Reflective Journal
REFLECTIVE JOURNAL
ReflectiveJournal
I have dealt with many patients in my career. Each patient hasoffered a significant learning experience for me. Reflecting on how Ihandle and interact with these patients helps me to enhance my caredelivery and also improve the client`s experience. This essay is areflection on my interaction with a patient and with comments on howI could have employed the Jean Watson`s Theory of Human Caring.
Jean Watson`s Theory of Human Caring has five key core concepts thatguide nurses and physicians in offering person-centered care. Theyinclude authentic presence, allowing inexplicable events, being thecare-healing environment, practicing love and kindness as well asbeing spiritually aware (Wagner, n.d.). In nursing, a person-centeredapproach focuses on the elements of care, support, and treatment thatthe patient, their family, and medics value most. Of these fivevalues, authentic presence and "being" the caring-healingenvironment are the most relevant to my most recent patient.
In the noted case, my patient was a middle-aged woman who was worriedabout her survival chances. She was afraid that she would not live tosee her grandchild. Her family was deeply involved in the care of thepatient. Thus, I needed to be authentic in dealing with her and herfamily. By being authentic, it means that I speak from the heart withemotional resonance. By doing so, I will be capable of showing that Iunderstand the emotional pain that the patient and her family arefacing. Specifically, I should also understand the relevance of thefamily or grandchildren to their culture. To me, it appears thatseeing one`s grandchild is perceived as a key milestone in one`sexistence. Again, based on Watson`s view of a nurse being" thecaring-healing environment, I would seek ways to improve thepatient`s emotional state. These methods include using encouragingwords and even addressing all uncertainties the family may have aboutthe treatment plan. I would also place myself as one of themculturally as opposed to imposing myself on their needs. To do so, Ineed to be spiritually aware as a nurse. I should know how mypresence, actions, beliefs and cultural background affect others.
The theory recommends that I should have a strong personal spiritualawareness to enable me to handle a patient with dignity and connectwith her as a human being. Looking at my life, I think I have notengaged in my spirituality deep enough. From now on, I plan to lookdeeper into my soul and understand how my behaviors in and outsidethe institutional setting affect who I am and interact with otherpeople. This way, I will learn to show my authentic presenceeverywhere and not as a requirement in communicating with patients.
I can conclude that the exercise has taught me more about myself andthe needs of patients. Looking at how I interacted with the patientin the past case, I feel that I have more to learn and also offerpatients.
References
Wagner, A. (n.d.).Core concepts of Jean Watson’s theory of human caring. Retrievedfrom
https://www.watsoncaringscience.org/files/Cohort%206/watsons-theory-of-human-caring-core-concepts-and-evolution-to-caritas-processes-handout.pdf
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Reflective Journal
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REFLECTIVE JOURNAL
ReflectiveJournal
Conceptsof Stratification and Deviance
Sociologistshave identified essential aspects that define deviance andstratification. The identified concepts have significant roles inshaping societal behaviors and activities. Ideally, stratification isthe categorization of society members on socioeconomic strata basedon their derived powers, social status, wealth, income, andoccupations. Deviance includes behaviors and actions that arecontrary to social norms and values (Macionis & Gerber, 2014).Therefore, the understanding of critical stratification and devianceconcepts can support the formulation of reliable regulations tofacilitate a stable society.
Concepts
Stratificationprinciples are essential aspects among sociologists. Stratificationprinciples are the stratification is universal, the reproduction ofvalues from one generation to another, and stratification ofqualitative attitudes and beliefs and quantitative inequality. MaxWeber also indicates that stratification revolves around threeessential components, class, power, and status (Grusky & Ann,2015). Class includes individuals’ economic position in the societythat is defined by achievement or birth. Status is the individuals’popularity, social honor, and prestige. Power is the individuals’ability to influence community members’ decisions and views despitepossible resistance. Stratification also revolves around essentialvariables such as gender, economic aspects, social positions, race,and ethnicity (Grusky & Ann, 2015).
Besides,sociologists have identified collective aspects that define deviancein the society. Merton has identified two criteria of deviance,individuals’ beliefs, and person’s motivations. In mostinstances, internal and external factors have a significant role inshaping individuals’ behaviors. Furthermore, community members’views on reliable means to attain particular goals define theiractions and behaviors. Merton has also identified various types ofdeviance rebellion, retreatism, ritualism, innovation, andconformity. Structural functionalism concepts also facilitate theunderstanding of deviant behaviors. The typology indicates thatdeviance concept helps to define wrong and right behaviors in thesociety. Conflicts theory also affirms that deviant behaviors resultto the material, social, and political inequality (Macionis &Gerber, 2014).
Significantof the Concepts
Thedeviance concepts are relatively important in advancing myunderstanding of the causes of immoral behaviors in the society. Theconcepts reveal positive and negative implications of deviantbehaviors. The concepts also advance my understanding on functions ofdeviance that include the affirmation of cultural values and norms,the identification of right and wrong behaviors, the unificationprocess, and promotion of social change (Macionis & Gerber,2014). Besides, stratification concepts advance my understanding ofthe complex nature of the modern society. The concepts highlight someof the essential aspects that result to inequality in the society.The identified stratification concepts also reveal the contributionof power, status, and class in shaping social structure and roles(Grusky & Ann, 2015).
Applications
Theconcepts are relatively applicable in the everyday activities andoperations. Deviance concepts support the formulation of reliablesocial policies and regulations. The deviance concepts help to revealcommunity members’ views and perceptions regarding emerging socialand economic issues (Macionis & Gerber, 2014). On the other hand,stratification is applicable in defining individuals’ influence androles in the society. Sociologists also rely on social stratificationconcepts to define social mobility and the relationship amongcommunity members. The stratification concepts define promotionprocess in the economic sector (Grusky & Ann, 2015).
EmergingQuestions
However,despite the deviance concepts’ effectiveness and relevancy in themodern society, the concepts raise the question on the contributionof modern technology in shaping community members’ behaviors.Besides, stratification raises the question on impacts of societycategorization in increasing the level of discrimination and socialinequality in the modern society.
Conclusion
Sociologistsaffirm that deviance and stratification are essential aspects thatsupport the understanding of community members’ behaviors. Theconcepts are relevant in facilitating the formulation of socialpolicies and strategies. However, additional research is significantin helping sociologists integrate the concepts in the contemporarysociety.
References
Grusky,D., & Ann A. (2015). Social Stratification. SociologicalMethodology.42, (1), 365– 389
Macionis,J. & Gerber, L. (2014). Sociology(7th Canadian ed.). Toronto: Pearson
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