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Nursing The Effects of A Nurse’s Attitude on Patient Health
Thesis: For years, research has confirmed that one’s approach has a vital effect on individual health; a sympathetic nursing outlook can cultivate healthy and possibly advance the healing process (for patients), as recent research suggests.
A nurse is defined as, “A person formally educated in the care of the sick or affirms” (Webster’s Revised Unabridged Dictionary).
Currently, nursing is the largest healthcare profession • 2.9 million registered nurses in the US.
Types of degrees • Licensed Practitioning Nurse (LPN) • Registered Nurse (RN) • Associates Degree (ADN) • Bachelor in Science (BSN) • Accelerated (BSN and MSN)
Thought affects health and reality • We feel better when we have a sense of control
Law of Correspondence • “Your life is a reflection of your inner life. There’s a direct correspondence between the way you think and feel on the inside and the way you act and experience on the outside. Your relationship, health, wealth, and position are mirror images of your inner world” (Park 74).
Law of Affirmation • Fully ninety-five percent of thinking and feeling is determined by the way one talks to himself. One’s inner dialogue is accepted as commands by his subconscious mind. One must continuously talk to himself in a positive manner (Park 117).
Studies • Cancer clinic in Sydney, Australia in 2003 • objective of this study was to determine how patients and nurses view ‘being positive’ and identify the different factors that influence this state of being • Shopping analogy
Japan • Two Japanese hospitals in 2005 • Anurse being burnt out effects the nurse’s emotional attitude towards the patient, and this in turn effects the patient negatively (Katsuki 268).
Factors: • support of others, relationship with doctor and/or nurse, and environment • Spiritual issues • Speaking kindly, using positive words, affirming, and building up, praising, complimenting, and empowering are excellent ways to motivate an ill person
Attitude • Overall attitude affects patient physically, spiritually, and emotionally • Positive attitude of others helps improvement of patient
Betty G, ICU staff nurse • Quoted saying, “There are so many love stories in what nurses do. It’s inspiring to see people reaching out to other people. I don’t expect to see it much anymore but when it happens it’s a gift.”
Practicum • Shadowed at local hospital four times (over course of a month) for four hours each • Four different nurses of varying titles and experience levels.
Practicum Experiences • First day (2/9/09) • Rather slow; ample time to ask questions • Did lots of paper/computer work
Second Day • Second day (2/16/09) • Extra needy patients • Hallucinating lady, cursing • More “hands on” • Able to get different items
Third day • Third day (2/24/09) • Shadowed a charge nurse • Was bouncing around all rooms • Had no specific rooms
Fourth day • Fourth day (3/5/09) • Not much work to be done • Plenty of time for questions • Lady on floor, hollering about cops