Patient Independence In Nursing

Patient independence
The level of Independence varies for different patient because everybody has got their different experiences at some point. Everyone will require care at some points during which one loses the independence due to inability to do things that one would otherwise be able to do. In 2006, the Government White Paper which was issued emphasises the importance of independence – It was called Our Health, Our Care, Our Say – it explains what they should expect from healthcare professionals.

Independence promotion can be carried out in different situations. For example:
1) A partially sighted elderly lady who lives at home.
• Encourage her to do things they can, rather than doing it for her in the name of ‘saving time’. This is another
• Put measure in place to teach her new skills – new things they have not done but can now do like getting her to teach her guide dogs her better and easy way of doing things.
• Make provision for guide dogs.
• Motivate her to carry out as much care as much as possible.
• Make provision for equipments like audible / vibrating liquid level indicators, talking clock, big button call blocker, talking cordless phone etc.; that could assist with activities without the assistance of no one.
• They can be empowered to look after their own sight by giving them information or access to information about what to do and who to contact in relation to their entitlement and rights under the Care Act 2014.
• They should be guarantee of ease of movement between providers and services. E.g disable access to clinics, transport etc.
• They can also be questioned as to what they can do and what they would like to do, their likes and dislikes etc.

2) A lady has just had a C-section and now back on the ward
• They should be encouraged and motivated when doing things.
• Most adult are normally used to their own privacy, hence the need to give them their own
• Alcohol: In UK, this is the most general used substance used in altering mood. Although it gives pleasure and ecstasy to people and perhaps some economic benefits, its irresponsible consumption can cause great deal of harm to users, their friends, families and communities as a whole. It can make one tired unnecessarily and contribute to insomnia. It makes one discharge more liquid than what was taken into the body and can be extremely dangerous to the body when mixed with illegal drugs. It harms the digestive system and plays a high role in developing liver disease and high blood pressure.
• Lack of exercise (inactivity): This is linked to many major ill and fatal health conditions like obesity and high blood cholesterol levels, diabetes, heart disease, stroke etc.
• Diet: Lack of consuming adequate vegetables and fruits, beans, whole grains with immense consumption of meat and products that are high in saturated fact and cholesterol and lacks fibre like diary products could lead to contacting diseases that can be prevented, cancer. These products are typically high in saturated fat and cholesterol and completely devoid of