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Discussion #2- Clinical Experience Reflection 2

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Discussion #2- Clinical Experience Reflection 2

Clinical interaction is essential in developing an accurate diagnosis in a healthcare

environment. Within these encounters, healthcare professionals often struggle with emotions and

resistance, particularly when evaluating patients (Søvold et al., 2021). I have had the opportunity

to engage directly with patients from diverse backgrounds. I had a client case involving an

African-American woman, which led to an emotional struggle because her story was sad. The

client was a 32-year-old female who is married and a mother of two children. The patient began

experiencing unusual symptoms early last year, causing her to seek medical attention. It was

determined that she had developed heart disease. This diagnosis significantly affected her daily

life, leading her to resign from her job to focus on her family. Shortly after being diagnosed with

heart disease, she became pregnant and successfully gave birth. Her husband has been a firm

support system for her and their children throughout this challenging period. He shouldered the

financial responsibilities of their household, which included rent for their private apartment,

buying the client’s medications, paying their firstborn's school fees, and managing all other

household expenses.

The patient's husband lost his job in April last year and has been actively searching for

alternative employment opportunities without success. Following several unsuccessful job

searches, the patient began to see changes in her husband's behavior. He started staying away

from home for extended periods, sometimes for as long as three days. Approximately one month

ago, the patient's husband mentioned his intention to file for divorce, which has caused

significant distress to the patient. She reported feeling extremely anxious for the last month. She

shared her concerns about her ability to cope, cover her medical expenses, and provide for her

two children in the event of a divorce since she is not employed. She attempted to earn some
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income by babysitting her neighbor's children last week but found it challenging to continue. The

patient also reported experiencing challenges with going to sleep and struggles to manage

persistent feelings of anxiety. She has increased irritability, trouble maintaining focus, frequently

experiences fatigue, and reports inexplicable physical discomfort.

After listening to her reported symptoms and issues, I reassured her that I empathized

with her situation and pledged to assist her in managing her anxiety. I started by explaining that

her current condition is manageable and that she could have improved through adherence to

prescribed medications and therapy. I gave the patient information about the drug and stressed

the importance of following the recommended dosage and instructions. The patient responded,

refusing to accept prescribed medication for anxiety because she is already on other drugs and

afraid they may affect her ability to work and provide for her children. It was challenging to

communicate with her and ensure she understood that the medication she was currently taking

addressed her heart condition. In contrast, the medication I prescribed was intended to help

manage her emotional distress. I also educated the client that the decision to decline the drug was

within her rights. After she decided to reduce medication, we created a treatment plan focused on

non-pharmacological approaches, including cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) (Curtiss et al.,

2021). I recommended using relaxation techniques through controlled breathing exercises.

Additionally, I emphasized the significance of adding physical activity, maintaining a balanced

diet, and abstaining from recreational drug use as well as alcohol and smoking (Palmer et al.,

2018). The patient expressed comprehension of the relaxation technique and promised to apply

the treatment plan and other methods to improve her overall health. Despite encountering initial

resistance during the assessment because of refusal to use medication, I communicated with the
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patient, created a positive rapport, and provided guidance on effectively managing her anxiety

disorder.
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References

Curtiss, J. E., Levine, D. S., Ander, I., & Baker, A. W. (2021). Cognitive-behavioral treatments

for anxiety and stress-related disorders. Focus, 19(2), 184–189.

https://doi.org/10.1176/appi.focus.20200045

Palmer, M., Sutherland, J., Barnard, S., Wynne, A., Rezel, E., Doel, A., ... & Free, C. (2018).

The effectiveness of smoking cessation, physical activity/diet and alcohol reduction

interventions delivered by mobile phones for preventing non-communicable diseases: a

systematic review of randomized controlled trials. PloS one, 13(1), e0189801.

https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0189801

Søvold, L. E., Naslund, J. A., Kousoulis, A. A., Saxena, S., Qoronfleh, M. W., Grobler, C., &

Münter, L. (2021). Prioritizing the Mental Health and Well-Being of Healthcare

Workers: An Urgent Global Public Health Priority. Frontiers in Public Health, 9(1), 1–

12. frontiersin. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpubh.2021.679397