For a long time I have felt guilty when I talk to people that the disease is not the most important thing to deal with, it is how we are going to help the person with the condition; whatever it is. The disease is secondary.
I am pleased to say now that others think along these lines too.
Yesterday I went to a talk given by Graham Stokes a renowned pyschologist from the UK on the care of people with dementia. Here he said that "Person Centred care is not about the dementia but about the person with dDementia".
If you are struggling with writing care plans that are relevant, just think of this. If you had dementia and were unable to take care of your every need, what would be the most important things for you to be able to live your life?
It is times like this an RN has to put their clinical knowledge behind them. Yes it is important as the reason care is required but it is of much less importance for the person who is requiring care and their familiy.
Focus on the care the person requires that keeps them healthy and maintains their dignity. That is delivered to their values and what is important to them. Understand the behaviour displayed always has a reason. ALWAYS! Without exception.
Understanding these simple principles will help you provide person centres care.
Monday, August 30, 2010
Sunday, August 29, 2010
Why do audits create so much anxiety?
I went to a very inspiring workshop on Saturday. It was about why we get unwell from a mystics point of view. Now I know you may think I am a bit off the wall here, but just bear with me on this.
Anxiety comes from fear. Fear of what may happen to us. However, this all has little foundation for the reality is WHAT WOULD REALLY HAPPEN IF YOU DIDNT GET A PERFECT AUDIT? An if we let this fear control us, we become unwell. Simple really but very difficult to put into practice. Fear of being wrong or doing things wrong are embedded in our history. This is what cripples us. When you look at the whole scenario what is the likely result?
Reality - Not very much. You would be given an opportunity to relook at areas that could be improved. You won't lose your job, the facility is unlikely to be closed down (unless it is really bad) and you have an opportunity to do better next time. Not that bad eh?
Yet so many people become extremely anxious when an audit is coming up. Some people don't sleep. Some people work extremely long hours in the hope they will get everything perfect and then are devastate when they don't. Some even crash after the audit.
Reality - unlikely you will not be perfect as each auditor will view the facility differently and have a different interpretation and expectations of you an your facility. Many don't even have a residential care back ground and only see it as an acute setting environment and not a person's home. Two different philosophies.
So how do you overcome anxiety prior to an audit?
1. Understand what is going to be required by the auditor
2. Be prepared to provide the auditor with sound argument as to why you provide care in a particular way and explain your reasoning
3. Learn ways to manage your stress so it doesn't control you (You may like to come to the Stress Management Workshop on 3rd November http://www.careadvisoryservices.co.nz/clinicalupdates/resilience-performance.htm)
4. EMPOWER yourself with knowledge through workshops, discussion from others and learn what to do to reduce your stress.
This Wednesday, 1st September, there is a workshop on this that will help EMPOWER you. You will get this from both the trainer, Jessica Buddendijk, and the other attendees.
The more you know, the more empowered you are, the more confident you are to see the audit as just another day in your life as a manager.
Dont miss out on this opportunity. go to http://www.careadvisoryservices.co.nz/clinicalupdates/audit-anxiety%20.htm
You won't regret it.
Anxiety comes from fear. Fear of what may happen to us. However, this all has little foundation for the reality is WHAT WOULD REALLY HAPPEN IF YOU DIDNT GET A PERFECT AUDIT? An if we let this fear control us, we become unwell. Simple really but very difficult to put into practice. Fear of being wrong or doing things wrong are embedded in our history. This is what cripples us. When you look at the whole scenario what is the likely result?
Reality - Not very much. You would be given an opportunity to relook at areas that could be improved. You won't lose your job, the facility is unlikely to be closed down (unless it is really bad) and you have an opportunity to do better next time. Not that bad eh?
Yet so many people become extremely anxious when an audit is coming up. Some people don't sleep. Some people work extremely long hours in the hope they will get everything perfect and then are devastate when they don't. Some even crash after the audit.
Reality - unlikely you will not be perfect as each auditor will view the facility differently and have a different interpretation and expectations of you an your facility. Many don't even have a residential care back ground and only see it as an acute setting environment and not a person's home. Two different philosophies.
So how do you overcome anxiety prior to an audit?
1. Understand what is going to be required by the auditor
2. Be prepared to provide the auditor with sound argument as to why you provide care in a particular way and explain your reasoning
3. Learn ways to manage your stress so it doesn't control you (You may like to come to the Stress Management Workshop on 3rd November http://www.careadvisoryservices.co.nz/clinicalupdates/resilience-performance.htm)
4. EMPOWER yourself with knowledge through workshops, discussion from others and learn what to do to reduce your stress.
This Wednesday, 1st September, there is a workshop on this that will help EMPOWER you. You will get this from both the trainer, Jessica Buddendijk, and the other attendees.
