Self-Preservation in the Workplace: The Importance of Well-Being for Social Work Practitioners and Field Supervisors

Social Work ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 65 (1) ◽  
pp. 74-81
Author(s):  
Elisa M Martin ◽  
Karen Myers ◽  
Kirstiana Brickman
Keyword(s):  
Social Work ◽  
Compassion Fatigue ◽  
Self Care ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Care Practice ◽  
Social Work Educators ◽  
Social Work Practitioners ◽  
Care Practices ◽  
Almost All ◽  
Field Supervisors

Abstract The risks in the human services workplace to social workers’ emotional, psychological, and physical well-being is well known. Self-care is seen as a way to minimize workplace risks, including burnout, compassion fatigue, secondary traumatic stress, and vicarious traumatization. This article examines the reported self-care practices of social work practitioners and their agencies, and the barriers that get in the way. Forty-two participants worked in agency settings and supervised students. All reported engaging in some type of self-care practice, and almost all reported some type of support from their workplace; however, 38 reported barriers to self-care. Even with self-care practices in place personally and in the workplace, obstacles remain. Social work educators need to be cognizant of these factors to ensure that field supervisors are well supported in their own self-care practices and are equipped to assist students in developing these positive practices early in their careers to help sustain workers in the social work profession.

Development and Initial Validation of the Self-Care Practices Scale

Social Work ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 65 (1) ◽  
pp. 21-28
Author(s):  
Jacquelyn J Lee ◽  
Shari E Miller ◽  
Brian E Bride
Keyword(s):  
Social Work ◽  
Construct Validity ◽  
Social Workers ◽  
Self Care ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Social Work Practice ◽  
The Self ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Care Practice ◽  
Care Practices

Abstract Self-care is regarded as essential for effective social work practice, offsetting occupational stress and promoting well-being and resiliency among practitioners. However, the literature reveals a notable absence of psychometrically sound instruments to measure self-care. The purpose of the present study was to describe the development, refinement, and construct validity of the Self-Care Practices Scale (SCPS). The piloted version of the SCPS is a 38-item instrument designed to measure frequency of engagement in personal and professional self-care practices. Data were collected through mailed surveys from a random sample of master’s-level clinical social workers and members of the National Association of Social Workers (N = 492). Analysis supports the construct validity of an 18-item SCPS with two subscales that demonstrate strong internal validity. The SCPS is useful for social work educators, practitioners, and administrators to ascertain frequency of self-care practice and build a stronger culture of self-care. The role of SCPS in future research is discussed.

Self-Care Practices Among Adult Type 2 Diabetes Patients With and Without Peripheral Neuropathy: A Cross-Sectional Study at Tertiary Healthcare Settings in Ethiopia

2021 ◽  
pp. 084456212110206
Author(s):  
Mezgebu Gode ◽  
Fekadu Aga ◽  
Aklil Hailu
Keyword(s):  
Social Support ◽  
Peripheral Neuropathy ◽  
Self Care ◽  
Cross Sectional Study ◽  
Care Practice ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Glucose Testing ◽  
Blood Glucose Testing ◽  
Care Practices

Background Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2D) has become a global health challenge. Diabetic peripheral neuropathy (DPN) is one of the common comorbidities of T2D that may affect the ability to perform diabetes self-care. Purpose To compare self-care practices between adult T2D patients with and without comorbid DPN and identify factors predicting self-care practices. Methods In this cross-sectional study, conducted at tertiary hospitals in Ethiopia, a total of 216 (108 with DNP and 108 without DNP) participants completed an interviewer-administered questionnaire including measures of diabetes self-care practices, self-evaluated peripheral neuropathy, self-efficacy, diabetes knowledge, and social support. Results Adult T2D patients with comorbid DPN had lower dietary (P< 0.001), exercise (P< 0.001), blood glucose testing (P = 0.001), and foot (P = 0.007) self-care practice than those without DPN. Social support is a significant predictor of dietary self-care in both groups while predicting foot self-care and blood glucose testing in those with comorbid DPN. Moreover, occupation, education, and having a glucometer are significant predictors of diabetes self-care practice in both groups. Conclusion This study found that adult T2D patients with comorbid DPN have poorer diabetes self-care practice than those without comorbid DPN. Interventions should focus on addressing social support and access to a glucometer in order to improve diabetes self-care practices in adult T2D patients with comorbid DPN.

