Patient Interview Essay

As a Minimum Data Set (MDS) coordinator, I interview several patients a day. I often discuss their prescribed medications, any treatment they are receiving, evaluate their cognitive level, pain, depression and much more. I take all their information we discussed, their medical records, and physician orders and develop an individualized care plan for the direct care staff to follow. I then submit this information to Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS). Initially, at the start of an interview I introduce myself, explain that I work for the MDS office and I submit their information to their insurance company. I ask them their preferred name and I began the assessment.
I began this assessment as I do every other assessment. I could tell this 84-year-old female was struggling cognitively, emotionally and physically. She was
However, I love having the time to sit and really listen to the patient. Having the opportunity to address their immediate needs, providing patient education, and developing an individual plan of care, is gratifying. “In our professional roles as nurses, we are responsible to care for persons who are ill. When ill, patients may be unable to speak or advocate for themselves. Vulnerable patients need our voices to speak for them” (Vertino, 2014, para.4). I believe I filled the role of a helper, by “mobilizing hope” for the patient and assisting her with “emotional and spiritual support” (Benner, 2001, p. 49). I did not pursue the teacher-coaching during this assessment interview, she was not ready cognitively or mentally to be educated on her disease process. I felt it necessary to tackle the depression first and give time for speech therapy to address her cognitive status. Benner (2001) states, “assessing where a patient is, how open he is to information, deciding when to go ahead even when the patient does not appear ready, are key aspects of effective patient teaching” (p.