Confidentiality Critical Reflection

Reflection has not only been defined as an appropriate tool of engaging in personal and professional development through self-evaluation and self-assessment, it is also recognized as a way of seeking questioning how things are done and quality of practice (Asselin & Cullen, 2011). Nurses and other healthcare practitioners rely on the application of reflective models and placing structures on the process to make it meaningful. It is also essential to note that reflection is a patient-centered activity and is linked to critical thinking. Professional and authoritative bodies that govern healthcare practice especially those that deal with nursing sets the standards that nurses need to keep into consideration. They have provisions on how nurses should act to ensure that individual’s right and groups are upheld, they also ensure that they manage any risk to ensure that the type of care provides meets the interests and needs of clients, patients, and the public, evaluate and review care with member of social care and health teams.

My goal at this time was to apply management skills so as to enable me to meet the patient’s need while putting suitable skills forward and constantly seeking to improve areas of weakness. I will discuss the concept of confidentiality in a healthcare setting and how the nurse and other healthcare providers should be able to act under challenging circumstances. The reflective model applied in this study is David Kolb-Experiential Learning. Confidentiality in healthcare is concerned with an obligation of health providers who have access to important information, records, or communication to keep or hold that information in confidence. The aspect of confidentiality in the provision of healthcare can be traced back to the 4th century BC and the Hippocrates Oath (Nortje & De Jongh, 2016).

During the shift I came across a patient named Jay, the main issues, in this case, are related to confidentiality and patient’s consent in receiving treatment. Consent is a critical aspect of nursing especially in connection with ensuring that client centred is the best approach to treatment. Client’s dignity and autonomy are at stake when an individual considers enforcing or providing care without consent. Nurses are required to act in accordance with the patient’s interest (Isles, 2013). Therefore, it is important for healthcare providers to communicate effectively, providing the necessary information to ensure that a patient makes a decision by taking into consideration the pros and cons of every move While handling Jay, my interaction with him made me realize the role of confidentiality in a clinical setting and why nurses should also put it in their mind when handling patients.

I realized that Jay would be upset if I would discuss what he had in mind. However, I had to seek his consent and make it seem as if it was a necessary step. I went ahead to urge Jay on to what I had to share what he told me. I believe I earned his trust, I was able to communicate effectively to ensure that he was aware that I had his interest at heart in whatever I was planning to do. I learned that effective communication is an essential aspect of the treatment process (Bulfin, 2005). However, telling my mentor was inevitable considering the fact that I was just a student nurse with no experience. The principle of autonomy gives the patient the decision to control his body (Mellado, 2016).

In the case of Jay, he had the right to refuse to let others no what he had told me. However, the principle of benevolence urges healthcare providers to put into consideration the good of the patient (Arieli, Grant & Sagiv, 2013). I believe I took both into consideration and would do the same when faced with a similar situation. However, my decision after convincing the patient to enable me to share his situation with my mentor turned out to be a blessing on a disguise. It is important that healthcare professionals coordinate so they can have a mutual understanding on how to handle a particular situation. Nursing discipline is an involving career and at times, interdisciplinary collaborations may be needed to run particular operations (Bak-Maier & Inger, 2007).