Running Head: Nursing

Reflective Essay

[Name of Student]

[Name of Institution]
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Gibb’s Reflective Cycle

Description

I was working alongside a vascular specialist nurse, and the patient I was examining had nerve

problems in the lower limbs and leg ulcer on the right lower limb. When the specialist nurse

recommended the patient to stop smoking, as his worrying condition was due to smoking from a

very young age, the patient’s response was quite impudent. I experienced that the patients are

very careless towards their health, and they need adequate counseling and education regarding

the appropriate measures for health. This can certainly help them from the prevention of several

diseases, sicknesses, illness, and lead them towards better health and lifestyle (Glanz and

Viswanath, 2015).

Feelings

I feel that there is a prominent need towards educating the patients regarding their healthy

lifestyle and living. So, they are prevented from several diseases and that they can manage their

sickness and take control over their lives. After the experience, I thought that the only basis of

being healthy is not physical fitness, but the vital ingredients also include being emotionally and

mentally fit. For a better lifestyle, being healthy is an essential part. The long-term illnesses and

chronic diseases are prevented by living a healthy lifestyle, and therefore, my patient needs to be

mentally and emotionally fit (Glanz and Viswanath, 2015).

Moreover, I realized the importance of “The Health Belief Model," which predict and explain

individual changes in health behaviors. This model is widely used for considerate health

behaviors. Hence, examining the patient's condition, this model can be beneficial for dealing

with emotional and social health challenges including smoking, alcohol and drug use, personal

health, nutrition and physical activity (Glanz and Viswanath, 2015). However, this model
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supports self-efficacy, skills, knowledge, and environmental support (DiClemente and Crosby,

2013). Furthermore, I also thought that “Social Cognitive Theory (SCT)” would also be a big

plus which can influence individual health behaviors promptly. The change in the behavior of an

individual can result in SCT, which supports self-efficacy, behavioral capability, expectations,

expectancies, self-control, observational learning, and reinforcements (DiClemente and Crosby,

2013).

Evaluation

In my opinion, the bad thing which happened in the experience was that the patient

responded offensively to the co-specialist nurse. His attitude was quite inadequate, and there was

no positive feeling in his character. The patient seemed to be quite frustrated or disturbed

regarding the various opinions of different people, which affected him both i.e., mentally and

emotionally. His body language was cynical, as he was quite irritated by the opinions and advice

of the people living around him. During my experience, I felt the significance of positive attitude

in dealing with the patients, which can boost their energy, inspire and motivate them to meet

tough challenges (DiClemente and Crosby, 2013). Moreover, in my experience period, I also

thought that communication and temperament plays an integral part while dealing with the

patients. Communication can certainly influence an individual towards effective results

regarding his better health and lifestyle (DiClemente and Crosby, 2013). Also, another important

measure is good nutrition, which is the first step towards the prevention of several diseases.

Accordingly, I noticed that the best advice regarding nutrition results in managing drug side

effects (DiClemente and Crosby, 2013) (Sallis and Fisher, 2015)

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. Hence, these were the things that went well during the experience. I came to know a lot about

dealing with the patients appropriately and educating them regarding the living of a healthy

lifestyle. However, I can optimistically say that my experience was more or less complete and up

to the mark of my expectations.

Analysis

As discussed already, why things went badly were due to the impudent behavior of the patient.

The patient was mentally and emotionally disturbed due to his problem in the lower limbs and

responses from the people living around. Hence, the different opinions significantly led him

downwards, as well as disturbed his state of mind promptly. There was no positive attitude or

feeling in his communication manner. Hence, these indications coherently explain the rationale

of why things went badly during the experience. In addition, these causes of action

fundamentally affect the state-of-mind i.e., physically and emotionally. The negative body

language of an individual will undoubtedly produce adverse outcomes. Furthermore, the stress is

increased by these attitudes, and the delay will incur in the recovering process of the respective

disease (Sallis and Fisher, 2015) (Murdaugh and Pender, 2018)

. The problem in the lower limbs and leg ulcer on the right lower limb would take longer, or

might even create a complicated scenario if the patient did not stop smoking or boost positive

energy in his attitude. Hence, these consequences are the real threat that can be caused by the

inadequate actions of the patient and can significantly affect his health.

Conclusion

I could have enforced the patient to follow the principles of health by advising my co-specialist

nurse an effective manner of communication. Moreover, I could have an influence or convince

him of my personal and trained style of communication. The role that I was assigned during
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assessment didn't allow me to recommend anything for the welfare of the patient. However, the

positive thing I had been able to learn during the assessment is that the positive attitude and

patient character is elementary towards treatment or recovery of the disease. Whereas, educating

them regarding healthy lifestyle is equally important for the prevention of diseases and control

over their lives (Murdaugh and Pender, 2018). Therefore, my learning goals are achieved, as this

experience developed much awareness about positive behavior and the importance of healthy

lifestyle education.

Action Plan

Thus, in the future, if these circumstances occur, I can prepare myself in dealing with the

patients most efficiently and convincingly. The areas in which I can improve myself for the

prospects are the style of communication, positive attitude, and energy, better advisory of

nutrition, the deliverance of consequences in an effective manner, enhancing actions through

skill development activities and behavior that influences an individual in a timely manner. These

actions are meaningful and the appropriate ones for the well-being of patients in future

circumstances.
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References

DiClemente, R.J., Salazar, L.F., and Crosby, R.A., 2013. Health behavior theory for public

health: Principles, foundations, and applications. Jones & Bartlett Publishers.

Glanz, K., Rimer, B.K., and Viswanath, K. eds., 2015. Health behavior: Theory, research, and

practice. John Wiley & Sons.

Murdaugh, C.L., Parsons, M.A., and Pender, N.J., 2018. Health promotion in nursing practice.

Pearson Education, Canada.

Nutbeam, D., Harris, E., and Wise, W., 2010. Theory in a nutshell: a practical guide to health

promotion theories. McGraw-Hill.

Sallis, J.F., Owen, N., and Fisher, E., 2015. Ecological models of health behavior. Health

behavior: Theory, research, and practice, 5, pp.43-64.