The Value of Patient- and Family-Centered Care

Abstract

decisions regarding the multidisciplinary plan of care. magine you're the nurse caring for Viola Cusick, a 60-year-old woman admitted for a transient ischemic attack workup. During morning rounds, you talk to Ms. Cusick about the tests scheduled that day and explain what she can expect from each test, including the sensations she may feel during her angiogram (such as pressure at the groin, nausea, hot flashes) and the mobility restrictions and continuing assessments that are required for six to eight hours afterward. You ask if she has any questions. She says she doesn't, and thanks you for keeping her informed. But have you involved Ms. Cusick in her care decisions? Although Ms. Cusick was informed about the diagnostic tests, the nursing plan of care wasn't discussed with her in a way that fostered dialogue, nor was she given many choices about how it would be implemented. The plans that nurses routinely map out for patients are one of their major time-management tools. But all too often, the patient isn't involved in the plan's development, and the plan isn't shared with him during its implementation. As consumers become better informed about treatment options, they expect to be more involved in their health care decisions. They are less willing to simply follow doctor's orders; they want to understand why a treatment was chosen and which options best suit their lives. These are all favorable changes. When health care providers work together to identify and explain the available treatment options and to support patients in decision-making, better treatment choices can be made, and care quality improves. If you talk to Ms. Cusick and review her medical history, you'll discover a history of back pain. You need to ascertain how well she'll tolerate flat bed rest