensitivity while they are a cared for in geriatric wards. Nurses defer from preserving the autonomy and dignity of the patient under different circumstances. They have the primary role in minimising the distress faced by patients. However, recent research indicates that nurses at the current context are not adhering to the best practices for promoting patient dignity. Patients have reported as being undervalued and not given adequate chances for promoting self-respect. In addition, the decision making power is also diminished which is unjustified on ethical and moral grounds (Dewar & Nolan, 2013).
The issue of maintaining dignity of patients in clinical context can be discussed in light of common good. Giger (2016) had outlined the key principles that human society is to integrate into their daily practices of care and wellbeing. The most prominent one of these principles is common good which can be defined as the summation of social conditions allowing individuals to reach their fulfilment in a more convenient and easy manner. For me, it is solely related to the progress of individuals. A society that aims at remaining at the service of the human being under all conditions is the one that has the common good as the primary goal. Individuals are to rais their voice and come forward to enable other realise their full potential and work towards fulfilling the same.
I believe that a suitable application of the core values of common good into nursing practice would promote patient dignity and how the quality of care delivered by professionals. It is pivotal that nurses work for the common welfare of all the patient in a particular setting while recognising the individual aa social and sacred. Equal benefits for all would be the primary feature of better care services as the patients would feel valued.
Older patients are often not able to realise their true potential. They must, therefore, be encouraged and guided to realise their true potential and work towards achieving their health and wellbeing goals. Black (2016) had mentioned that if common good is to be promoted for elderly patients, a foundation is to be built that advocates for the fundamental rights of the patients, and places them at a high standard in the community. Nurses are to keep in mind that their care services are directed by a moral concern reflecting on the need for patient participation in care processes.
At this juncture, I would like to draw in the theme of Catholic social teaching related to the issue being discussed. The teachings are a rich treasure of intellectual thoughts and wisdom that disseminate holiness into the lives of those who suffer amidst challenges brought about by the modern society. As per the proclamation of the Catholic church, human life is sacred, and thus the dignity of human beings is to be upheld at all costs. This necessity lies at the base of a moral vision for the whole community (Calnan et al., 2013).
Knowledge of how to maintain patient dignity is of prime importance. Dignity of patients is to be perceived as worthiness. For me, being a patient under care involves being a person who is of value to others for getting treatment. This relates to the dignity of worthiness. It is crucial that elderly patients are not seen as diagnoses, but cared and valued as individuals showcasing unique values, beliefs and abilities. One way in which, I feel, a patient might be made to feel valued is by involving him in any form of social activities that promote wellbeing. Research illuminates that dignity is to be enhanced, protected and promoted as when expressed, it is of much value to identity fo the patient (Frank, 2010). From the care provider’s perspective, this strategy is to be seen as essential for health-promotion.
References
Black, B. (2016). Professional Nursing-E-Book: Concepts & Challenges. Elsevier Health Sciences.
Calnan, M., Tadd, W., Calnan, S., Hillman, A., Read, S., & Bayer, A. (2013). ‘I often worry about the older person being in that system’: exploring the key influences on the provision of dignified care for older people in acute hospitals. Ageing & Society, 33(3), 465-485. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1017/S0144686X12000025
Dewar, B., & Nolan, M. (2013). Caring about caring: developing a model to implement compassionate relationship centred care in an older people care setting. International Journal of Nursing Studies, 50(9), 1247-1258.
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijnurstu.2013.01.008
Frank, C. (2010). Challenges and achievements in caring for the elderly. Canadian Family Physician, 56(11), 1101-1102. Link: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2980418/
Giger, J. N. (2016). Transcultural Nursing-E-Book: Assessment and Intervention. Elsevier Health Sciences.
