Title:
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A Quest for Change : Challenging Boundaries, Facing Dilemma and Finding Resolution
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People prescribed Anti-epileptic drugs are possibly at risk of developing
Secondary Osteoporosis and this problem was addressed using an Action
Learning methodology to raise awareness of it. The research stems from an
acknowledged patient need and the role of the Epilepsy Specialist Nurse. It is
concerned with the provision of information and advice to patients, families
and carers and involved the consideration of such issues as the balance of risks
in medical treatments~ the patients and others need for the information and
understanding to cope with it and the moral duty (or right) of the nurse to
provide it.
Specialist Nurses have a unique role where they can influence the care and
management of the patients within their speciality. Team work, networking
with other professional and lay persons, research awareness and professional
development are all necessary aspects of this role and the challenges that are
apparent from working in this speciality are all explored. Challenges are also
explored from a personal perspective and provide an understanding of the
impact that disclosure of a personal nature can cause. Ways of coping with
disclosure and developing a new career path are also addressed.
The unique contribution of this work is in the learning, which includes how a
Specialist Nurse can raise awareness in a mostly dominant medical
environment through research studies, information, personal intervention, in
order to gain new knowledge and understanding. Learning from and with
others is a human method, but new learning and understanding can be gained
from an open mind to spiritual methods and how this other world has an effect
on human dilemmas and in addition how to face dilemma from an ethical and
moral stance, both in professional and personal terms.
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