Beyond the Code of Ethics, Part II: Dual Relationships Revisited

2002 ◽  
Vol 83 (5) ◽  
pp. 483-492 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sophie Freud ◽  
Stefan Krug
Keyword(s):  
Social Work ◽  
Social Workers ◽  
Code Of Ethics ◽  
Legal Protection ◽  
Work Practice ◽  
The United States ◽  
Social Work Practice ◽  
Dual Relationships ◽  
Social Work Educators ◽  
Social Work Practitioners

The authors, both social work educators, serve on an ethics call line committee that provides insights on how the provisions of the (United States) National Association of Social Workers Code of Ethics (NASW, 1996) interface with the ethical dilemmas encountered by the social work community. In this paper, the authors highlight aspects of social work practice that they consider ethical, yet not easily accommodated by the provisions of the current Code. They also question the 1996 introduction of the concept of dual relationships into the Code and suggest that the Code adopt the less ambiguous term of boundary violations. Also recognized by the authors is the need for clear boundaries for the protection of clients against temptations that might arise in a fiduciary relationship, and for the legal protection of social workers. But, the authors argue, social work practitioners in certain settings, with particular populations, and in certain roles, inevitably face multiple relationships as an integral aspect of their work. The authors conclude that social work's adoption of the psychoanalytic constrains of anonymity, neutrality, and abstinence has detoured the profession from its original double focus on individuals and their society.

scholarly journals Diabetes Self-Care Practice, and Associated Factors Among Type 2 Diabetic Patients in Public Hospitals of Tigray Region, Ethiopia

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Medina Abdulkadir Wehabrebi ◽  
Goitom Molalign Takele ◽  
Hiyab Teklemichael Kidane ◽  
Kahsu Gebrekirstos Gebrekidan ◽  
Birhan Gebresillassie Gebregiorgis
Keyword(s):  
Type 2 Diabetes ◽  
Self Care ◽  
Public Hospitals ◽  
Care Practice ◽  
Diabetic Patients ◽  
Care Providers ◽  
Factors Associated ◽  
Tigray Region ◽  
Care Practices

Abstract Background: The prevalence of Type 2 diabetes is increasing steadily at an alarming rate and Ethiopia is placed fourth among the top five countries of the Africa region according to the International diabetes federation. Regardless of its burden, the self-care behaviors are still unknown. This study is aimed to determine the level of diabetes self-care practice and factors associated with among Type 2 diabetes mellitus patients in public hospitals of Tigray region.Methods: Institution-based, cross-sectional study was conducted in six selected hospitals of Tigray region from January to February, 2020. Data was collected by trained nurses with a face to face interview method using Summary Diabetes Self-Care Activities (SDSCA). Bivariate and multivariate logistic regression was used to identify factors associated with self-care practices. Statistical significance was declared at P-value < 0.05.Results: A total of 570 patients with type 2 diabetes were included in this study. The mean age of the participant was 46 ± 14.6 years. Less than half (46.7%) of the participants has good diabetes self-care practices. Urban residency (AOR=2.79, 95% CI 1.858-4.205), age group above 64 years (AOR=2.384, 95% CI 1.258-4.518), not having formal education (AOR=2.616, 95% CI 1.337-4.518), having family or social support (AOR=1.878, 95% CI 1.243-2.837), duration DM above 10 years (AOR=2.325, 95% CI 1.224-4.418), having personal glucometer at home (AOR=5.9, 95% CI 2.790-12.764) were determinant factors of good diabetes self-care practice. Conclusion: the diabetes self-care practices in the region was found to be low. Health care providers might have to consider actions to act on the identified factors and improve self-care practices of the patients. Especially, focusing on caring and giving follow up services to younger adults and DM patients coming from a rural areas.

scholarly journals Researcher self-care in organizational ethnography

2018 ◽  
Vol 7 (1) ◽  
pp. 44-58 ◽  
Author(s):  
Joanne Vincett
Keyword(s):  
Compassion Fatigue ◽  
Research Training ◽  
Self Care ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Research Process ◽  
Project Planning ◽  
Care Plan ◽  
Emotional Impact ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Institutional Ethics

