Introduction
Episode of care refers to the aggregate of entire treatment require for curing illness or disease. The current report is based on describing my experience related to episode of care that took place during my clinical placement. In this context, Gibbs reflective model will be used that provide description, feeling, evaluating, analysing, conclusion and action plan related to particular case (Gibbs reflective model, 2024).
Description
The particular episode of care was related to the 16 year old boy who was recently admitted to the hospital due to anxiety and depression issue. It was identified that he was having suicidal thought, learning difficulties and Autistic. I was very curious to identify what was the major reason due to which he is suffering from such issue. Next day, I was going from outside the boy’s room and I noticed that he was continuously hitting its head with some equipment. I was in shocked by witnessing such scenario and I rushed to his room. I tried hard to the snatch away that equipment as it could result in causing severe head injury but I was unable to so the same. Further, I shout his name to stop him from doing so but he did not listen to me. Finally, I was able to snatch the equipment away but then he started banging his head on wall. I try to grab him strongly and called for other assistance and nurses so that they could easily handle him. Another nurse arrived and placed headphone on his ears which eventually aided in calming him down and boy was patiently slept in his bed. The nurse said me that noise was the major element which actuates him and thereby he engaged in such activities.
Feeling
I have never experienced such situation in my life due to which I was very nervous and excitable at that moment. I lack confidence to handle such situation as I was not having any experience related to treatment. Moreover, I was panicking at that moment due to which I was not able to focus on major cause that could results in development of such situation. Moreover, I felt that with regular training I would able to easily undertake such situation in upcoming time. This added to fact that I have involved in Hospital few weeks ago only because of which I am not aware of diverse interventions and unable to handle boy. Further, my decision of calling to another nurse and taking away equipment from his hand indicates that I was able to take optimum decision at time of emergency. From this experience, I felt that nurses that are aware of patient’s situation should be stay close to the ward so that timely action could be taken. Moreover, I believed that even after knowing that noise could trigger him than headphone should be kept near to boy so that such situation did not occur in upcoming time. Further, I was also shocked that no nurse has arrived to check boy until I have called them.
Evaluation
From the current experience, I have developed various negative and positive feeling which aids me in understanding various crucial requirements while providing services. This experience has also enhanced my knowledge regarding skills and competencies that should be developed for justifying my role of mental health nurse in upcoming time. I have identified that my quick action of taking away equipment and pulling his head away from wall has resulted in not causing any serious head issue. This facilitates in increasing my confidence as I was able to save patients from facing any huge consequences in upcoming time. Moreover, this experience acts as the learning platform through which I was able to enhance my knowledge regarding interventions. On the contrary point, I have identified that if other nurses that were aware of patient’s situation would be available on time than treatment could be provided at earliest. Further, I have felt that it require huge amount of time for me to handle such situation which indicates that I need to work harder for developing all the required skills.
Analysis
From the above situation, I have identified that learning disability and the autism was the major issue due to which such situation occurs. Due to autism he faces challenge in social communication, repetitive behaviour and restricted interests that create obstacle in easily adjusting in new environment (Buck et al, 2020). Moreover, due to learning difficulties he was unable to compete with his classmates and friends which lead to depression. I have identified that nurses should be well aware of the mental health condition of patients along with its reason which aids in taking timely actions. According to Nursing and Midwife Council, Nurses should involve in ensuring that all the required resources are also available near patients so that timely treatment could be offered (Nursing and Midwife Council, 2025). In this context if headphones have been placed near the boy then he would have used the same which may results in avoiding such issue. Moreover, while treating autistic child it very important to consider child behaviour towards lighting, noise and colours so that necessary adjustment could be made on timely basis (Casey et al, 2020). In this case, it was identified that I and my other colleagues were not adhering to this requirement because of which he triggered by the sound. Along with this, I have determined that lack of proper communication is also major issue due to which I face issue in providing adequate care to the patients. If the entire detailed information regarding patient’s conditions are clearly communicate along with its intervention, and then I would have delivered services in less time. From this experience, I have also determined that proper risk assessment and care plan was not developed which ultimately result in compromising with the health and well being of patients.
