Working through this class I learned many aspects of working with the gerontological population. One big aspect that this class maintains throughout the course is to always respect the gerontological individual. Although it is not as common anymore, many healthcare providers can take liberties with these patients. Especially in nursing homes, the clients can be talked down to, disrespected, or in the worst cases abused. It is our duty as healthcare workers to put a stop to this if observed with coworkers. When we are working with this patient population, we need to use therapeutic communication and treat them properly. This respect can also improve their autonomy. If the individual wants something done in their room or they want to do something themselves it is the nurse’s responsibility to make sure out of respect the client receives their wishes.
Another major overlying theme is to advocate for the individual when permitted. It is important not to overstep our boundaries as healthcare professionals and make decisions for our patients. However sometimes we are called upon to represent the gerontological patient. An example of this would be completing medication reconciliation every doctors visit/admission to the floor. This will be our duty to see if there have been any changes or any potential interactions that might negatively affect the patient. Another medication consideration we can help the patient with is adhering to their medication regimen and assisting with that process. By advocating for the patient’s, we can not only build trust but also a solid relationship.
Throughout this class I have been able to connect many of the overarching key points to my own care with my grandmother. My 92 year old grandmother lives with us at home and a lot of the points we learned in class such as medication administration, respect towards the client, and dealing with potentially death/dying has allowed me to advocate for her. This learning has also allowed me to care for her properly and start to understand some feelings she is going through. When going forward in my nursing career, I will remember not only the care of my grandmother but also the care of all of my gerontological patients. When working with that population, I will look out for their best interests, respect all their decisions, never talk down to these patients, and maintain a proper communication with them. By achieving all of these standards of care I will feel confident when working with this particular population.
