Solution Focused Nursing

Nursing is about growth, yet it spends so much time focusing on disease and entropy. While the nursing role is expanding into advanced practice roles, and twenty-first century nursing is almost unrecognisable compared to its nineteenth century roots, at the heart of nursing is growth. Sometimes called “caring”, growth requires nurturing, and, while it is difficult to define, without it nurses are merely medical technicians. In the context of nursing, health is about change, change from a less healthy state to a more healthy state and the nurse’s role is to promote that change whenever possible. However, change is difficult; we are creatures of habit, afraid of change, and preferring the illusion of safety with the “devil we know rather than the devil we don’t know”. However, when someone is ready to change, they have already grown. This book combines the author’s twenty-five years of experience in Solution Focused Interactions and empirical evidence derived from his PhD research to argue that Solution Focused Interactions provide a means for nurses, in all domains of nursing and midwifery, to provide care that promotes growth and change in the people they work with, while restoring and maintaining their enthusiasm for practice. This book serves as an eminently practical introduction to how Solution Focused Interactions can be used across nursing practice, making use of transcripts and case studies to illustrate the ways in which nurses can help their patients to grow and change, while also growing and changing themselves.

Solution Focused Brief Therapy (SFBT) promotes collaborative work and positive outcomes. It is an approach that can be used in acute hospitals as well as with clients who are seen as outpatients or in the community. Written in an accessible style with over seventy case examples Focus on Solutions shows how SFBT can help people who are suffering from voice or memory difficulties, a stammer, a stroke, HIV, traumatic brain injury or illnesses such as cancer or Parkinson' s disease. The book provides a practical framework as to how individuals, families and groups can begin to work on their strengths by focusing on the solutions rather than the problems in their lives. Focus on Solutions contains many useful ideas for experienced practitioners and those new to solution focused work, which is of growing importance in the health service as well as business and education. Therapists, doctors, nurses or psychologists will find this book an invaluable contribution to the field of reflective practice.

Introduces an innovative approach to nursing practice. Solution-focused nursing is a practical philosophy which emphasizes change at three levels: the client, nursing and society. It teaches three principles: to be cautious of dominant paradigms, to focus not only on problems but solutions too, and to work with and for clients rather than on them.

This second edition of Solution-focused Therapy remains the most accessible yet comprehensive case-based introduction to the history, theory, research and practice of solution-focused therapy (SFT) within mental health care and beyond. Drawing on contemporary research and the author′s own extensive experience, the fully revised and updated new edition includes: " discussion of recent developments relevant to research and training " a new chapter on challenges to SFT and the integration of SFT with other therapeutic approaches " extended discussion on ethical issues " topical exploration of the application of SFT with patients with personality disorders and dementias " contemporary research on solution-focused coaching and approaches to organizational change " new case material. This highly practical guide should be on the desk of every student or trainee studying this strongly supported, growing approach. It is also a useful resource for practitioners wanting to update their core skills and knowledge.

Providing guidance on how to apply a version of solution-focused therapy tailored to the public service environment, this text also describes a range of real-life situations across a range of settings.

Solution focused practice offers proven ways of helping adults overcome a range of life difficulties, from physical and mental illness to learning disability and the challenges of old age. This book outlines the basic principles and techniques which can be used to identify people's strengths and abilities to overcome challenges, make their own decisions and achieve their goals. Using case examples of life challenges at every stage of adulthood, including problematic behaviours, trauma, loss and end of life care, it provides stimulating activities and questions that will help professionals develop constructive conversations with service users and help them find the solutions they need. This comprehensive guide is an essential introduction for all those working with adults in health and social care.

"This book aims to: situate child and family health and nursing within the environmental, social, economic and political contexts; acknowledge diversity and difference as they influence child and family health and health care; critically analyse contemporary approaches to child and family health promotion; provide a practice development framework for improving effectiveness in child, youth and family nursing; provide evaluative tools for assessing health-promoting programs. This book takes a critical inquiry approach to encourage and facilitate analysis and critique of policy, practice and evidence. It is client-focused, change-focused and works from practice outward to consider education, service-planning, leadership and strategy as they affect practice." -- Provided by publisher.

“Blundo and Simon have successfully outlined how a solution-focused perspective can be a powerful tool for case managers. Their understanding and presentation is based upon practice scenarios that are real and applied...They clearly demonstrate the impact of ‘thinking and language’ and the importance of building a collaborative relationship with clients. Their work challenges the traditional theory-driven interventions that focus on problems and arrive at a diagnosis . They encourage a ‘shift’ to a co-constructive partnership that requires a practitioner to respect that clients are ‘experts of their own lives’...They provide a clear step-wise discussion of techniques and strategies that can be employed working with individuals and families in case management settings. This book is a must read.” -Lawrence T. Force, PhD. LCSW-R Professor of Psychology, Mount Saint Mary College, Newburgh, NY From the Foreword Solution-focused practice is a paradigm that stresses client abilities, strengths, and individual goals rather than disability. Written by a team of educator/practitioners noted for their expertise in solution-focused therapy, this “how-to” text for social work, counseling, and psychology students guides current and future case managers in learning this strengths-based, collaborative approach to case management. It discusses both the philosophical basis for solution-focused casework and demonstrates how it is ideally suited for the case management process. The book is based on teaching materials the authors have developed and used in their classes and workshops with undergraduate and graduate students and professionals. The text incorporates new research and theoretical developments in solution-focused therapy as well as actual practice scenarios demonstrating the process of building a collaborative relationship with individual clients and families. Replete with strategies and tools for practicing solution-focused case management, the text describes such essential skills as identifying goals, monitoring progress, working with other agencies, and transitioning out of treatment. It discusses issues related to ethical practice and presents strategies for self-care. Additionally, the book addresses diversity and social justice and their relationships to solution-focused practice. Student exercises help to reinforce knowledge. The text will assist case managers in a variety of settings—hospitals, nursing homes, rehabilitation facilities, community-based mental health agencies, schools, prisons, court systems, and shelters for the homeless and victims of domestic violence—to partner with their clients towards finding strengths-based and solution-focused approaches to resolving issues in a positive way. Key Features: Authored by noted experts in solution-focused education and practice Facilitates a reframing of casework and case management around client strengths and resources Provides specific case examples that allow readers to troubleshoot and apply solution-focused principles to practice Includes student exercises throughout the book