Conclusion
From the above experience, I have identified that lack of careful examination towards patients could result in causing a huge amount of issues and impact on their overall well being. I was very happy to identify that there was not severe impact on Boy’s head as I was able to safeguard him. However, this situation could be opposite if I would have not reached on time. This did not hide the fact that I was not having effective skills and competencies by which I could provide effective services. In this situation, instead of only taking away the equipment I would have grabbed him which would restrain him to bang his head on wall. Further, I should have effective listening skills as to understand the pain and issue from which boy is going through that would help me in taking most effective decision. Moreover, I noticed that a headphone include wires that could be used by boy for self harm. However, I would have used Bluetooth headphone that could be kept near patient as there is no harm of the same. From this incident, I have also realized the significance of effective communication and group cohesiveness within healthcare care provider. In future, I will also align with team members that will help me in enhancing my knowledge regarding diverse intervention. Further, I have understood the need of the effective working relationships between healthcare professional as they would together provide effective services to patients. Along with this, I have also concluded that healthcare professionals should raise their voice against the clinical decision if it impact on overall well being of patients.
Action Plan
For successfully handling such situation in upcoming this, following are various strategies and measures that will be utilized:
|
Skills |
Strategy |
Time frame |
|
Communication skills |
In this, I will be involved towards attaining various mentoring and coaching session which will help in effectively conveying my view point without creating any confusion (Coombs et al, 2021). Along with this, I will concentrate over developing my knowledge related to particular situation leading to confidently sharing my point of view. |
1-4 month |
|
Active listening |
I will also focus on enhancing my active listening skills which will help in better understanding patient’s issue (Rolnick et al, 2020). In this regard, I will focus over developing my concentration skills will help me in avoiding distractions. Moreover, 70/30 rule will be used that aids me in listening more and speaking less leading to attain the goal. |
4 to 8 month |
|
Critical thinking |
I will also focus on enhancing my critical thinking skills which help in effective solving all problems and taking most effective decision (Yee, Pizer and Frakt, 2020). In this regard, I will concentrate over enhancing my brainstorming and researching skills which aids in determining all the positive and negative aspect of particular decision based on which final decision are initiated. |
8 to 12 month |
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References
Books and Journals
Buck, J., Webb, L., Moth, L., Morgan, L. and Barclay, S., 2020. Persistent inequalities in Hospice at Home provision. BMJ Supportive & Palliative Care, 10(3), pp.e23-e23.
Casey, M., Rohde, D., Higgins, A., Buckley, T., Cashin, A., Fong, J., Hughes, M. and McHugh, A., 2020. “Providing a complete episode of care”: A survey of registered nurse and registered midwife prescribing behaviours and practices. Journal of Clinical Nursing, 29(1-2), pp.152-162.
Coombs, D.M., Machado, G.C., Richards, B., Wilson, R., Chan, J., Storey, H. and Maher, C.G., 2021. Healthcare costs due to low back pain in the emergency department and inpatient setting in Sydney, Australia. The Lancet Regional Health–Western Pacific, 7.
Rolnick, J.A., Liao, J.M., Emanuel, E.J., Huang, Q., Ma, X., Shan, E.Z., Dinh, C., Zhu, J., Wang, E., Cousins, D. and Navathe, A.S., 2020. Spending and quality after three years of Medicare’s bundled payments for medical conditions: quasi-experimental difference-in-differences study. bmj, 369.
Yee, C.A., Pizer, S.D. and Frakt, A., 2020. Medicare's Bundled Payment Initiatives for Hospital‐Initiated Episodes: Evidence and Evolution. The Milbank Quarterly, 98(3), pp.908-974.
Online
Gibbs reflective model. 2024. Online. Available through: < https://reflection.ed.ac.uk/reflectors-toolkit/reflecting-on-experience/gibbs-reflective-cycle>
Nursing and Midwife Council. 2025. Online. Available through: < https://www.nmc.org.uk/>
