Running head: PATIENT CENTERED CARE 1

Patient Centered Care Defined

Courtney Babb

East Tennessee State University

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Patient Centered Care Defined

Patient centered care, according to QSEN, can be defined as patient care that not only

involves the health care team, but also utilizes the patient as the main source and authority,

allowing him/her to remain at the center of the care process (Case Western Frances Payne Bolton

School of Nursing, 2014). Somewhat different from this definition, a personal definition of

patient centered care is care that mainly focuses on promoting the patient’s mental state and

sense of well-being instead of primarily treating the patient’s disease. Although, like the personal

definition, it does provide for the patient’s emotional well-being in statements like “assess levels

of physical and emotional comfort” (Case Western Frances Payne Bolton School of Nursing,

2014), and both definitions focus on experiences and beliefs, QSEN’s idea of patient centered

care primarily focuses on placing the patient and his/her family in a place of authority in the

health care setting, enabling them to make/influence decisions during the process of treatment.

Different from the personal definition is the fact that QSEN’s definition consists of three separate

categories, which are knowledge, skills, and understanding.

Knowledge consists of an understanding of the patient’s family, personal background,

etc. and how these things relate to care (Case Western Frances Payne Bolton School of Nursing,

2014). This includes an ability to “describe how diverse cultural, ethnic and social backgrounds

function as sources of patient, family, and community values” (Case Western Frances Payne

Bolton School of Nursing, 2014). Knowledge of the cultural/personal background of the patient

is essential understanding what he or she will expect of the nurse and other health care

professionals. One can implement knowledge in one’s own care by interviewing the patient

about his or her cultural/religious beliefs and what he or she believes the outcome of health care

should be. Then, one should incorporate these factors into the care plan.
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Skills can be defined as applying knowledge of the patient’s expectations to the

development of the care plan and coordinating the efforts of the patient, family, and health care

team in the effort of providing the best care possible (Case Western Frances Payne Bolton School

of Nursing, 2014). One factor of skills is a duty to “participate in building consensus or resolving

conflict in the context of patient care” (Case Western Frances Payne Bolton School of Nursing,

2014). To do so, the nurse must coordinate with the rest of the health care team and serve as an

advocate for the patient to ensure that treatment is successful and the patient’s needs and desires

are met. Part of applying skills to one’s practice can be accomplished by asking the patient if the

treatment plan is meeting their expectations and wishes.

The attitudes section of QSEN’s definition can be defined as a recognition of one’s own

beliefs and feelings about people, their understanding, cultural background, and other factors that

may influence an opinion of someone, as well as a recognition of the patient’s views of the

world, the health care team, and the situation he/she is in (Case Western Frances Payne Bolton

School of Nursing, 2014). This requires one to “value the patient’s expertise with own health and

symptoms” (Case Western Frances Payne Bolton School of Nursing, 2014). If the nurse believes

that the patient has little to no understanding of the medical condition, the nurse may believe the

patient to possess a lower level of intelligence and believe him or herself to be above the patient.

In one’s own practice, complimenting the patient on his/her medical knowledge will provide the

patient with more confidence and may allow the nurse to have more respect for the patient.
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References

Case Western Frances Payne Bolton School of Nursing. (2014). QSEN Competencies. Retrieved

from Quality and Safety Education for Nurses: http://qsen.org/competencies/pre-

licensure-ksas/