Nurses Are Leading the Shift To Patient-Centered Care
As a nurse, you play a central role in shaping patient care strategies and outcomes. While there are many approaches, patient-centered care stands out as one of the most effective. But what exactly is patient-centered care and how is it put into practice in everyday nursing?
What is Patient-Centered Care?
According to The Essentials, published by the American Association of Colleges of Nursing, patient-centered care in nursing focuses on the individual patient within the many contexts of his being. Patient-centered care is the philosophy or approach to patient care that takes a patient's individual wants, needs, beliefs, and values into consideration. It involves a holistic approach that focuses on showing empathy, compassion, and respect for a patient’s wishes and responding to their needs appropriately based on those wishes.
Patient-centered care was defined by the Institute of Medicine in 2001 as a way for healthcare providers to identify, respect, and care about patient differences, values, preferences, and expressed needs. The concept gained prominence in 2005, during a time when healthcare was dealing with rising costs and stagnating quality of care.
How Are Nurse Leaders Guiding the Shift to Patient-Centered Care?
According to an article in The Journal of Nursing and Midwifery Sciences, “The evolving role of nurses in patient-centered care marks a paradigm shift in healthcare delivery. With their expanded scope of practice, interdisciplinary collaboration, and integration of technology, nurses have emerged as leaders in shaping the patient experience. By placing patients at the center of care and tailoring interventions to their unique needs, nurses ensure that healthcare remains truly patient-centered.”
It is the role of the nurse leader to ensure that they’re providing the guidance, tools and resources to help bedside nurses make the shift to a patient-centered nursing care model that prioritizes engagement, independence, and patient’s needs and preferences. With patient-centered care, nurses can focus on an entire patient and the patient’s well-being rather than only on the treatment for the patient’s condition or health situation. Nurses can concentrate on four main areas: culture, care, communication, and collaboration. With patient-centered care as the foundation, nurses can build relationships and trust that facilitate optimal outcomes.
Nurses are taking the lead in designing, implementing, and overseeing various aspects of patient care and treatment. Such interventions are based on the nursing profession’s expertise, knowledge, and skills. Nurse-led patient-centered care seeks to enhance a patient’s understanding of a medical condition and to equip the patient to make informed decisions about personal health. Nursing leaders can help empower that goal by creating a culture of support.
Patient-centered care also considers an individual’s specific health needs and desired health outcomes as healthcare decisions get made. Patient-centered care involves partnership with a patient and the patient’s family and caregivers, and it considers a patient’s emotional, mental, spiritual, social, and financial needs or limitations.
What is the Goal of Patient-Centered Care?
The goal of patient-centered care is to empower and educate patients, give them a voice in their own care and foster collaboration with healthcare providers. The Picker Institute, a British healthcare research firm, has identified eight principles of patient-centered care that can equip healthcare organizations with a framework to begin with. The principles are:
Respect for each patient’s values, preferences, and needs
Coordination and integration of care
Clear information, education, and support
Attention to physical comfort and environmental needs
Emotional support
Involvement of family and friends
Continuity of care and smooth transitions
Fast and reliable access to care
By embracing patient-centered care, nurses can create meaningful connections with patients, honor their individual preferences and deliver care that treats the whole person, not just their condition. Nurse leaders will continue to play a vital role in driving this shift and fostering a culture where compassion, collaboration, and personalized care thrive. Embracing the philosophy of patient-centered care enables nurses to improve outcomes and transform the patient experience for the better.
Patient Centered Care Requires Patient Centered Insight.