Physiologic Integrity

Answer

Physiologic Integrity

Introduction

Physiologic integrity refers to the adequate tending to the everyday activities of a patient. Physiological integrity involves basic patient assessment to determine the most suitable care for them (Moxley, Maturin & Rakstang, 2017). The nursing professional must also assess the patient’s mobility as part of the basic assessment. It is important to assess the patient’s ability to walk without assistance. If the patient uses a cane at home, it is crucial that they bring it with them to the hospital but it also points to their overall inability to walk on their own. This could mean that the patient must be assisted to use the bathroom, for example, are they are likely to fall and injure themselves. Other things to look out for are the need for assistive devices like hearing aids.

Semi-ambulatory or non-ambulatory patients may need to be assisted to position themselves in bed (Moxley, Maturin & Rakstang, 2017). These patients also need to be turned frequently so that they do not get ulcers. They also generally require more time for personal hygiene as they cannot do it on their own. Skin care and hygiene remains vital for such patients, despite their limitations, because their skin is prone to breakdown. Handwashing must also be emphasized to reduce the spread of germs.

Physiologic integrity requires that the nurse acts as a patient and respects the patient’s wishes regarding their care. The nursing professional must consider cultural, socioeconomic and political factors that may affect the patient’s attitude towards treatment and alternative care. For instance, Muslim women are likely to prefer a female caregiver to a male one. Some patients may also have personal biases to certain interventions. It is not uncommon to find that some patients prefer music, meditation, herbs and breathing exercises to opioids for pain management. Patient education is also required as a part of physiologic integrity to help patients understand the recovery process and manage expectations.

Physiologic integrity requires a multidimensional approach to the provision of care to vulnerable populations. This includes offering basic care and comfort whereby the nurse is involved in offering access to assistive devices, mobility assistance, nutritional support, non-pharmacological interventions for pain and comfort management, as well as sleep and adequate rest (Moxley, Maturin & Rakstang, 2017). The nurse also performs the role of pharmacological and parenteral therapy which includes the administration of medications. For this, the nurse requires knowledge of such areas as chemotherapy, nutrition, central venous access devices, and administration of medication and drug side effects among others. Another element of physiologic integrity is physiologic adaptation. This covers the activities of managing patients with acute and chronic illness. Finally, physiologic integration requires the reduction of risk potential by carrying out activities that reduce the chances of health complications.

A comprehensive plan of care for a patient from a vulnerable population must incorporate Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs so as to effectively prioritize interventions (Ahmed, 2017). Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs is based on a dynamic multi-layered approach to human needs and behavior. Maslow argues that human needs progress upwards as the basic ones are met and therefore certain needs cannot be met before simpler ones are fulfilled (Ahmed, 2017). For instance, patients with Diabetes would require a plan of care that flows in order from fast-acting drugs, safe danti-hypoglycaemic drugs, therapy, psychosocial assessment, therapeutic patient education to communication training.

As a diabetes care giver, it is easy to place too much emphasis on helping the patient achieve self-actualization and overlook the fact that living with diabetes complicates a patient’s life. Therefore the best approach is to first assist the patient to achieve basic needs such as safety, self-esteem and love. Each patient is unique from the next and therefore motivation strategies must be tailored around the patient’s education, economic status, health literacy and access to quality health care as well as the family and community attitudes towards the disease. Using Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs as a blueprint for a caregiving plan for patients with Diabetes provides the nursing team with a deeper understanding of the patients’ needs and allows them to develop an optimal intervention strategy (Ahmed, 2017).

Various environmental risks have been found to increase the prevalence of Diabetes within communities. Proximity to recreational resources is important in ensuring Diabetes patients maintain a healthy lifestyle (Dendup, Feng, Clingan & Astell-Burt, 2018). They also need open spaces, green spaces and well-designed sidewalks that promote physical activity. Some of the risks identified in my clients was their lack of access to such recreational facilities and spaces. A significant number of them do not even walk and are used to unhealthy meals.

In conclusion, physiological integrity is a critical part of the nursing profession that includes any activity that promotes comfort and helps in pain management. Nurses need to be more critical in their assessment of such needs as mobility. For physiological integrity to be achieved, Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs provides an excellent blueprint for developing and implementing suitable plans of care to address the specific needs of an individual within a vulnerable population such as patients with Diabetes.