Immobilie patients

Immobility can be permanent or temporary. Temporary immobility can result following medical procedures such as a knee replacement surgery where the patient recuperates and regains back their motor function through rehabilitation. On the other hand, long-term immobility can result from chronic illnesses such as a stroke or injury to the spinal cord affecting the lower limbs. Immobility has different implications to various body systems. Immobility commonly results in the development of decubitus ulcers which develop following increased pressure on the areas under bony prominences such as the ankles, iliac crest among others (Latimer, Chaboyer & Gillespie, 2015). This can have an impact on patient’s mental health and wellbeing as it can lead to the development of isolation and depression (Rask et al.

Depression develops due to worry and fear of the unknown, feelings of hopelessness on their inability to meet their daily activities of living and their lack of control of their health and wellness. In Nunavut, the access to healthcare is limited due to poor infrastructure, limited healthcare professionals and the low health literacy among the aboriginal’s patients who are the major inhabitants. Health belief and perception of health among the indigenous population in Nunavut also contributes to the limited patient’s ability to cope with disease outcomes such as immobility which may limit their community involvement. The preference for traditional approaches to health might significantly amplify the patient’s negative experience of care. This places more hurdles for the immobile patient as it increases their dependency and increases their risk for stress and depression due to the strains associated with navigating the complex health system as well as the experience of illness.

Nunavut being so sparsely populated coupled with a poor transportation network with lack of interconnecting roads to connect the isolated territories, makes transportation of medical supplies expensive. Consequently, the provision of health care services in the territory is the costliest in Canada. Immobile patients who have chronic illnesses and other comorbidities are faced with high cost of care. Increased financial burden on their care limits access to essential health care services resulting in psychosocial implications including enhancement of depression on the patients as well as their family members involved in their care. De-conditioning that result from immobility can make patients withdraw from social interaction. Withdrawal from social interactions further leads to self-isolation where the immobile patients cut all links with other people due to their physical condition in fear of stigma and manipulation in certain scenarios (Crawford, & Harris, 2016).

Immobile patients suffering from chronic illnesses either hospitalized or not may experience both social isolation and loneliness (Courtin, & Knapp, 2017). Loneliness in this case is regarded as the inexistence of an extensive social network or the absence of the desired companion which reads to social loneliness and emotional loneliness respectively. A number of studies have associated social isolation with lack of social links with people and absence of interactions with members of the community (Valtorta, & Hanratty, 2012). A previous study indicates that most immobile patients suffering from Parkinson’s disease (PD) especially those cases characterized by motor symptoms greatly experience stigma (Maffoni, Giardini, Pierobon, Ferrazzoli, & Frazzitta, 2017). Motor symptoms such as muscle rigidity and tremors cause movement difficulties rendering the patient immobile. After the movement has been paralyzed, patients are forced to seek help from their caregivers.

While Parkinson’s disease patients recover under the assistance their caregivers, due to their helplessness, they may be subjected to a form of devaluation, discomfort or discrimination; commonly regarded as stigma (Maffoni, Giardini, Pierobon, Ferrazzoli, & Frazzitta, 2017). Normally, stigma experienced by immobile patients result from the outside world that is either from the immediate caregivers or other members of the community. What I can do. My nursing practice is based on the provisions and requirements of the code of conduct for nurses which stipulates that nurse’s ought to provide care that is safe, compassionate and ethically sound. Immobile patients are faced with a myriad of challenges within the healthcare system. Hence, they require support and care that is individualized and caters to their specific needs aimed towards ensuring that they experience positive care outcomes.

In my practice I will utilize the principles of primary health care to tailor care for the immobile patient that addresses the patient’s specific care needs and will advocate for added community and family involvement in their care. Important health information such as the patient’s medication regiment, their turning cycles, needs for other health services as counselling play an important role in their convalescence. Health promotion through sharing of health messages with the patients and their families is important and effective in enhancing health literacy. To ensure effective health promotion in Nunavut I would utilize the concepts such as storytelling. The Inuit people have an oral culture that cherishes story telling in a way to communicate knowledge, values, morals and skills among others.

Story telling also enhances nurse-patient relationship as stories motivate the Inuit, to openly share their personal experiences without interfering with their cultural practices and requirements. Primary health interventions can be essential in the care for immobile patients to patients living at home or are cared from home. Through partnership with private and community partners, I would gather support in the care of immobile patients such as through advocating for the provision of assisted walking devices and wheelchairs to those who are unable to afford them. Through community stakeholder partnerships, I would create awareness involving the care for immobile patents, the importance of balancing culture and healthcare for such patients and also to enhance community participation in the care of such patients.

Intersectoral collaboration is also important in seeking for service providers to provide other patient care needs for immobile patients such as mental health service providers and counsellors due to associated distress, anxiety and isolation. In summary, immobility is a critical concern in patient care due to the implications of and disability associated to it. Caring for adults with impaired physical mobility.  Nursing, 46(12), 36-41. doi: 10. nurse. 1d Grippo, A. 0000000000000052 Hansen, G. , & Streltzer, J. The Psychology of Pain.  Emergency Medicine Clinics of North America, 23(2), 339-348. doi: 10. , Giardini, A. , Pierobon, A. , Ferrazzoli, D. , & Frazzitta, G. Stigma Experienced by Parkinson’s Disease Patients: A Descriptive Review of Qualitative Studies. 1155/2017/7203259 Mooren, N. , & van Minnen, A. Feeling psychologically restrained: the effect of social exclusion on tonic immobility.