How narratives can change nursing practice.

Area of Science:

• Nursing Education
• Patient Advocacy
• Healthcare Accessibility

Background:

• Patient narratives are valuable tools for nursing reflection.
• Understanding patient and family perspectives enhances nursing practice.
• Inadequate facilities can negatively impact patient care and experience.

Purpose of the Study:

• To demonstrate the use of patient and carer narratives in nursing education.
• To highlight the impact of insufficient toilet facilities on individuals with physical impairments.
• To persuade a hospital trust to improve accessibility.

Main Methods:

• Utilized patient and carer narratives as a core educational tool.
• Student learning disability nurses collected and presented these stories.
• Engaged with hospital trust management to advocate for change.

Main Results:

• Patient narratives effectively illustrated the challenges faced by individuals with physical impairments.
• The use of personal stories successfully influenced the hospital trust's decision-making.
• New, appropriate toilet facilities were developed as a direct result.

Conclusions:

• Patient and carer narratives are powerful instruments for driving healthcare improvements.
• Nursing students can be effective advocates for patient needs.
• Addressing physical accessibility is crucial for inclusive healthcare environments.