Free Report on Cystic Fibrosis Care: Resources, Interprofessional Teams, and Therapeutic Communication

Determine the community resources needed to promote health and minimize hospitalizations for Alex

Caring for a child with cystic fibrosis can be daunting as the condition affects many aspects of the child’s life. Cystic fibrosis (CF) is a genetic disorder that affects the cells that produce digestive juices, mucus, and sweat causing severe damage to the digestive system, lungs, and other vital organs ("About Cystic Fibrosis", 2020). Damage in the lungs is caused by mucus clogging the airways and trapping germs leading to infections and inflammations that limit the ability to breathe. It is therefore vital to minimize contact with germs for Alex in order to minimize hospitalization and promote health. To achieve this, several community resources such as playrooms, parking spaces, hospital waiting rooms, classrooms, hand hygiene, and disease-specific affinity groups must be closely monitored.

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To minimize contact with germs and hence re-infections, Alex’s parents should try to ensure that he only uses the playroom when it is not crowded and there are no other children with CF present. It is also crucial to ensure that Alex and those who come into contact with him, such as visitors, medical team, and family members maintain good hand hygiene by washing up with soap and running water and or sanitizing frequently. Hand hygiene must be observed before touching Alex or his belongings. Alex’s parents are also encouraged to make arrangements for allocation to a parking area whenever they visit the hospital to ensure fewer chances of germs exposure in overcrowded parking lots. If Alex is attending any form of schooling, it is crucial to ensure that hygiene is maintained in the classroom and that he stays out of school when he shows signs of infection. Whenever he visits the hospital, it is crucial that he wears a mask and all the hospital staff who come into contact with him maintain proper hand hygiene and wear a mask to avoid passing any germs to him and should advocate for social policies to help improve his access to healthcare resources (Schechter & Margolis, 2005).

Identifies members of the interprofessional care team that will contribute to the management of Alex’s chronic illness (Michael and Kim, Alex’s parents, are integral members of this team) and the role each would play in the management of Alex’s condition.

Alex’s care team will include his parents; Michael and Kim, a required medical team and a recommended medical team ("Your CF Care Team", 2020). The required medical team consists of a nurse, a physician, a dietitian, a respiratory therapist, a social worker, and a program coordinator. The recommended medical team consists of a physical therapist, a pharmacist, a psychologist, and a research coordinator. Alex’s parents are his primary caregivers and are responsible for ensuring that his exposure to germs is minimized. They can achieve this by minimizing his contact with sick people and ensuring that he washes and sanitizes his hands frequently. They should also disinfect his clothes and belongings such as toys, as well as the surfaces he frequently comes into contact with regularly. Being his primary caregivers, they are also responsible for ensuring that he takes his medication as prescribed and brings him to all his scheduled hospital checkups. They should also closely monitor his health progress and contact his physician should the need arise.

The CF nurse is the primary contact and helps coordinate and carry out Alex’s medical care plans. He/she will walk Michael and Kim through Alex’s treatment plan and facilitate communication with other members of the medical team. The physician will conduct the clinical trials on Alex and develop a medical plan to meet his needs. He/she will also educate and inform on Alex’s care plan and review it to inform on any required changes. Infants and children suffering from CF are poor feeders (Borowitz et al., 2009). A dietitian will assess Alex’s daily food intake, growth, and overall nutritional status to ensure that he is eating healthy and working towards an optimal weight. A healthy body weight and good nutrition with all the required nutrients will boost his immunity and thus help fight off lung infections.

A respiratory therapist is also crucial as he/she will measure the airflow to Alex’s lungs by performing pulmonary function tests (PFT). He/she will also perform pulmonary therapies which involve airway clearance techniques (ACTs) to clear mucus from the lungs and thus control bacteria and reduce inflammation in the airways. He/she will teach Michael and Kim how to perform ACTs and administer inhaled medication. On the other hand, a social worker will assess and counsel Michael and Kim on the emotional, financial, and social aspects of living with a child with CF. He/she will also help them navigate their health insurance coverage and find financial assistance where necessary ("Your CF Care Team", 2020).

The research coordinator will answer Michael and Kim’s questions on clinical trials and help them determine if Alex is eligible to participate in specific trials. In the case where the parents, Michael Kim, or Alex may require a specialist to help them cope with emotional behavioral, or psychological challenges, the social worker may refer them to a psychologist. The psychologist may also help Michael and Kim develop coping strategies on how to care for a child with CF. A pharmacist will help Michael and Kim learn the benefits and side effects of the drugs that Alex will be taking. He/she will ensure that the medications prescribed to Alex will not react with each other or cause him harm.

Describe evidence-based therapeutic communication strategies that you would use with Alex, his parents, and the inter-professional care team.

I will ensure to demonstrate professional practice by completing reports and documenting communication and interventions in a timely, accurate, and objective means. I will also report significant outcomes where appropriate and effectively articulate reasons for referral. I will clearly explain interventions to Michael and Kim and obtain consent for interventions. I will also demonstrate critical thinking and analysis and participate in care planning to ensure optimal standards for Alex’s care plan. I will use appropriate verbal and non-verbal behavior and appropriate questioning styles to facilitate therapeutic communication between Alex, his parents, and the inter-professional team (Abdolrahimi et al., 2017).

I will be empathetic to the parties involved, ensure to convey all the important details and avoid medical jargon while explaining concepts to Michael and Kim, encourage Alex and his parents to express their feelings and actively listen to them, and then articulate them to the appropriate member of the professional team. I will assess for any issues such as distress or anxiety from Alex and his parents and respond in an appropriate and sensitive manner and where necessary involve a member of the professional team. I will develop effective collaborative relationships between Alex, his parents, and the professional team and encourage effective communication in order to maximize health outcomes.

References

Abdolrahimi, M., Ghiyasvandian, S., Zakerimoghadam, M., & Ebadi, A. (2017). Therapeutic communication in nursing students: A Walker & Avant concept analysis. Electronic Physician, 9(8), 4968-4977. https://doi.org/10.19082/4968

About Cystic Fibrosis. Cff.org. (2020). Retrieved 17 September 2020, from https://www.cff.org/What-is-CF/About-Cystic-Fibrosis/.

Borowitz, D., Robinson, K., Rosenfeld, M., Davis, S., Sabadosa, K., & Spear, S. et al. (2009). Cystic Fibrosis Foundation Evidence-Based Guidelines for Management of Infants with Cystic Fibrosis. The Journal Of Pediatrics, 155(6), S73-S93. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jpeds.2009.09.001

Schechter, M., & Margolis, P. (2005). Improving Subspecialty Healthcare: Lessons from Cystic Fibrosis. The Journal Of Pediatrics, 147(3), 295-301. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jpeds.2005.03.044

Your CF Care Team. Cff.org. (2020). Retrieved 17 September 2020, from https://www.cff.org/Care/Your-CF-Care-Team/.