Free Nursing Dissertations - Communication Of Patient Needs Is A Major Factor In Determining Individual
Communication of patient needs is a major factor in determining individual nutritional needs and many mentally ill patients may fail to communicate and refuse to follow nutritional schedule given to them as part of a care plan.
The Roper Logan Tierney model (1980) marked a significant stage in the development of a conceptual framework within nursing, using which individualised nursing care could be planned and implemented. The activities of Living Model constructed by Roper Logan Tierney incorporated a lifespan approach in which characteristics of individuals are judged on the basis of an entire lifespan development. Twelve activities of living are considered that form the basic activities of individuals in a lifetime. These elements form a model of living and along with the four approaches of assessment, planning, implementation and evaluation, nursing practice is applied to these activities of living. The AL’s are as follows
Maintaining a safe environment
Breathing
Communication
Mobilising
Eating and Drinking
Eliminating
Personal cleansing and dressing
Maintaining body temperature
Working and playing
Sleeping
Expressing sexuality
Dying (Roper et al, 1980/1985)
Assessment of the patient is made for each AL and takes into account the lifespan plan of care approach. The assessment stage involves taking all measures of the patient, including nutritional measures (Holland et al, 2003). Eating and Drinking as we see forms the fifth major element in the model and plays a significant role in care plans. Assessment of an individual’s nutritional status using measurement tools, bmi and blood sample analysis is one if the first steps towards meeting individual needs in malnutrition.
Bodnar et al (2005) relate mental health nursing and nutritional care and states that adequate nutrition is needed for brain functioning. Poor diet quality, may be a risk factor for depression and other mental health problems. His study indicates that poor omega-3 fatty acid status increases the risk of depression. Fish oil and folic acid supplements each have been used to treat depression successfully. Even folate deficiency reduces the response to antidepressants in depressed patients. Deficiencies of folate, vitamin B12, iron, zinc, and selenium tend to be more common among depressed than non depressed persons, and thus nutritional deficiency and nutritional status play significant role in mental health of a patient.
