Background of the biomedical model and the emergence of the biopsychosocial model
The biomedical model or the physical body mode of care usually refers to the mode of care where health disorders mainly mean that the physical health of the body is being affected. Moreover, in such a model of care, illness of a human being is considered as attack of microorganisms or failure of different organs in various ways (Deacon, 2013). However, such a model of care was carried in for many days in treatments until two renowned scientists namely Drs. George Engel and John Romano described a new model of care. This was far more effective than the biomedical model of care and brought out positive effects. This model of care did not only focus on the pathophysiology but also on other biological approaches to that of the diseases (Rubio-Valero et al., 2014). It believed on the caring model which covered all the important aspects of the psychological and social health of the human beings beside the biological model of care. The later model mainly trusted the importance of the understanding human health and illness in their fullest contexts. According to this model, biological, psychological as well as social factors exist among a continuum of natural systems and this principle is the main core of the bio-psycho-social model of treatment (Healy, 2015).
Some of the main aspects of the biopsychosocial model of care are needed to be known so that one could also develop their own attributes and prepare themselves for the most evidence based care that brings the best result to the lives of the patients (Pincus, Chua & Gibson, 2016). This model recognizes that relationships are central to providing of healthcare. They mainly hold self awareness as the main diagnostic as well as therapeutic tool. However, I was not aware of the fact and held that nursing responsibility is more important than relationship development. I used to prefer more on professional relation where I rarely used to talk anything to the patient other than those which included his biological health issues. I have never used self awareness as the diagnostic and therapeutic tool and believed in the routine ways of serving patients which was more practical than connecting with them psychologically or mentally. Moreover, the biopsychosocial model of care also elicits the patient’s history and determines them in terms of life circumstances to study the different effects it has on the health of the individuals. However, I was never of the idea that knowing about the person’s history and the different life circumstances that they had could help me in designing a care plan for them (Crosby, Qion & Kalinyak, 2015). I was of the idea that analyzing the symptom and then proposing a care plan would help the person to recover. It was after gaining this knowledge, that I realized the main reason why some of my patients never seemed happy after their recovery even if I had been able to successfully cure them. Moreover, this model of care provided importance to multidimensional treatment after judging the different aspects of biological, psychological, and social domains of the patient. However, I was not aware of them and paid importance to their physical health only (Suls, Kratnz & Williams, 2013).
Key aspects of the biopsychosocial model of care healthcare professionals need to know
Professional presence is important as it helps nurses to demonstrate professional standards as well as ethical behaviors with patients by exhibiting values and attributes of professionals and at the same time provides the best evidence based care along with collaboration with clients, families, colleagues, nursing students and other members of healthcare team (Regan et al., 2016). My professional presence was not up to the mark but it developed to a greater extent after I properly leant the biopsychosocial model of care as well as the code of ethics, codes of professional conducts and professional standards of nursing. Previously, I paid importance to interpersonal relationships among the colleagues but I never paid importance to intrapersonal relationships with that of the patients. I did not have proper skills like non verbal communication as well as verbal communication which often created issues and left me distracted in the nursing duties. However, I was quiet mindful in the use of technology and could effectively manage multiple demands. However, my listening and speaking skills were still poor.
While going through the test results, it was seen that there are many facts that matched with my personality. The attributes like dependable, trustworthy, maintenance of right and wrong, punctual and any others thoroughly matched. However, there had been certain factors which did not match with my characteristics. The test has suggested that I maintain a very good relationship with customers which in my case would be my patient’s successfully. However, while giving the test, I realized that I am actually very much introvert and therefore my patients are not being able to open up to me. I am not open to patients at all which is against the principle of my profession. My body language is not empathetic enough and I try to completely work in routine form and therefore often I failed to fulfill many wishes of my patients. My profession needs me to perform many activities to please my patients, so that they fell important and accepted in the healthcare setting (Hoeve, Jansen & Roodbol, 2014). Since, I prioritize completion of my work plan to be many important, I often neglect patient’s feelings which does not fetch me good marks in my profession. The Guardian test rightly notified that I am quite helpful and lovable to my relationships with family members and also my colleagues. I perform many woks for them which they take for granted and I do not need any thank you from them in return. The test also says that I rightfully complete my duties and indeed it is true. My favorite activity is caring for my patients and I really enjoy doping them because in take these activities as a responsibility for me. Caring for people has always been my favorite activity and I enjoy it thoroughly just like Guardian mentioned. Therefore, I have made this as my career choice and as per the test results; I try to be as much responsible with my duties working steadily and in a disciplined way as mentioned by the test results.
- The first barrier that affects my productivity output is my biasness towards patients. In many cases, it happens that the patients often do not portray the characteristics which according to me are beneficial. The main challenge of working with people who do not match with your wavelength is there is often chance of miscommunication. The way by which one thing is explained might be taken in another sense by the opposite person. There may often create tussles or disappointment in both the stakeholder leading to severe issues in workplace and even legal obligations. In such cases, I fail to connect myself with them and therefore striking a proper conversation seems difficult then. I have now been able to recognize this gap and therefore I have tried to groom myself in a way where I can openly interact with every patient irrespective of their personal traits and attributes. I have joined workshops and go through many journal articles to find evidence bases for overcoming the barrier and develop proper relationship with patients.
