The main task of the nurse is to help the patient and his or her assistant to make the conditions of treatment of each person maximally comfortable. Motivational interviewing (MI) is a counseling approach that healthcare providers can utilize to facilitate patient behavior change to improve health and psychological support in general. After completing the Motivational Interviewing Self-Paced Module, it is evident that MI could be applied in nursing practice to promote patient self-efficacy and behavior change. One potential application of MI in nursing practice is managing chronic diseases such as diabetes, helping change behavior, and stopping smoking and other bad habits.
Chronic diseases such as diabetes can indeed become a serious human problem. Nurses can use motivational interviewing techniques to address the issues caused by the disease. In the first place, this concerns questions about the patient’s health, the solution of which can induce changes in lifestyle. STI can be a powerful tool in promoting healthy lifestyles, which will significantly improve the sense of self. According to Jacobs et al. (2021), MI is an effective intervention for improving self-management skills in patients with diabetes. By using reflective listening, the nurse could acknowledge the patient’s concerns and challenges while highlighting their strengths and past successes. In this way, trust can be built between the patient and the nurse, increasing the patient’s motivation for treatment.
Furthermore, MI can be used to address patient ambivalence towards behavior change. Motivational interviewing can be helpful in cases where the patient is aware of the negative consequences of their behavior. For example, a nurse can study its advantages and disadvantages, which will help determine the person’s inner motivation and increase the chances of recovery (Jacobs et al., 2021). An example is when a patient has a genetic predisposition to diabetes but he or she does not change his or her diet for the better. The MI helps to raise awareness of the risks of inappropriate behavior and to take specific steps toward improving health. The specialist can push the person to realize the pros and cons of cooking healthy food, which can motivate the patient to change.
Motivational Interviewing (AI) can be helpful in motivating patients to fight their bad habits. Jacobs et al. (2021) note that IM successfully approaches smoking cessation. The nurse can learn about triggers and barriers to a patient’s failure to act in harmful ways to his or her health and help explore the inner motivation behind these actions. An excellent way to encourage patients to improve is to list the benefits of abandoning bad habits. This approach can encourage the patient to understand the positive aspects and increase the preparedness level for a healthier lifestyle. Although this strategy is rarely effective, it impacts patients and makes them think about their lifestyles.
In conclusion, Motivational Interviewing (MI) is a counseling approach that can be effectively utilized in nursing practice to promote patient self-efficacy and behavior change. By using reflective listening and acknowledging patient concerns, trust can be built between the nurse and patient, increasing the patient’s motivation for treatment. MI can also address patient ambivalence towards behavior change, particularly in chronic diseases such as diabetes and bad habits like smoking. By understanding the patient’s inner motivation and exploring the benefits of healthier lifestyles, nurses can help patients make positive changes toward better health and overall well-being. MI is a powerful tool that can help improve patient outcomes and promote healthy living
References
Jacobs, N. N., Calvo, L., Dieringer, A., Hall, A., & Danko, R. (2021). Motivational interviewing training: A case-based curriculum for preclinical medical students. MedEdPORTAL : The Journal of Teaching and Learning Resources, 17(1), 11104. Web.