The more you know, the more empowered you are, the more confident you are to see the audit as just another day in your life as a manager.
Dont miss out on this opportunity. go to http://www.careadvisoryservices.co.nz/clinicalupdates/audit-anxiety%20.htm
You won't regret it.
Wednesday, August 25, 2010
Inspiration of the day
If you woke up this morning with more health than illness, you are more blessed than the million who will not survive this week.
If you have never experienced the danger of battle, the loneliness of imprisonment, the agony of torture, the pangs of starvation, you are ahead of 500 MILLION people in the world!
If you have food in the fridge, clothes on your back, a roof overhead and a place to sleep, you are richer than 75% of this world!
If you have money in the bank, in your wallet and spare change in a dish some place, you are in fact among the top 8% of the worlds wealthy!
If you can read this message, you just received double the blessing in that someone is thinking of YOU, and furthermore you are more blessed than over two BILLION people in the world who cannot read at all!
If you have never experienced the danger of battle, the loneliness of imprisonment, the agony of torture, the pangs of starvation, you are ahead of 500 MILLION people in the world!
If you have food in the fridge, clothes on your back, a roof overhead and a place to sleep, you are richer than 75% of this world!
If you have money in the bank, in your wallet and spare change in a dish some place, you are in fact among the top 8% of the worlds wealthy!
If you can read this message, you just received double the blessing in that someone is thinking of YOU, and furthermore you are more blessed than over two BILLION people in the world who cannot read at all!
Tuesday, August 24, 2010
Person Centred Care
There are many overseas model working in New Zealand. We have Spark of Life (Australia), Person Centred Care (USA) and Liverpoole Pathway (UK) yet we have our own model that was developed in 1840. Yes that is right, the Treaty of Waitangi.
What it stated, briefly, is that Maori health would have dominion over their own health in the form of Partnership, Participation & Protection.
Is this not what we all should be doing in health care? Is it not indeep what you want for yourself in health?
We are suppose to be in partnership with a person. That to me means discuss, inform, advise, recommend, listen, source help in fact anything that is needed to keep a person well through this partnership. It should not be power and control, "I" prescribe the care, you follow the instructions. It is to discuss what will work for them. It means to look at the person and take every aspect of the person into account. Their lifestyle, support network, finance, comprehension and cultural background into account.
For all of this to occur, a partnership has to be developed with the person or their family. Without a willing partner in health, a positve outcome will never occur. The most important ingredient in this partnership is trust. If a person does not trust the health professional and believe what is being discussed is best option for them then the partnership fails and illness prevails.
A health professional is an advocate for people in requiring care. We are there to protect them from harm or ill effects; to speak up for them if they are unable to speak for themselves; to fight their battles if they cannot do it themselves. None of this can be achieved unless there is a sound partnership and willing participants.
So why do we have to import all these systems and models when the simplicity of the Treaty of Waitangi principles of 1840 apply?
If you are not applying these principles and adhereing to them when dealing with a person then you are letting your clients down.
What it stated, briefly, is that Maori health would have dominion over their own health in the form of Partnership, Participation & Protection.
Is this not what we all should be doing in health care? Is it not indeep what you want for yourself in health?
We are suppose to be in partnership with a person. That to me means discuss, inform, advise, recommend, listen, source help in fact anything that is needed to keep a person well through this partnership. It should not be power and control, "I" prescribe the care, you follow the instructions. It is to discuss what will work for them. It means to look at the person and take every aspect of the person into account. Their lifestyle, support network, finance, comprehension and cultural background into account.
For all of this to occur, a partnership has to be developed with the person or their family. Without a willing partner in health, a positve outcome will never occur. The most important ingredient in this partnership is trust. If a person does not trust the health professional and believe what is being discussed is best option for them then the partnership fails and illness prevails.
A health professional is an advocate for people in requiring care. We are there to protect them from harm or ill effects; to speak up for them if they are unable to speak for themselves; to fight their battles if they cannot do it themselves. None of this can be achieved unless there is a sound partnership and willing participants.
So why do we have to import all these systems and models when the simplicity of the Treaty of Waitangi principles of 1840 apply?
If you are not applying these principles and adhereing to them when dealing with a person then you are letting your clients down.
Monday, August 23, 2010
Registered Nurse Role
Increasingly I am having discussions with facilities who are experiencing difficulties with Registered Nurses understanding their role.
The problems they are finding are an inability to supervise, delegate and in interpersonal relationships. It appears RN's do not understand how important it is for them to supervise caregivers and not just leave them to do their work. There is little or no follow-up.
