Challenges nurse leaders face as they work towards transforming healthcare environments with a patient-centric focus, and strategies they can use to effect change.
Patient-centric care focuses on the collaboration of patients with health providers during treatment. It is the provision of care that is in line with the patient’s needs. Patient-centric focus increases not only the quality of care but also the patient’s satisfaction. Although nurse leaders are actively pushing for the implementation of patient-centric care, they encounter various challenges that hinder its actualization.
Among them is a negative attitude from staff. Some health providers still hold on the traditional ways of care. They are not flexible and willing to adjust. Some nurses have skeptical attitudes towards patient-centered care. Others are not committed or interested in knowing more about it. Even after taking the time to educate them about patient-centric care, they practice it only for some time and slide back to the usual traditional practice either consciously or unconsciously. That is detrimental to a patient’s health as a failure to involve them in treatment will make them get back to unhealthy habits.
Apart from negative attitudes, medical practitioners also lack sufficient time to implement patient-centered care. Their time is constrained. They are not able to build partnerships with the patients due to huge workloads and pressure at work. Patient-centric care is time-consuming. It entails effective communication with patients, particularly those with communication disorders.
Implementation of patient-centric care requires collaboration between medical practitioners and patients. For it to be successful, nurse leaders should initiate an education program for both patients and health providers. They should encourage partnerships between patients and medical personnel. They should also act as role models by practicing patient-centric care.
The education program should focus on the benefits of patient-centric focus, how to implement it, and communication techniques. Training will produce well-trained medical practitioners who can practice patient-centric care effectively. Nurse leaders should work with other experts and medical personnel.
A positive attitude is essential. Besides training, nurse leaders should monitor staff to ensure they implement patient-centered care effectively. They should follow up with patients and document progress. Nurse leaders should emphasize the importance of positive attitudes as it enhances trust between patients and medical practitioners.
To actualize patient-centered care, nurse leaders should actively engage in eradicating negative attitudes. They should do this by collaborating with other stakeholders in the medical sector and initiating education programs. They should also monitor and follow up with patients and other practitioners to ensure proper implementation of patient-centric care.
References
Oates, J., Weston, W. W., & Jordan, J. (2000). The impact of patient-centered care on outcomes. Fam Pract, 49(9), 796-804.
Esmaeili, M., Ali Cheraghi, M., & Salsali, M. (2014). Barriers to patient‐centered care: a thematic analysis study. International Journal of Nursing Knowledge, 25(1), 2-8.
Nkrumah, Jacqueline, and Gordon Abekah-Nkrumah. “Facilitators and barriers of patient-centered care at the organizational-level: a study of three district hospitals in the central region of Ghana.” BMC health services research 19.1 (2019): 1-11.
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