The primary reason most people choose medicine is because of the honest and sincere intention to help people. Undoubtedly, it is one of the most honorable and respectful professions. Whether healthcare practitioners work in hospitals or private practice, they restore health and bring a real difference in people’s lives.

The concept of a patient-practitioner relationship isn’t something new. It’s a critically important element for a successful and sustainable healthcare system. However, the evaluation of the factors that significantly influence this relationship is still in its initial stage.

Due to this, another crucial perspective gets overlooked, which is equally important, if not more, i.e., about patients. The distinctive characteristics and qualities of healthcare practitioners greatly influence the clinical experience of the patients. Unfortunately, this is something patients fail to realize.

Aren’t they the reason why healthcare workers practice in the first place? Why not value their viewpoints and listen to what they expect from the healthcare system?

There are countless benefits of a healthy patient-healthcare worker relationship. A few of them include increased patient satisfaction, improved diagnosis, more compliance to the treatment schedule, and positive results. However, it’s pretty challenging to overcome the barriers that impede the path of a constructive relationship.

The article reveals some of the crucial elements that strengthen the patient-practitioner relationship:

1. Deliverance of optimum care

The idea of continuity of care is paramount to establish a relationship of trust. Continuity of care is a process that involves both the patients and the healthcare workers to ensure the deliverance of the highest quality care.

Often, patients encounter several professionals in the healthcare facility for different purposes. And this raises concerns for fragmentation of care. Since nurses are an integral part of the healthcare system, they serve as mediators between patients and other health teams.

Although continuity of care nursing is complex, nurses should use their critical thinking skills and technical knowledge to provide holistic care and cater to patients’ needs. In addition, they must advocate for the patient’s concerns and communicate them to other healthcare members.

That way, patients can receive quality care at the right time, and healthcare workers can provide strong rapport.

2. Strong communication

Communication is a two-way road. Patients and healthcare professionals should practice excellent communication skills to get on the same page. Providers should convey complex medical information and instructions in simple terms that are understandable and sounds reasonable to the patients.

Moreover, good communication doesn’t restrict to speaking only; it also involves active listening. Healthcare professionals should listen intently, understand patients’ concerns and repeat what they say to show their immersion in the conversation.

Also, it’s imperative to use non-verbal cues such as nodding the head, constant eye contact, and leaning forward to show interest. Through these signs, patients feel a sense of acknowledgment, security, and comfort.

Likewise, patients should be honest about their condition when talking to their practitioners. Not sharing accurate information and only disclosing the brief details might affect the treatment process and care delivery. Instead of feeling self-conscious and uncomfortable, patients should be as candid as possible.

3. Mutual decision-making

The key to thriving in the healthcare career depends on the relationship with the patients. The more healthy a relationship is, the more likely patients are to cooperate with the healthcare workers. Thus, to strengthen the bond, it’s indispensable that healthcare professionals keep the patients in the loop and go for shared decision-making.

Shared or mutual decision-making refers to a multi-pronged approach in which the practitioners and patients work collaboratively to map out a treatment plan. Instead of making their own decisions, providers should indulge the patients in conversations.

After complete assessment and diagnosis of the patient, healthcare workers should first discuss various treatment choices available. Once the patient settles on a particular option, the provider must point out and explicitly explain the pros and cons of that treatment plan.

That way, patients will feel independent and in control and probably comply with the treatment plan, thereby enhancing outcomes.

4. Empathy

The institution of a constructive patient-practitioner relationship lies on the golden rule of empathy. When treated with empathetic clinicians, patients feel more at ease and feel contented. Therefore, healthcare professionals who wish to break the code of high patient satisfaction should also practice empathy during practice.

When healthcare professionals put themselves in patients’ shoes, only then it’s possible to understand their feelings and concerns. While the practitioner might not be in the exact situation as the patient, still, they must think of an incident when they were at the receiving end of diagnosis.

Healthcare workers who showcase compassion can relate with the patients differently and make them feel valued. Therefore, if they have some heart-shattering news to share, use positive words and consider the patient’s feelings. Or providers can share their own stories to strengthen the connection.

To sum it all, the positive patient-provider relationship is utterly impossible if there is no involvement of empathy from the beginning.

Final Words

To say that a lasting patient-practitioner relationship only requires mutual understanding would be a bit of an understatement. It takes a great deal of time and endeavor from both sides to forge a healthy relationship and encourage good health practices.

While it is beyond doubt that healthcare professionals have never ceased to provide quality care. Unfortunately, during this fast-paced and time-crunched work settings, it’s easy to push the thought of a valuable patient-practitioner at the back of the mind.

There has been a recent rise in the trend of drinking gin in recent years. This has enabled a rise in gifting people gin gift packs which contain a wide range of things other than just the bottle of gin. This includes various types of botanicals, spices, a beaker, and a funnel, along with a flask for the prepared alcohol.