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to offer practical researcher self-care strategies to prepare for and manage the emotions involved in doing organizational ethnographic research. Institutional ethics policies or research training programs may not provide guidance, yet emotions are an integral part of research, particularly for ethnographers immersed in the field or those working with sensitive topics or vulnerable or marginalized people. Design/methodology/approach The paper draws on ethnographic fieldwork over nine months with a voluntary organization in the UK, Yarl’s Wood Befrienders, to explore the experiences and activities of volunteer visitors who offer emotional support to women detained indefinitely in an immigration removal center. The author is a “complete member researcher,” or “at-home ethnographer,” a volunteer visitor and a former detainee. Findings The author describes the emotional impact the research personally had on her and shares learning from overcoming “compassion fatigue.” Self-care strategies based on the literature are recommended, such as a researcher self-assessment, identification of the emotional risks of the research, and self-care plan formulated during project planning. Suggested resources and activities to support the well-being of researchers are explored. Practical implications This paper provides practical resources for researchers to prepare for and cope with emotional and mental health risks throughout the research process. It builds awareness of safeguarding researchers and supporting them with handling emotional disruptions. Without adequate support, they may be psychologically harmed and lose the potential to critically engage with emotions as data. Originality/value The literature on emotions in doing research rarely discusses self-care strategies. This paper offers an actionable plan for researchers to instil emotional and mental well-being into the research design to navigate emotional challenges in the field and build resilience.

scholarly journals What Social Workers Should Know About Ethics: Understanding and Resolving Ethical Dilemmas

10.18060/124 ◽  
2000 ◽  
Vol 1 (1) ◽  
pp. 1-25 ◽  
Author(s):  
Elaine P. Congress
Keyword(s):  
Social Work ◽  
Social Workers ◽  
Ethical Issues ◽  
Code Of Ethics ◽  
Ethical Dilemmas ◽  
Sexual Relationships ◽  
Dual Relationships ◽  
Personal Agency ◽  
Social Work Educators ◽  
Social Work Practitioners

Recognizing ethical issues and dilemmas that arise in professional practice is crucial for social work practitioners, educators, and students. After a discussion about the limited, although growing, literature on social work ethics, the ten main tenets form the most current NASW Code of Ethics are presented. These topics include limits to confidentiality, confidentiality and technology, confidentiality in family and group work, managed care, cultural competence, dual relationships, sexual relationships, impairment and incompetence of colleagues, application to administrators and relevance to social work educators. In addition to understanding the Code of Ethics, social workers can use the ETHIC model of decision making for resolving ethical dilemmas. This easy to use five step process includes examining personal, agency, client, and professional values, thinking about ethical standards and relevant laws, hypothesizing about consequences, identifying the most vulnerable, and consulting with supervisors and colleagues. A case example involving confidentiality, HIV/AIDS and family therapy demonstrates how social workers can use the ETHIC model.

scholarly journals KNOWLEDGE AND SELFCARE PRACTICES AMONG DIABETICS

2017 ◽  
Vol 10 (12) ◽  
pp. 234
Author(s):  
Sheeba S ◽  
Sneha Ak ◽  
Veena Biju
Keyword(s):  
Type 2 Diabetes ◽  
Survey Design ◽  
Medical Science ◽  
Self Care ◽  
Sampling Technique ◽  
Ideal Body Weight ◽  
Care Practice ◽  
Foot Care ◽  
Care Practices

Objective: The objectives of the study were to assess the knowledge and self-care practices among patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus.Methods: Quantitative approach with descriptive survey design and convenience sampling technique was used. The study was conducted among 100 patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus, from the Inpatient and Outpatient Department of Amrita Institute of Medical Science, Kochi. A structured knowledge questionnaire and structured practice assessment questionnaire were used to assess the knowledge and self-care practices of the subjects.Result: Result shows that 77% subjects had good knowledge regarding diabetes and majorityof the subjects had good level of self-care practices. 63% of subjects regularly monitoring blood glucose level, 72% following proper diet, 88% of subjects taking regular medication, 84% of subjects follow proper eye care, 79% of subjects follow proper foot care, 57% of subjects maintaining ideal body weight, and only 46% of subjects doing regular exercise. There was a positive relationship (r=0.09) between level of knowledge and self-care practice of the subjects and no significant association between knowledge level and selected sociodemographic variables.Conclusion: It is important that the patient should have adequate knowledge regarding diabetes and they should follow proper self-care practices to prevent further complications.

Self-Care Practice in Social Work Education: A Systematic Review of Interventions

2019 ◽  
Vol 55 (1) ◽  
pp. 102-114 ◽  
Author(s):  
Austin Griffiths ◽  
David Royse ◽  
April Murphy ◽  
Saundra Starks
Keyword(s):  
Systematic Review ◽  
Social Work ◽  
Social Work Education ◽  
Self Care ◽  
Care Practice ◽  
Work Education
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