A big concept in modern healthcare is the word “empowerment”, especially in relation to patients and communities. In this article, we will be discussing ways you as a healthcare provider can empower your patients. The World Health Organization (WHO) defines empowerment as:
the process by which people gain control over the factors and decisions that shape their lives.
(WHO, n.d.)
So how can you help your patients achieve this state?
- Build their confidence
- The more that a person can do for themself, the more independent they will feel and have confidence in their own abilities. As nurses, we try to encourage independence in all aspects of their care, from ADLs to medication administration to self-monitoring after a procedure.
- Collaborating together to formulate a plan of care is another way that a patient can feel confident in their care. It helps them feel involved and more in control of their lives when we discuss the plan with them and help guide them with options and alternatives.
- When we collaborate and encourage independence, we’re building trust between each other. A key component for any relationship to be successful.
- Educate, educate, educate
- Knowledge = Power. The more you know, the more you can achieve.
- One of the main roles that a nurse plays is an educator. It is a primary intervention technique used in the nursing process as well as in my own practice. Giving a patient the tools and the power to advocate for themselves is the main goal of education, in my opinion.
- Promote success
- Helping a patient understand their role in the triad of optimal health care leads to the betterment of their health and understanding of their care. Optimized patient care is a combination of recognizing social determinants of health as well as the health literacy of the patient, prioritizing the patient’s preferences and values, and, lastly, utilizing evidence-based research into the shared decision-making process (Ruth-Alma et al., 2021).
- Utilizing local, regional, and state resources, such as Commission on Aging, the county health department, or home care programs.
- Compliance alliance
- The best way to assist with a patient following the plan of care is to make it as easy as possible for them. Do they prefer in person visits or virtual? Is it easier to take pills or liquid medication? This can help the patient feel involved in their care as well as make them more likely to be compliant.
- Including a customized care plan and setting mutually agreed upon goals, the rapport is strengthened, trust is built, and you become their accountability buddy for check-ins and making improvements in their life.
Those are the four ways you can help your patient feel and be more empowered in their health care. Do you have another way you help? Did you find this article helpful? Let me know below in the comments!
References
Ruth-Alma, N., Turkson-Ocran, S., Ogunwole, S. M., Hines, A. L., & Peterson, P. N. (2021). Shared decision making in cardiovascular patient care to address cardiovascular disease disparities. Journal of the American Heart Association, 10(20). https://doi.org/10.1161/JAHA.120.018183
World Health Organization. (n.d.) Health Promotion. https://www.who.int/teams/health-promotion/enhanced-wellbeing/seventh-global-conference/community-empowerment