Therefore, quite a few factors need to be thought upon before buying a gin gift pack. The factors that determine in selecting the ideal gin gift pack are written below.

The type of user receiving the gift

With the rise in the popularity of drinking gin, buying gin gift packs has also increased. This has enabled the creation of a wide range of gin gift packs depending on the complications involved in the mixology of the gins and the botanicals depending on the specified preference. Gifting four pillars gin bottles is a perfect choice since it’s a reputable brand people prefer and love to try.

Gifting a complex mixology-induced gift pack to a beginner in gin consumption might not be a good choice. So, it is essential to know about the knowledge of mixology known to the gifted person. The gin gift packs range from essential gin-tasting flavoring boxes to molecular mixology gin gift sets, so the knowledge of the gifted is an essential factor in selecting the ideal gin gift pack.

The Reason for the Gift

The reason for gifting any gin gift pack has great importance on selecting a gin gift pack. If the person to who it is to be gifted is a beginner in curating personalized gins, then different types of easy mixology-based gin gift packs would suit the need. However, veteran gin curators love the more complicated DIY gin-infusing gift packs.

If the gift pack is to influence someone to start curating their gin, then the different types of Gin tasting gift packs and the botanicals cut. On the other hand, people who know basic mixology can opt for the much complex molecular mixology or increase the type of botanicals to make things interesting. Thus, knowing the reason for the gift is a valid point in determining the ideal gin gift packs.

Knowing the Preference of the User

Knowing the user’s preference can be a valid point in determining an ideal gin gift pack because of its variants. People who drink gin generally acquire a specific taste for the drink, especially those who curate their flavors of gin out of craft gin. This preference of the acquired taste can also help enable the knowledge about the mixology of the user.

Knowing the preference of the gifted person can help in choosing because the preference can determine the mixology complication, which in turn can give an insight about that person’s knowledge over that stuff. The preference, however, is subject to change among users due to various user-oriented users. If the gifted tend to fluctuate preferences, then gifting a gin gift pack with a broader range of botanicals and spices along with some snacks would be the ideal bet.

Playing it safe

There are various scenarios in life where you cannot understand the taste and preference of the gifted person. In this case, just knowing the person’s ability to mix alcohol could do the trick. Going for a basic gin gift pack of 2 to 3 bottles of craft gin with an array of botanicals at the user’s disposal to create their version of gin could be the safest option. In scenarios such as this, the best gift should be a basic beginner-level gin gifset.

They are accompanied with some snacks and munchies, with a selected generalized array of botanicals that render to mild trustworthy flavored gins. In the account of choosing the right botanicals, general popular flavors should do the trick as curating from craft gins is an exciting affair anyway. However, the safest bet in choosing a gin gift pack when there is a lack of information is always to play safe and gift a basic general gin gift set.

The four points that have been discussed above are the valid points that should be considered while gifting an ideal gin gift pack. These points, along with some others, are the essential points that people need to keep in mind if they want to have an ideal gin gift pack to give someone.

Sometimes, as mothers, we neglect our own needs over everyone else that we’re charged with taking care of. When this happens, we get burnt out and cannot perform the most demanding job on Earth as well as we know we can. In the same way, we want to keep our babies their healthiest during winter. It’s time for us to prepare our bodies to be in tip-top shape as we head towards the wintry months and cold and flu season. So, let’s take a look at some easy lifestyle changes to implement to stay healthy as moms. And let’s face it, if it’s “easy,” we’re much more likely to incorporate it into our day-to-day routines and stick with it.

Start With Sleep 

Remember before you had your first child and everyone with their well-meaning advice said, “sleep when the baby sleeps”? Well, you quickly learned that many other things in the household would fall by the wayside if you did that. But when you were out of the baby phase, you may have regretted not taking that sage advice. Because, when we’re low on sleep and feeling burnt out, we realize that maybe some of those dishes could’ve stayed in the sink, and the house wouldn’t have fallen apart. 

So, make sure you’re getting in at least eight or nine hours of sleep a night. Maybe this will cut into private time with your spouse, but find another time in the day to be spontaneous! It would be best if you were well-rested not only to be a patient mama but to maintain your overall physical and mental health. Sleep is proven to be therapeutic and beneficial to our health. 

Watch What You Eat 

Don’t get things twisted –  we’re not talking about weight loss here. Bodies are beautiful in all shapes and sizes, but what we eat directly impacts our physical health and mood. It can be easy to fall into the trap of grabbing quick and convenient food as a busy parent. But, most of those foods are full of over processed ingredients and a ton of sugar, which leaves us feeling more tired after we eat them and, in general, unwell. Instead, try to make sure your house is mainly filled with healthy, nutrient-dense food. That way, when you need a quick snack, it’s a banana, not a candy bar. That’s not to say you can’t indulge occasionally, and you deserve a treat for being a strong mother. 

