What is your opinion of the person centred Approach in nursing theory seeing as it is an americain philosophy
discuss
OK, I did a review of the theory, but as I see it (and please correct me if I'm off target on this..it's been a long time.)
The person or client centered approach to nursing theory is the nurse, patient/client and carer or other caregiver combine to focus on the specific needs of the cliet/patient as they are the ones in the best position to know what they want.
In a nutshell, I have a mixed opinion about this, but with a strong leaning toward favoring the system. The weakness in it, is that it assumes the patient will do what it takes to cooperate with the care plan established for that patient. The strength of it is that the patient has control over his or her care and that does favor cooperation/compliance. In my career, I have found that a majority of my patients do better emotionally when they have as much control as possible and that makes for a much better relationship and positive feelings. Face it, medical problems like cancer, aids, or other diseases or problems can leave a patient feeling powerless, hopeless, angry, depressed, etc. It's like all of sudden your humanity and individuality are stripped away quickly or slowly. By giving as much control as possible, dignity, freedom of any kind, and choice, contribute to a better climate for recovery or a dignified end of life scenario. (I am a geriatric/hospice specialist.)
The weakness, is the clients own personality or desires. Some patients will not do a damned thing to improve their health or living situation. I had one person refuse all rehab to build up their strength so that they could go home, they would literally sit in the kitchen chair all day long from when the nursing staff got them up, to when the nursing staff put them to bed, in their own home. They expected everything to be done for them. The nursing staff were limited in how much care they could give and it was a stretch to even get twice a day visits as it was. I can't be more specific, but, they refused to do anything for themselves. I'v seen emphysema patients on oxygen continue to light up their cigarettes despite all the warning about smoking with oxygen going. Cystic Fibrosis patients smoking, etc etc etc. And then there's the dysfunctional family situations! OY! I can't go into more detail then that!
Now some patients do have reasons for uncooperative behavior either because of strokes, severe mental health issues or brain injuries. So something has to be crafted around each patients particular needs, it can be difficult, sometimes damned near impossible. But over all the majority does seem to work out!
So my opinion is that it usually works out when everything falls into place! I do like it.
Anyway, I hope that is what you were looking for in a discussion, if not clarify where I didn't meet that goal!
