Reflection on the Episode of Care

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The essay will critically explore the context of multidisciplinary team (MDT) working and refer to international, national, and local guidelines in the provision and coordination of care. I will also critically examine decision-making and leadership skills to support and supervise students in practice while reflecting on an episode of care. In this critical exploration, I will use Gibb’s (1988) reflective model which offers a systematic structure for analysing a scenario to promote learning and self-awareness. The model includes description, analysis, evaluation, feelings, conclusion, and action plan that helps in the systematic consideration of each phase of an experience. The rationale for choosing the Gibbs model is based on the fact that it is an effective and beneficial framework for reflecting on a practice of care and continuously thinking to enhance understanding and inform action for improvement (Okamoto et al., 2017).

Description

During my placement, I was involved in the care of Mr. X, -71-year-old with a history of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and depression. Under the Data Protection Act (HM Government 2018) and National and Midwifery Council ([NMC], 2018), the patient’s name is anonymised to maintain his confidentiality. Mr. X was admitted due to worsening respiratory problems including breathing difficulties, low oxygen saturation, and shortness of breath. As a final year nursing student, I assumed the leadership role in the coordination of the patient’s care while ensuring effective communication among the MDTs. According to the Social Care Institute for Excellence [SCIE], 2022.), MDT involves various professionals collaborating to provide care. (Rogers, De Brún and McAuliffe (2023) equally add that MDT is an effective framework that promotes interprofessional collaboration among healthcare providers. In Mr. X’s case, the team involved include, physiotherapists, respiratory therapists, nurses and physicians. Nonetheless, SCIE (2022) indicates that successful collaboration among the MDT requires clear role definition and purpose. As a result, I examine each MDTs competence and assigned roles to provide comprehensive patient care. Moreover, to meet the patient’s holistic needs, I collected comprehensive data including his current symptoms, vital signs, and medical history. Due to the significance of the concept of prioritising people (NMC, 2018) and timely intervention, initiated oxygen therapy, administered the prescribed bronchodilators, and managed patient pain as suggested by National Institute for Health and Care Excellence ([NICE], 2019).

Reflection on the Episode of Care

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In line with the Global Initiative for Chronic Obstructive Lung Disease ([GOLD], 2023) and NICE (2019), I engaged the respiratory therapist to improve the 71-year-old’s chest function by initiating nebulisers as well as breathing approaches. Furthermore, I encouraged open communication with the MDT through regular meetings to discuss the patient’s progress and address any concerns. I also educated the patient, and his family about COPD to empower them will self-management skills and to participate in his care. Equally, the NMC (2018) healthcare professionals to empower service users to engage in their care as well as treatment.

Feelings

Reflecting on the episode, I felt empathetic, anxious, and obligated to provide patient care.  I was affected when I saw Mr. X struggling to breathe, hence, I was empathetic and resolved to help relieve the breathing difficulties. Empathy is an essential principle in the patient-provider relationship because it helps in putting the patient at ease (Babaii, Mohammadi, and Sadooghiasl, 2021). In addition, I was nervous, as I assumed the leadership role of coordinating a team to deliver patient care. Moreover, I was nervous because the team relied on me to accurately gather and share patient’s pertinent data. Research also shows that anxiety is common among healthcare professionals due to complex patient situations (Willman, Bjuresäter, and Nilsson, 2021). The complexity of patient care is dynamic with various interacting factors that can result in uncertainty (Hube et al., 2021).

Despite the complexity of Mr. X’s condition, I was determined to do my best and ensure better outcomes. In spite of anxiety, I focused on maintaining my character to reassure the patient as well as the team. My objective was to create a collaborative environment where each member of the MDT’s views and knowledge are respected. Although MDT requires a facilitative approach to elicit contribution, the team leader should be directional when necessary (Cottin et al., 2022; SCIE, 2022). Therefore, engaging and listening to the MDT led to a sense of shared responsibility. Subsequently, regular interprofessional meetings and open communication were useful when it comes to exchanging ideas, knowledge, and skills to make informed care decisions. The collaboration contributed to teamwork and ensured Mr. X’s excellent care. Educating the patient and his family about COPD self-management was an insightful experience. Empowering them made me feel a sense of achievement. I was interested in improving Mr. X’s outcomes; hence, I equipped them with skills and knowledge on lifestyle changes, medication compliance, and proper inhaler technique.

Reflection on the Episode of Care

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Evaluation

I believe that I did well in gathering detailed patient information and communicating with the team. In clinical practice, communication is the foundation of leadership. Likewise, NHS (2022) good communication goes beyond sharing accurate information to expressing uncertainties and assessing understanding and acknowledging roles to promote patient safety. In the care episode, offering the team a clear comprehension of Mr. X’s condition fostered shared decision-making (SDM) and coordinated care (NICE, 2021).