Additionally, if you’re feeling sluggish and have mainly consumed fast food and convenience items, you should consider a detox plan. These types of plans are great because they can help you clear out toxins and give you energy. They also work amazingly on your gut health, which is super important. 

Get Regular Exercise 

Though running around after children, up and downstairs with laundry, and typical household and work tasks do get us moving, it’s not the same as getting in regular physical exercise. The critical thing about bodily exercise is that it keeps you in shape, benefits your mental health, and makes you more capable of dealing with stress as it comes and goes. 

The key to a solid exercise program is finding something that you genuinely enjoy doing. When you like the form of exercise you’ve chosen, you are more likely to incorporate it into your daily routine because it becomes an escape for you. If you haven’t found an exercise that you enjoy yet, take a look on an App Store or Youtube to find tutorials that can ease you gently into new workout types. Many of them have free programs you can join to keep you motivated and accountable. So, get moving, mamas!

Practice Gratitude 

In the hustle and bustle of raising littles and keeping up with work and house life, it’s easy to snap sometimes when we lose patience. This is normal and nothing to be ashamed of. Of course, you want to explain to your beloved children why that happened and apologize, but to err is human. It helps if you can try and practice gratitude in times of severe burnout and frustration. Even if you can only find five minutes alone in the kitchen pantry – take some deep breaths and remind yourself how much you love your family and what you have to be grateful for. It’s much easier to approach a rowdy household or child not listening if you take a few minutes to ground and center yourself. Mindfulness also plays a crucial role in overall health and well-being.

There’s nothing easy about being a mother. Even though it’s rewarding as all get out and the love indescribable, sometimes it can wear even the toughest mama down. So, make sure you’re doing the things mentioned above and others you may already be doing to keep yourself in the best physical shape and immunity as high as possible as we head into winter. Here’s to your health, mamacita!

Coming up with a name for a baby is a fun and exciting time in a new parent’s life. You can get really creative in the name you give to your baby.

Still, it can be tough navigating through all the different possible names you might give your baby. There are a ton of them out there.

Here are five tips that can help you choose your baby’s name.

Avoid illegal names

You should avoid giving your baby an illegal name. As to what exactly is an illegal name, that varies. Each state has its laws as to what constitutes an illegal name. For example, you generally cannot include a numeral, special characters, or an emoji in your baby’s name. This is part of the reason why Elon Musk and Grimes couldn’t name their baby “X AE A-XI.”

There aren’t many names that are outright banned, though. You could hypothetically name your baby “Dolphin” or “Banana.” You probably shouldn’t give your baby either of those names, but you are free to do so if you choose.

Some common illegal names are probably ones you could guess, like naming your baby “Jesus Christ” or “Adolf Hitler.” Others might not be as obvious. Some states prohibit you from naming your baby “King” or “Queen.” If you’re really unsure about your baby’s name, it doesn’t hurt to do some research on your state’s laws.  

Avoid trends or fads

Naming your baby after a popular celebrity or fictional character happens often, but it should be avoided. Fads fade, and people can fall out of favor with the public quicker than you’d imagine.

Think back to how many people kept naming their children after the Game of Thrones character Daenerys, only to probably regret it considering Daenerys actions at the end of the series. It’s best to avoid going with trends or fads.

Analyze the entire name

It’s one thing to imagine what your baby’s first name will be, but you need to imagine how their entire name will be. That includes their middle and last name.

It helps to say your baby’s entire name to get a good feel for what it sounds like. You should also write it down or type it up to see how it looks.

You might end up discovering your baby’s entire name sounds kind of funny. You might also notice their initials might be a bit silly. Imagine your child’s name is “Billy Ulysses Turner.” Their initials would be “B.U.T.” and might make them the target of some bullying as they grow up. 

Consider meanings

Names generally have some meaning attached to them. For example, the name “Paul” means “humble” or “small,” and the name “Melinda” means “sweet.”

Having your baby’s name mean something or not shouldn’t be a dealbreaker, but it can hold significance. You could give your baby a name you would hope they would eventually live up to. For instance, you could name your baby “Ethan,” which means “strong” or “safe,” with the hope your baby will one day live up to its namesake.

Honor the past

It doesn’t hurt to keep certain naming traditions going or name your baby after a loved one you respect.

Some people have a tradition of giving their firstborns a name that starts with a specific letter. Others might have a tradition where they pass down their name to their baby.

Naming a baby after a loved one is a great show of respect. It’s a great way to honor a loved one that’s passed or to show how much you appreciate someone.

Final Thoughts

It’s tough coming up with a baby’s name. It’s the name they might carry with themselves for their entire lives.

However, you shouldn’t be too hard on yourself when it comes to figuring out a name. Take it easy, and the right name will come to you.