Benefits of the biopsychosocial model of care for patients and healthcare professionals
The second barrier that I notice is my improper communication skill. I am an impatient listener and therefore I often tend to cut conversation and speak before the opposite person has completed his or her statement. The main challenge is that this often becomes turnoff for the opposite person and as result a proper conversation does not take place leading to many issues thereafter. This results in developing negative feelings against each and other that in the long run affects the relationships I share with my patients or colleagues. Therefore, my self-awareness has helped me to become quite aware now and have developed the practice of proper listening. On advice of my mentor, I had started taking training classes for developing my communication skills as it is one of the qualities that out profession demands from us. Moreover I also go through several articles on different websites in order to look over different case studies and understand how to overcome communication gaps and develop communication skills effectively.
In the domain of physical attributes, one should first of all try to make oneself representable in way which will give positive vibes to the patients. My first goal would be to represent myself in way which will help patients to easily mingle with me or approach me. My body language should not be stern but in turn invite patients who want help or want to solve any query. The main strategy that I would take for this is to undertake grooming classes for myself and attend the nursing workshops which would teach me the correct way about representing myself. Another way that I would adapt is to discuss about my appearance with my mentor and asking them the aspect that would make the patients more approachable. Moreover, feedback from my patients would help me also to change those aspects which make me rude to them and hence try to work on them. The second goal would be to keep myself fit and healthy so that the work stress does not get reflected on my physical attributes. I should try my best to keep myself physically fit so that stress developed due to continuous attending of patients do not get reflected in my work or on my appearance. The main strategy that I would take is to maintain properly health habits like proper diet, right amount of sleep and correct amount of social mingling. Moreover, I should try to adapt strategies which would make me complete my work on time. For this, I should follow a scheduled time table so that all the work for both my personal and professional lives gets over in time and there are no lags.
In the second domain like for vital or rhythmic domain, my first goal would be to develop my hearing and speaking skills as I am an impatient listener and a quick speaker which often hampers any discussions and conversations with colleges and patients. The main strategy that I would uptake is that I should attain nursing workshops and also training classes which are hold weekly. This would help me to understand my faults and develop them accordingly. I should also read articles on the internet to develop ideas about listening and speaking skill betterment Secondly, I should also keep myself composed and do not get restless and nervous when the conditions of the patients worsen. The main strategy that I would uptake is to give myself more time. I believe with more experiences, I would gather skills and knowledge which would help me to handle them effectively. Moreover, I should always ask for help from my mentor or any registered nurses if I face confusion rather than deciding any plan without confirming them with seniors
In the third domain, firstly, I should make myself emotionally stable so that I do not get emotionally weak with that of the life history of patients. The main strategy would be to keep myself stable and try to advice the patients in a way which would help him or her to overcome the ill events in their lives. Secondly, I should not practice nay biasness with my patients and never allow the biasness of my mind to affect my practices and care plans. The main strategy that I should adapt to overcome any biasness in my mind is to try to look at each human being as representatives of humanity, irrespective of case and creed. Whenever such biasness would come to my mind, I will try to recollect the aspects that the principle of justice has taught in the profession of nursing. Moreover, I can also discuss the issue with my collages and mentor for their feedback. I believe the feedbacks would help me in overcoming biasness.
In the biographical or spiritual aspect, my first goal would be to try to portray each of the patients as blessing of the almighty that come for service form us when they are not well. The main strategy would not to be professional enough to consider each of them as money providing entities that help us to earn good amount of money. Rather I should groom myself in way where I would be enough hospitable to them in my approach and develop a caring attitude in every aspect so that they can feel that they are in safe hands who understand their issues. The second goal that I should try to achieve is to practice the principles of justice and to look every pattern as equal irrespective of race, class and ethnicity. My strategy would be to read more books on humanity and spiritual enlightenment. Moreover, I should also take advice and feedbacks form some of the senior nurses in the professions so that I can get encouraged too and take every patient as my brothers and sisters in distress and help tem unconditionally.
- Longmount United Hospital in present in the state of Colorado and is working with Planetree organisation providing optimal healing environment for the patients. Their behavioural healing ideallies in the fact that they believe in providing care to patients through kindness and compassion in a holistic approach that meet the requirements of the patient’s body, mind and spirit. Their interpersonal healing environmentmakes nurses to establish a pure relationship with the patients helping them to make personal choices related to their care providing them health education to empower them. Their internal environment is welcoming and accessible with early marked signs of direction, comfortable and familiar rooms with designs that engage the senses and also break down barriers. Music, art and entertainment provide engagement and enjoyment. Their external environment has family spaces, garden and chapel with lush greenery and stained windows that help patients feel fresh when they go for walks.
Another hospital which provides optimal healing environment to it service users is the John Hopkins hospital. The internal healing environment is prepared and designed well with a calming and elegant interior which has natural surfaces like marble and limestones. It also has sun filled rooms and also has peaceful public spaces which serve as respites for you and your visitors. The external healing environment which has serene landscaped gardens nestled throughout the campus for meditation as well as reflection which provides a soothing time for families and patients. The interpersonal environment showed by professional exhibits a feeling of warmth and devotion that makes patients feels comfortable in the hospital. The behavioural environment is maintained by collaborative work approach of the united professionals who provide the best care making pat9ents happy and empowering them at the same time.
- The insight that I have gained from my work environment is that providing a treatment plan and adhering to it is helpful enough to provide an overall good experience to the patients. I need to develop a proper healing environment with the help of my organisation where the patient can recover well and thereby develop a better quality life. Developing therapeutic relationship requires proper nursing skills like empathy, compassion, right communication and others which I need to develop to handle each of the patients effectively. Besides providing a person centered care, I must make sure that the environment of the patient should have all the requirement and features needed for physical development and mental stability. All these together would help in speedy recovery of the patient.
References
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