HEALTH COAST

Health Coast

Health Coast

Introduction

Within the health care arena there is a growing concern about the desires of the elderly. Families wonder if their loved ones are getting the proper care that they need With the growing charges of health care and the declining assets of primary care physicians it is feared that only the personal desires of the patient are met. Concerns rise about the communal psychological and ecological needs or the elderly. A study by Barbara Berkman and aides tries to provide some responses to persons worried with this topic According to the study numerous people are not aware of the communal services they may have accessible to them. Because of this, numerous elderly persons are not getting the care they need out-of-doors of the personal care essential to "live." It is sensed that screening a patient for social or emotional needs is evolving increasingly important. The aim of this study was to develop a questionnaire to recognize the psychological, communal and ecological desires of elderly patients.

Peer mentoring

Peer mentoring has been defined as a relationship between a senior person and a junior person for the purpose of providing advice, emotional support, and other assistance for the career advancement of novices as well as leaders. Peer mentors are also described as having a "more intimate role in the personal growth and development of a protégé. They guide, direct, open doors of opportunity, provide insight and honest feedback, and impart wisdom and knowledge [and] provide a prototype of one particular leadership path but never attempt to influence others in the selection of that path" (Weil, Haddock and Brodsky 1996, 18-21) One of the most frequently cited definitions states that peer mentoring is the "ultimate" or highest level career development relationship, followed by sponsorship, coaching, and preceptor ship.

Peer mentoring and coaching are thought to be vital influences in leadership development (Weil, Haddock and Brodsky 1996, 18-21). Peer mentoring is frequently described as a long term career development process in which a more experienced individual guide's the career advancement of a neophyte. Coaching is most often defined as a short-term advisory role (Wheeler 1995). Both coaching and peer mentoring are used to develop leadership skills in managers and executives.

Discussion

Comte, 2003 the advanced nurse practitioner (ANP) role differs from that of other healthcare providers because of its emphasis on coaching activities, so that Amps can act as educative resources for their organisations without imposing solutions on those they educate.

They can, for example, use their coaching and peer mentoring skills to help patients understand how to both manage long term conditions and develop realistic plans of care. This helps to move power from doctors to patients in the patient-nurse-doctor triad (Comte, 2003, 125-214).

Comte, 2003, 12believes that, to take individuals through peer mentorship or coaching processes effectively, peer mentors and coaches should know and understand the theories of peer mentorship, as well as the styles, skills and techniques that are associated with them.

This paper examines some of these coaching and peer mentoring theories ...