Concepts of Self and Personal Knowing

SELF CONCEPT & PERSONAL KNOWING IN NURSING PRACTICE

OBJECTIVES

  • Discuss how positive self-concept relates to nursing practice in both the student nurse and the client.

  • Identify how culture, family, community, and societal forces influence self-concept.

  • Develop an understanding of how self-concept is affected by illness and disability.

  • Describe the relationship between self-concept and personal knowing.

Reference:

  • GREGORY ET AL., 2020

SELF CONCEPT DEFINITION AND IMPACT

  • Definition: Self-concept refers to the sum of beliefs about oneself, encompassing both personal and professional identities.

  • Impacts on therapeutic relationship: Self-concept affects how a nurse interacts with patients, influencing empathy, understanding, and the overall quality of care.

  • Temporal aspect: Self-concept can change over time due to experiences, reflections, and interactions.

  • Spatial aspect: Context, location, and surroundings play a significant role in shaping one’s self-concept.

Reference:

  • GREGORY ET AL., 2020

SELF CONCEPT CATEGORIES

  • Self concept in yourself:

    • Professional: Who you are as a professional, how you conduct yourself in healthcare settings.

    • Personal: Who you are as an individual, encompassing your values and beliefs.

  • Self concept in your patient: Understanding patients’ self-concept can help in providing better care.

  • Self concept in your colleagues: Interactions and understanding among colleagues influence the workplace environment and professional relationships.

Reference:

  • GREGORY ET AL., 2020

COGNITIVE BELIEFS AND SELF CONCEPT

  • Key questions to explore:

    • Do I do what I know?: Reflecting on consistency between knowledge and actions in nursing practice.

    • Do I know what I do?: Understanding the implications of actions taken in the context of nursing values.

  • Impact on care: When providing care, it is crucial to recognize how personal beliefs may impact patient care and decision-making.

Reference:

  • CHINN & KRAMER, 2018

SELF CONCEPT THROUGH GROWTH AND DEVELOPMENT

  • Influence of Early Attachment: Self-concept is shaped from infancy through early adulthood, influenced by primary caregiving relationships.

  • Developmental Stages:

    • Infants & Children: Self-concept formed through early emotional reactions and societal expectations (e.g., gender norms).

    • Adolescents & Young Adults: Self-concept evolves through identity formation and social interactions.

    • Mature & Older Adults: Perspectives on self-concept often relate to preserving ego and adapting to changing health conditions.

    • Examples of societal influences: Statements like "boys don’t cry" affect emotional expression across genders.

Reference:

  • GREGORY ET AL., 2020

BRONFENBRENNER’S ECOLOGICAL SYSTEMS APPROACH

  • Ecological Systems Theory: This framework illustrates how various environmental layers influence self-concept.

    • Microsystem: The immediate environment, including family, influences self-concept intimately and personally.

  • Broader Influences: Transition from microsystem to broader societal impacts on self-identity and values.

Reference:

  • GREGORY ET AL., 2020

SELF ESTEEM

  • Definition: Self-esteem reflects personal judgment and value placed on oneself and experiences.

  • Characterization:

    • High Self-Esteem: Often a result of positive life experiences and supportive interactions, leading to feelings of belonging and worth.

    • Low Self-Esteem: May arise from negative life experiences, familial discouragement, and social isolation.

  • Imposter Syndrome: A phenomenon where individuals feel like frauds, doubting their accomplishments despite evident success.

Reference:

  • GREGORY ET AL., 2020

DISCOURAGEMENT AND SELF CONCEPT

  • Factors that diminish self-concept:

    • Repeated failures

    • Frustration

    • Anger

    • Fear

    • Depression

  • Impact on Self-Concept: A diminished self-concept can lead to a disparity between ideal self and real self, causing discomfort in self-perception.

Reference:

  • GREGORY ET AL., 2020

REALISTIC ENCOURAGEMENT

  • Importance: Encouragement is fundamental for fostering self-esteem and self-worth.

  • Developing Confidence: Building a foundational belief in oneself can enhance personal and professional development.

  • Influence of Messages: Messages received from society, family, and peers shape how individuals perceive themselves in relation to others.

  • Fostering Belonging and Competence: Creating environments that enhance feelings of acceptance and capability is essential.

Reference:

  • GREGORY ET AL., 2020

INDIVIDUALISM & SELF CONCEPT

  • Western View of Individualism: A dominant perspective that promotes individual achievements as measures of self-concept.

  • Global Perspectives: Different worldviews emphasize collective identities, valuing community and familial connections over individualism.

Reference:

  • GREGORY ET AL., 2020

IMPACT OF ILLNESS ON SELF CONCEPT

  • Illness and Self-Concept Changes:

    • Physical and mental health alterations affect independence and functioning.

    • Changes in appearance and role performance can profoundly impact identity.

    • Individual examples: Patients with pacemakers might face changes in lifestyle and self-view; cancer patients may deal with hair loss and identity shifts following chemotherapy.

  • Illustrative scenarios: Traditional male roles challenged by health crises, emphasizing the need for adaptive self-concept.

Reference:

  • GREGORY ET AL., 2020

APPLICATION TO PERSONAL KNOWING

  • Personal Knowing: This refers to understanding oneself through relationships and reflective practices.

  • Shaped by Relationships: Relationships with others influence self-identity.

  • Reflection: Conceptualizing who you are in contrast with who you project to others is fundamental to effective nursing.

  • Applicability: Self-knowing is pertinent not only to self but also to interactions with patients.

Reference:

  • CHINN & KRAMER, 2018

DEVELOPING PERSONAL KNOWLEDGE

  • Conscious Effort: Active engagement in understanding oneself is necessary.

  • Purposeful Actions: Ensuring one's actions reflect personal values enhances congruence between values and behavior.

  • Outcome: Achieving alignment in knowing and doing leads to better patient care.

Reference:

  • CHINN & KRAMER, 2018

AUTHENTICITY OF SELF

  • Key Practices:

    • Tolerance towards others and oneself

    • Reflection on feelings related to others

    • Opening and centering oneself to understand personal feelings

    • Practices like journaling and meditation help facilitate this understanding.

References:

  • CHINN & KRAMER; GREGORY ET AL., 2020

CASE STUDY ANALYSES

  • Case Study #1:

    • Scenario: Sylvia, a 90-year-old female patient, displays resistance towards care from a student nurse.

    • Discussion Points:

    1. Interpretation of Sylvia's anger concerning self-concept theory and Erikson’s developmental stages.

    2. How the experience may influence the student's professional self-concept.

  • Case Study #2:

    • Scenario: Louise, a 75-year-old female patient, expresses concern about vision changes and discusses her recent coming out as a lesbian.

    • Discussion Points:

    1. Analyzing the change in attitude and feelings of anxiety within the student nurse.

    2. Appropriate responses to the patient.

    3. Exploration of how sexual orientation affects self-concept.

Reference:

  • GREGORY ET AL., 2020

REFLECTION ON SELF-KNOWING

  • Importance of Self-Knowing: Understanding how personal beliefs and aspects of self can impact nursing care is critical.

  • Challenges in Nursing: Reflecting on values and biases can reveal potential issues in delivering patient-centered care.

  • Change Readiness: Evaluating the difficulty or ease of shifting personal attributes to improve nursing effectiveness. Emphasis placed on intentional self-improvement for better patient relations.

Reference:

  • CHINN & KRAMER, 2018