The Lived Experience of Being a Health Care Consumer
<p><b>The lived
experience of being a healthcare consumer</b></p>
<p><b>Background</b></p>
<p>Nurses as consumers
of health care are uniquely placed to respond to the current crisis in care,
identifying gaps in service provision as well as observing first hand whether
care meets the competencies of their registering authority. </p>
<p><b>Study objective</b></p>
<p>This project aimed
to explore nurses’ experience of being a patient or a consumer of healthcare
through the care of a loved one.</p>
<p><b>Method</b></p>
<p>Using a qualitative
phenomenological approach (van Manen, 2014) 14 registered nurses who had been a
hospitalised patient or had identified as the primary carer for a hospitalised
patient responded to an advertisement to participate. Each participant was
interviewed on two occasions about six months apart. Interviews were audio
recorded and transcribed verbatim.</p>
<p><b>Outcomes</b></p>
<p>In depth analysis,
involving inclusion of participants’ reflections from their second interviews
is still in process. However, some preliminary themes are emerging:</p>
<p><i>To disclose or
not</i>: Nurses are not sure
whether to disclose their profession when in a care-recipient position. </p>
<p><i>I am a patient</i>: Participants shared they want to be treated
as a patient, not a nurse, though wanted to be included in decision-making
discussions. </p>
<p><i>Being in the moment</i>: There is a distinction between nursing
practice and nursing care. The concept of caring is described as ‘being in the
moment’ with the patient. Concern was voiced on the lack of compassion that
many of them experienced.</p>
<p><b>Implications</b></p>
<p>The focus of person-centred
care in every-day practice is an essential element that needs to be at the
forefront of care delivery. We need to embrace a workplace culture where ‘doing
the little things’ are not considered unimportant but are an essential
component of care. Hearing the voice of health care consumers will only be
effective if such lived experiences are translated into education, practice and
management.</p><p>Poster presented at the ATBH VIII conference, Oxford University- 6th-9th Sept, 2016.</p>
