1 Working in a person-centred way

A lot of patients finding themselves in hospital meet situations that involve pain, anxiety and physical indignity with courage and good humour, but as individuals, their reactions will be varied. Becoming ill disrupts their normal life, upsets plans, may cause financial loss and produce a loss of self-esteem. The person-centred approach to healthcare focuses on the individual’s personal needs, wants, desires and goals so that they become central to the care and nursing process. It involves knowing the patient as an individual and as a person, not just as a patient with a certain condition and, where appropriate, involving their family and friends. Another way of being person-centred is to understand that everything you do for that person requires their consent, so you know they are happy for you to carry out the action.