Why is psychology important to healtycare professionals?

Question

The importance of psychology for healtycare workers?

Answer 1

I am not sure what a healtycare professional is.

Do you mean Health Care professional?

Ifso, understanding the patient's emotional needs is very important. They are treating the whole person, not just the body.

M

Answer 2

I'm a student midwife and the reason we have to learn about psychology is because pregnancy isn't just about carrying a baby. The well being of the mother,the child,the father and other family members are important. As for other health care professions, i think you would be pretty useless if you didn't have some understanding of the mental and emotional issues people face. Sometimes healing isn't just about the physical state. More often than not its the mental state that is most important.

Answer 3

do you mean heatlhy care workers or healthcare workers?

I personally, from experience, dont think having a psychologist on hand for the STAFF helps at all....people who chose a career in the care industry decide that themselves, knowing the kind of thing that will get thrown at them on a daily basis (physical & emotional abuse etc). Thats mainly the reason for such a high turn a round of staff in that industry....people try it, decide its not for them and go somewhere else.

However, the people who do decide to stay, stay because they have the ability to shut themselves off and not to take anything personally, they know they may end up being injured or that they will endure a lot of emotional stress but these people are willing to take the risk as the job does provide rewarding benefits at some point, there is nothing better than seeing someone you have helped over the past weeks/years/months get better!

99% of people working with mental ill/disabled patients are not affected by what they endure at work as they have the intelligence to understad that this person is only saying/doing these things as they are ill.

although i think psychologists do help provide support to the patients/people who need it, i dont think there is a need for it with regards to staff and i dont think people working in the health industry would appreciate having to undergo pyschological assesments etc as part of their job, they are there to provide support and care to an individual.

I do however, again purely from experience, find that the staff with the person suffering from an illness most of the day (normally the nursing side) have more of an insight into the persons illness and can develop better coping stratergies than that of a psychologist that has a one hour, once weekly session with that person.

Providing psychological support to staff does not reflect on how they understand,support and have insight into an individuals illness, it doesnt make them more empathic etc, this is based on education provided on their illness.

If however you are referring to the importance of pyschology for people suffering from mental illness/learning disabilities, then it is extremelty important as it provides the person with an insight into their illness, coping stratergies, and cognitive therapy, which in turn help this person get 'better'

Answer 4

some people are hypocondriacs and and display the symptoms of a disease or illness because they have read about or know someone who has had the infection. this can be just as damaging to there health if they are treated for something such as high blood presure, as lowering the blood pressure could cause heart problems in the long term. therefore if they can assess a persons mental state this can prevent doctors putting patients on the wrong course of treatment.

Answer 5

I really appreciate some of the answers from healthcare people, particularly Puffy. I only wish some of them worked at our local hospital. It is full of rude and unpleasant staff, and you have to throw a wobbler to get anything done, which is very humiliating.
I know they are under stress, but they shouldn't take it out on the patients. Maybe they all need a psychology course!

Answer 6

Well, seeings as how health care professionals care for sick people, it's pretty important for them to know a bit about human behavior in general.

In short, being a health care professional is about a heck of a lot more than changing the sheets.

Answer 7

Psychology is important to health care professionals from several standpoints.

First, stress is the basis for many health problems. Health care professionals have to have a good basic understanding of the psychology of stress and of stress reduction if they want to contribute to the well-being of their clients. They need to recognize when a client who is in their care is experiencing stress that may be contributing to ill health, and they need to understand and be able to assist the client in stress management.

Second, health care workers need to understand psychology and mental health issues sufficiently to recognize when someone has a mental health issue, such as depression, that may require treatment or referal to a specialist. Sometimes the specific physical conditions that manifest themselves in a client may be a side issue to a mental condition such as depression. Treating the physical side-effects of a mental condition isn't going to be as successful as treating the mental condition that may be causative.

Third, psychology deals with behaviorial issues, which may be important in dealing with clients whose physical problems arise from behaviorial problems, such as abuse or self-destructive behaviors. Health care workers need to be able to recognize when the behaviors of a client, or those who are responsible for a dependent client, may cause noncompliance with physical care.

Finally, psychology is important to the health care worker in assisting them with their own care and mental health. The health care professions can be frustrating and stressful, and a good working knowledge of psychology is required for the health care professional to deal with the frustration and stress in ways that don't cause burn-out.

I'd say those were all pretty important reasons for health care professionals to have a working knowledge of basic psychology and mental health issues.

Answer 8

You need to be able to understand how peoples behaviour/moods affect them and the care they receive.
People dont always verbalise how they are feeling but by observing behaviours and body language you may get a better insight into how they are feeling.

Every person is an individual and should not be stereo typed

Answer 9

They deal with people at their most vulnerable.
Unless they can empathise with the patient, the patient is unlikely to want to confide in them and important information might not be disclosed.
People are entitled to their dignity and it is important to know how to address them, talk to them and explain things to them.
Certain people will clam up if asked to do something in the wrong way, but will respond if asked to differently.
It is important to assist people who are in their care to learn skills to help them perform more effectively, solve problems, and overcome their difficulties.

Answer 10

I Work with death every working day. Luckily for me, I am my own psychologist! You either can or cant deal with it.
I love it. It is an absolute honour to be with someone at the end of their life, making sure they are as pain free and un stressed as possible. My last patient died listening to Louis Armstrong "what a wonderful world" (his favourite song) while I held his hand.

I sleep well at night.