Discuss how situational factors can potentially influence the behavior of healthcare professionals toward clients with mental illness.

QUESTION

Case Study, Mohr

CHAPTER 8,- Nursing Values, Attitudes, and Self-Awareness

In completing the case study, students will be addressing the following learning objective:

Discuss how situational factors can potentially influence the behavior of healthcare professionals toward clients with mental illness.

1. Joe, a 26-year-old Caucasian man, is a client in a state prison system.  Joe is admitted to the prison clinic after being involved in a fight in which he sustained a stab wound to the chest that did not penetrate the lungs or major blood vessels.  The clinic doctor on duty was an employee of several years at the prison.  The doctor showed little compassion for Joe, stating, “He is a convicted criminal, and he is just getting back some of what he deserves.”  The new graduate nurse who was being oriented to the clinic thought that the doctor did not exhibit professional behavior toward Joe.  The clinic nursing supervisor later explained that the doctor was influenced by situational factors.

(Learning Objective: 3)

• What is a situational factor, and how can this influence the behavior of healthcare workers? Provide an example where a situational factor impacted on your behavior while in a healthcare setting.

ANSWER

The Influence of Situational Factors on the Behavior of Healthcare Professionals

Introduction

In the context of healthcare, situational factors refer to external circumstances or conditions that can affect the behavior and attitudes of healthcare professionals towards their clients. These factors have the potential to shape the perceptions and responses of healthcare workers, sometimes leading to biased or unprofessional behaviors. This case study examines how situational factors can influence the behavior of healthcare professionals towards clients with mental illness, using a scenario involving a prison clinic doctor and a patient named Joe. Additionally, a personal example will be provided to illustrate the impact of situational factors on my behavior in a healthcare setting.

Definition of Situational Factors

Situational factors are external elements that contribute to the context in which healthcare professionals operate. These factors can include the physical environment, organizational culture, time constraints, workload, personal stress, social norms, and the characteristics of the client or patient population being served (Mosadeghrad, 2014). When healthcare workers are exposed to certain situational factors, their behavior and attitudes may be influenced, potentially leading to variations in the quality of care and patient outcomes.

Influence of Situational Factors on Healthcare Professionals

Situational factors can impact healthcare professionals’ behavior in various ways:

Bias and Stereotyping: In the case study, the prison clinic doctor’s response to Joe’s injury reveals a lack of compassion and professionalism. The situational factor at play here is the doctor’s exposure to a correctional environment where individuals are often stigmatized due to their criminal background. This environment may foster biases and stereotypes, which can influence the doctor’s perception of Joe and lead to a lack of empathy.

Emotional Exhaustion: Situational factors such as high workload, time constraints, and exposure to challenging patient cases can contribute to emotional exhaustion among healthcare professionals (Panari et al., 2019). This exhaustion can negatively impact their behavior, leading to decreased empathy, burnout, and potentially suboptimal care.

Organizational Culture: The culture within a healthcare organization can shape the behavior of its staff. If an organization prioritizes efficiency and productivity over patient-centered care, healthcare professionals may feel pressured to focus more on completing tasks rather than developing meaningful relationships with their clients (Izdebski et al., 2023). This can result in a lack of empathy and impersonal interactions.

Personal Experience

During my clinical placement in a busy emergency department, I encountered a situational factor that influenced my behavior. One evening, the department was overwhelmed with a sudden influx of critically ill patients due to a major accident. The high-stress environment, limited resources, and urgency of the situation created a sense of chaos. In this situation, I found myself becoming more task-oriented and less attentive to the emotional needs of the patients. While my intentions were to provide efficient care, I later reflected on how this situational factor affected my ability to demonstrate empathy and compassion.

Conclusion

Situational factors play a significant role in shaping the behavior and attitudes of healthcare professionals. In the case study, the prison clinic doctor’s lack of compassion towards Joe was influenced by the situational factor of the correctional environment and associated biases. Healthcare organizations need to recognize and address these situational factors to promote professional behavior and patient-centered care. Additionally, healthcare professionals must be aware of how situational factors can impact their own behavior and consciously work towards overcoming any negative influences to ensure the provision of high-quality, compassionate care to all patients, including those with mental illness.

References

Izdebski, Z., Kozakiewicz, A., Białorudzki, M., Dec-Pietrowska, J., & Mazur, J. (2023). Occupational Burnout in Healthcare Workers, Stress and Other Symptoms of Work Overload during the COVID-19 Pandemic in Poland. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 20(3), 2428. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph20032428 

Mosadeghrad, A. M. (2014). Factors Influencing Healthcare Service Quality. Factors Influencing Healthcare Service Quality, 3(2), 77–89. https://doi.org/10.15171/ijhpm.2014.65 

Panari, C., Caricati, L., Pelosi, A., & Rossi, C. (2019). Emotional exhaustion among healthcare professionals: the effects of role ambiguity, work engagement and professional commitment. PubMed, 90(6-S), 60–67. https://doi.org/10.23750/abm.v90i6-s.8481