Lakhasly

THE ART OF NURSING: PERCEPTION AND THE CARING EXPERIENCE Nursing has also been defined by the description of its clinical functions, such as main- taining or restoring normal life function, observing and reporting signs of change in a patient's condition, and assessing the patient's physical, social, and emotional state.Based on these assessments, nursing also involves formulating and performing a plan of care, counseling in relation to other health-related services and resources, and teaching to address knowledge deficits.10 In each of these endeavors, individual patient perception is critical.A patient's perception of caring behaviors rendered is influenced by an interactive combination of situational, attitudinal, and behavioral biasing factors.A patient's beliefs, values, and social or cultural

acceptances/approvals affect his or her attitude toward caring behaviors rendered.12 If a patient does not approve of touching because of cultural beliefs, norms, or biases, he or she may reject such nonverbal caring behaviors.The situation or status of the patient may be based on his or her perception of health and will also dictate the patient's perception of his or her need.11 If the patient is in a situation in which he or she is diapered and soiled, verbal caring behaviors may not be perceived as caring, as he or she needs nonverbal caring behaviors, such as cleaning and/or bathing.Perception is also influenced by personalities, attitudes, biases, and previous expe- riences.Cooper11 states that perception is a critical component that precedes one's behavior and influences one's definition of certain concepts such as caring.As nurses strive to influence the caring experience of patients, individual patient perception must be understood and considered in the preparation of individ- ualized care plans.The results of the evaluation determine the individual's perception, which in turn influences the individual's behavioral response.Perception is the mechanism by which an individual evaluates information received from the external environment.

THE ART OF NURSING: PERCEPTION AND THE CARING EXPERIENCE
Nursing has also been defined by the description of its clinical functions, such as main- taining or restoring normal life function, observing and reporting signs of change in a patient’s condition, and assessing the patient’s physical, social, and emotional state. Based on these assessments, nursing also involves formulating and performing a plan of care, counseling in relation to other health-related services and resources, and teaching to address knowledge deficits.10 In each of these endeavors, individual patient perception is critical.
Perception is the mechanism by which an individual evaluates information received from the external environment. Cooper11 states that perception is a critical component that precedes one’s behavior and influences one’s definition of certain concepts such as caring. As nurses strive to influence the caring experience of patients, individual patient perception must be understood and considered in the preparation of individ- ualized care plans. Patient perception may present a challenge to a patient’s identifi- cation of caring behaviors, as perception plays a major part in human evaluation. The results of the evaluation determine the individual’s perception, which in turn influences the individual’s behavioral response.
Perception is also influenced by personalities, attitudes, biases, and previous expe- riences. For these reasons, it is important to assess a patient’s perception of caring in the planning phase of rendering caring behaviors. When a nurse knows the patient’s perception of caring, he or she prepares a focused and individualized plan of care that influences the patient’s caring experience.
A patient’s perception of caring behaviors rendered is influenced by an interactive combination of situational, attitudinal, and behavioral biasing factors. Situational biases yield influences that affect the manner in which information is received during communication. Depending on the situation or status of the patient, caring behaviors will be accepted or rejected. The situation or status of the patient may be based on his or her perception of health and will also dictate the patient’s perception of his or her need.11 If the patient is in a situation in which he or she is diapered and soiled, verbal caring behaviors may not be perceived as caring, as he or she needs nonverbal caring behaviors, such as cleaning and/or bathing. If the patient is in a situation in which he or she is feeling discouraged and depressed, verbal caring behaviors may be needed and are accepted as caring. Professional discernment is necessary to determine whether the behaviors will be seen as caring and will successfully promote a caring experience for the patient.
Attitudinal biases include the disposition, motivation, and/or personality of the patient. Attitudinal biases also include the amount of control the patients believe they can exert on caring events. A patient’s beliefs, values, and social or cultural

acceptances/approvals affect his or her attitude toward caring behaviors rendered.12 If a patient does not approve of touching because of cultural beliefs, norms, or biases, he or she may reject such nonverbal caring behaviors. In an effort to create a caring experience for patients, a professional nurse considers that an act as simple as touching may increase the patient’s level of stress and be perceived as disrespectful or intrusive.
Behavioral biases are influenced by a patient’s overall experience and life history. A caring expression, verbal or nonverbal, may be perceived as a risk based on the patient’s history.11 For example, a patient may respond with hostility to an attempt to comfort him physically. A routine comfort measure, such as a massage, may be perceived as a risk or an inappropriate behavior that threatens the patient’s feelings of safety. As a professional nurse gets to know his or her patient, behavioral biases are assessed. Understanding a patient’s behavioral biases allows nurses to success- fully promote caring experiences.