The Human Service Professional Serves Patients' Needs

The Human Service Professional Serves The Needs Of Patients And Famili

The human service professional serves the needs of patients and families in a healthcare setting by providing crisis counseling. Reflect on a news story that involved crisis. Briefly explain the crisis. Using Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs, analyze your chosen crisis issue for the individual (and the family, if applicable) in one of these specific settings. Determine an appropriate intervention and defend your selection. In your paper, 1) Describe a specific crisis involved a person or family. 2) Apply Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs to the lives impacted by the crisis. 3) Analyze a crisis-related issue that the in individual is facing/will or may face. 4) Defend an appropriate crisis intervention strategy. The Crisis Intervention in Healthcare Settings paper 1) Must be four double-spaced pages in length (not including title and references pages) and formatted according to APA Style as outlined in the Writing Center’s APA Style Links to an external site. resource. 2) Must include a separate title page with the following: a) Title of paper (bold and with a space between the title and the rest of the information) b) Student’s name, followed by institution name c) Course name and number d) Instructor’s name e) Date submitted

Paper For Above instruction

The role of a human service professional in healthcare settings is pivotal, especially when addressing crises that profoundly impact patients and their families. This paper explores a specific news story involving a crisis, analyzes the crisis through the lens of Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs, and proposes an appropriate intervention strategy grounded in crisis intervention principles within healthcare context.

The chosen crisis involves a young woman, Emily, who experienced a sudden cardiac arrest while participating in a community marathon. Her incident garnered media attention, highlighting the immediate medical emergency and the subsequent emotional and psychological trauma faced by her family. Emily’s cardiac arrest was unexpected, largely due to underlying health issues that were previously undiagnosed, causing distress and fear among her loved ones. Her family was thrust into a situation demanding urgent medical intervention, emotional support, and long-term health management strategies.

Applying Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs to Emily’s situation reveals multiple levels of unmet needs. Initially, her physiological needs—such as the need for immediate medical care—were paramount. Once stabilized, safety needs emerged, including protection from future health risks and assurance of ongoing medical treatment. Social needs also became evident as her family sought emotional support and connection during this traumatic period. Esteem needs were challenged, as Emily faced uncertainty about her health and future capabilities, impacting her confidence and independence. Finally, self-actualization needs could be considered in the longer term, focusing on recovery, adaptation, and resuming normal life activities.

The crisis-related issue that Emily faces is the fear of recurrent health emergencies and the uncertainty about her prognosis. Her family, too, is affected by anxiety about her future, financial burdens associated with ongoing treatment, and emotional distress stemming from witnessing her health crisis. These compounded issues could impair her and her family’s mental health and overall well-being, making immediate and long-term intervention critical.

An appropriate crisis intervention strategy would involve comprehensive psychological support coupled with medical management. A targeted approach would include crisis counseling for Emily and her family to address emotional trauma and develop coping mechanisms. This intervention aligns with crisis intervention models that emphasize immediate stabilization, emotional validation, and planning for ongoing support. Cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) could be effective in helping Emily manage health-related anxiety and fears about recurrence. Family therapy sessions can bolster collective resilience, improve communication, and facilitate shared understanding of the situation.

Furthermore, integrating a case management approach to coordinate medical care, follow-up appointments, and community resources ensures continuous support, which is crucial for holistic recovery. Education about her condition and manageable lifestyle modifications empower Emily, fostering autonomy and reinforcing her safety needs. The intervention plan also advocates for community-based support groups, where her family can connect with others facing similar health crises, fulfilling social needs and reducing isolation.

In conclusion, a human service professional’s role in healthcare crises extends beyond immediate medical responses to include addressing psychological, social, and long-term needs of patients and their families. Using Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs as a framework provides a comprehensive lens for understanding these needs and tailoring interventions accordingly. Ensuring that Emily and her family receive empathetic, multidisciplinary support can significantly enhance their resilience, recovery, and overall well-being.

References

  • American Psychological Association. (2020). Publication Manual of the American Psychological Association (7th ed.).
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  • Maslow, A. H. (1943). A theory of human motivation. Psychological Review, 50(4), 370–396.
  • Roberts, A. R. (Ed.). (2005). Crisis intervention handbook: The tools the professionals use. Oxford University Press.
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  • National Institute of Mental Health. (2021). Managing emotional distress during health crises. Retrieved from https://www.nimh.nih.gov
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  • World Health Organization. (2019). Mental health and psychosocial considerations during health emergencies. Retrieved from https://www.who.int