Besides, I prioritised treatment based on the patient assessment. Leadership should prioritise patient needs to ensure safety as well as timely treatment (Hill, 2019). By understanding the needs of the 71-year-old’s respiratory distress, I promptly initiated oxygen therapy and administered bronchodilators to relieve his shortness of breath. NICE (2019) also recommends proper pain management in COPD patients. As such, I managed the patient’s pain to enhance his overall well-being. The engagement with the respiratory therapist to improve the patient’s respiratory function also reflected my effective leadership skills. The delivery of comprehensive patient care depends on teamwork and collaboration (Rogers, De Brún, and McAuliffe, 2023). Equally, Pelone et al. (2017) found that interprofessional collaboration is associated with improved patient outcomes and quality of life. The collaboration with the respiratory therapist contributed to the execution of a nebuliser and proper breathing exercises that improved Mr. X’s respiratory function.

The regular inter-disciplinary meetings presented opportunities to discuss the patient’s progress and treatments. Good leaders create a conducive environment to listen and consider staff views leading to shared understanding and collaboration (West et al., 2017). Thus, by listening to the team’s views, I facilitated a coordinated approach to comprehensive patient care. This approach to leadership fosters teamwork while empowering teams to make informed choices in the provision of patient-centred care.

Reflection on the Episode of Care

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Analysis

Based on the care episode, effective leadership plays a key role in coordinating and providing holistic care. According to West et al. (2017), leadership in healthcare practice is about assigning roles, and inspiring and directing teams in the provision of effective care. The condition of Mr. X was impacted positively and this was occasioned by teamwork and effective communication that played out superbly when collecting patient basic details. Boamah et al., (2018) note that transformational leadership impacts patient outcomes as shown in the case by Mr. X as it motivates teams, and enhances job contentment while curtailing adverse events.

According to the NMC (2018), seamless engagement among practitioners in a clinical setting culminates in quality care while guaranteeing the safety of patients. Essentially, meetings were key for a collaborative environment, which allowed teams to share views and skills to advance patient care. In addition, transformational leadership theory enabled me in managing Mr. X’s care. This was in tandem with Asif et al. (2019) who indicate that transformational leadership style promotes a spirit of teamwork as it creates an environment that leads to positive outcomes. Based on the principles of transformational leadership, I collaborated with the MDT and fostered collaboration and open communication. This approach was particularly useful since it promoted SDM

Conclusion

On reflection of the care episode, I exhibited good leadership through proper coordination and care provision. As a final nursing student assuming the leadership role, allowed me to collect adequate patient information, communicate with the MDT, prioritise care, and promote collaboration. This reflection has enhanced my recognition of how good leadership in healthcare leads to the delivery of comprehensive quality care and attaining better outcomes.  Primarily, the care episode offered me a real-time experience of good leadership, which was instrumental in ensuring that the team was conscious of the patient’s needs and collaborated to fulfill them. Additionally, I was able to promptly assess the 71-year-old and prioritised care by initiating oxygen therapy, and medication administration and ensured patient comfort through effective pain management. These actions are aligned with the international and national guidelines for managing COPD exacerbation (NICE, 2019; GOLD, 2023). The collaboration with the respiratory therapist improved the patient’s function while facilitating recovery. Subsequently, collaboration and effective communication were useful aspects of my leadership style.  Organising regular meetings with the team and listening to their opinions not only led to teamwork but also helped to consider Mr. X’s needs in the provision of holistic care.

Reflection on the Episode of Care

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Action plan

This reflective practice was valuable since leading the team caring for Mr. X’s care allowed me to identify my weak areas. As a result, I will improve my communication skills in future practice by seeking feedback from service users and my coworkers. Clear communication is necessary for effective leadership because it fosters trust and a collaborative working relationship (West et al., 2017). Therefore, feedback will help me recognise areas to improve and enhance my leadership styles. I will also engage in continuous education to enhance my understanding of evidence-based guidelines and best practices. Due to changing patient needs, evidence-based practice is integral when it comes to delivering patient-centred care (Fix et al., 2018). Furthermore, I will capitalise on on-the-job training, listen to TED Talks, and attend conferences to enhance my comprehension of leadership.

I will also take part in motivating less experienced nurses. Research shows that shows that novice nurses have low self-confidence in patient care (Najafi and Nasiri,  2023).  Therefore, as I advance my nursing professional I will role model and support new nurses to help them improve confidence. Allobaney et al. (2022) allege that confidence is a vital attribute for appropriately responding to critical scenarios resulting in improved nursing practice as well as patient safety.

Action Points for Future Practice

Conclusion

My involvement in the episode of care depicted the significance of leadership in the delivery of holistic care. In my leadership role in the care of Mr. X, I collaborated with the MDT and fostered shared decision-making and care coordination to enhance his outcomes. Again, prioritising patient care through oxygen therapy medical therapy and pain management is vital in the management of COPD exacerbations. Additionally, patient education and equipping his family with skills for COPD self-care leads to patient-centred care. The leadership skills acquired in this care episode will inform my future practice in the delivery of excellent, safe, and quality patient care.

Reflection on the Episode of Care

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References

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By admin in Essays on January 16, 2025