RN's have to realise that Caregivers do not have the body of knowledge registered nurses have. They require supervison. If an RN is delegating a task they have to make sure the caregiver is actually competent to do it. Delegation by Abdication never works. You will just get more unsatisfactory care and increase RN and Managment frustration.
On top of this there a variety of cultures working in the industy. They come from a variety of value systems that are vastly different to ours and our clients. This needs to be understood and taken into consideration. So to address this, I have put a workshop together to help RN's with these tasks.
What RN's don't realise that there Practicing Certificate is at risk here. All caregiver work under RN's supervision. Are you and your Practicing Certificate safe?
For more information on this contact leigh@clinicalupdate.co.nz
The problems they are finding are an inability to supervise, delegate and in interpersonal relationships. It appears RN's do not understand how important it is for them to supervise caregivers and not just leave them to do their work. There is little or no follow-up.
RN's have to realise that Caregivers do not have the body of knowledge registered nurses have. They require supervison. If an RN is delegating a task they have to make sure the caregiver is actually competent to do it. Delegation by Abdication never works. You will just get more unsatisfactory care and increase RN and Managment frustration.
On top of this there a variety of cultures working in the industy. They come from a variety of value systems that are vastly different to ours and our clients. This needs to be understood and taken into consideration. So to address this, I have put a workshop together to help RN's with these tasks.
What RN's don't realise that there Practicing Certificate is at risk here. All caregiver work under RN's supervision. Are you and your Practicing Certificate safe?
For more information on this contact leigh@clinicalupdate.co.nz
Sunday, August 22, 2010
How did the name Pakeha come about
The meaning of Pakeha appears to have changed over time. Prior to 1815 it meant "white person" who came from England to settle in New Zealand. Then was applied to any fair skinned person born in New Zealand. Later it was applied to all fair skinned people in New Zealand.
However Dr Michael King in 1985 defined Pakeha as any "non-Maori" person.
More recently Ross Himona says linguistically Pakeha means a New Zealander of non-Maori or non-Polynesian decent.
This to me make sense. I am happy to be called a Pakeha. It defines who I am. A non-Maori ihabitant of New Zealand.
So what have I learned? As we are all boat people i.e. we inhabitated New Zealand from another land, the Maori were the first to settle and the Pakeha the second to arrive, mainly from Great Brittan. We are a country that has relative harmony between the cultures, that live together to create what we have today. Everyone has contributed to New Zealands very existance.
I give thanks to Jodi Ranford who explored this topic and has written a wonderful artical titled Pakeha, Its origin and meaning. It can be read at http://maorinews.com/writings/papers/other/pakeha.htm
It is well worth a read.
However Dr Michael King in 1985 defined Pakeha as any "non-Maori" person.
More recently Ross Himona says linguistically Pakeha means a New Zealander of non-Maori or non-Polynesian decent.
This to me make sense. I am happy to be called a Pakeha. It defines who I am. A non-Maori ihabitant of New Zealand.
So what have I learned? As we are all boat people i.e. we inhabitated New Zealand from another land, the Maori were the first to settle and the Pakeha the second to arrive, mainly from Great Brittan. We are a country that has relative harmony between the cultures, that live together to create what we have today. Everyone has contributed to New Zealands very existance.
I give thanks to Jodi Ranford who explored this topic and has written a wonderful artical titled Pakeha, Its origin and meaning. It can be read at http://maorinews.com/writings/papers/other/pakeha.htm
It is well worth a read.
Thursday, August 19, 2010
Did you know before European settlers Maori did not have a name for themselves
In the process of research for a new e-book I am compiling to help people understand people, and I am starting with Pakeha', the Maori did not have a name for themselves only a number of tribal names.
According to Dr Michael King, noted New Zealand Historian "Maori relates closely to 'tangata whenua': people of the land: but with connotations of 'those who were here first' and 'host people'.
However the Maori people themselves do not refer to themselves as Maori. They refer to their tribal membership say Maori kaumatua Ross Himona. They are Maori only in relation to Pakeha. Maori means "normal" i.e. in relation to Pakeha. quotes from Pakeha, Its origin and meaning by Jodi Ranford.
Interesting isnt it?
According to Dr Michael King, noted New Zealand Historian "Maori relates closely to 'tangata whenua': people of the land: but with connotations of 'those who were here first' and 'host people'.
However the Maori people themselves do not refer to themselves as Maori. They refer to their tribal membership say Maori kaumatua Ross Himona. They are Maori only in relation to Pakeha. Maori means "normal" i.e. in relation to Pakeha. quotes from Pakeha, Its origin and meaning by Jodi Ranford.
Interesting isnt it?
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
