Nursing: Guidance

GUIDANCE AND COUNSELLING

INTRODUCTION

In today’s fast moving world, each and everyone needs help. From a small child to the elderly, the need for help is inevitable in every phase of life. For example, when children finish their schooling, they need help in choosing what course they have to study, after which they need help in choosing their career pathway, adults need help in choosing a good job, a suitable life partner, then in reaching the children, getting them a suitable life partner, then managing the difficulties of life and it goes on till the end of life. Every human being needs help from each other to go on in life as we are a social being.

GUIDANCE

Guidance means to “direct”, “to point out”, and “to show the path”.

Guidance is providing some help or assistance to an individual by another expert individual.

Guidance is designed to assist a person to decide where he wants to go, what he wants to do, or how he can best accomplish his purpose; it assists him to solve problems that arise in his life. It does not solve his problems, but empowers him to solve them.

The focus of guidance is the individual, not the problem; its purpose is to promote the growth of the individual in self-direction. This guidance can be given to groups or to individuals, but it is always designed to help each individual even though they may be in a group.

Define Guidance

“Guidance is the assistance provided to individuals to be able to choose, prepare and assume a position and making progress in his/ her chosen position” (Frank Parson, 1951).

Guidance is concerned with the maximum development of the individuals to make his/ her own decisions, recognizing his abilities and potentialities.

“Guidance is a process of helping young people to learn to adjust to self, to others and to circumstances’. (Skinner.)

Other statements related to guidance are:

•  Guidance is a personal assistance.

•  Guidance is a process by which individual solves his problems by his own efforts.

•  Guidance focuses on the attention of the welfare of the individual.

Purpose of Guidance

·  To bring confidence in selecting appropriate course of action for adjustment in various walks of life.

·  Helping in a balanced development.

·  To help to determine the courses most appropriate to their needs and abilities.

·  To plan the future in the individual’s line of interest, abilities and social needs.

Objectives of Guidance

·  Explore self

·  Determine values

·  Set individual goals/objectives

·  Explore the world

·  Improve the efficiency

·  Build relationship

·  Accept responsibility for the future 

Purpose of Guidance

·  To bring confidence in selecting appropriate course of action for adjustment in various walks of life.

·  Helping in a balanced development.

·  To help to determine the courses most appropriate to their needs and abilities.

·  To plan the future in the individual’s line of interest, abilities and social needs.

Objectives of Guidance

·  Explore self

·  Determine values

·  Set individual goals/objectives

·  Explore the world

·  Improve the efficiency

·  Build relationship

·  Accept responsibility for the future

Types of Guidance

Describe the Scope of Guidance

Implies to the extent, length, breadth, range, comprehensiveness and variety of helping the individual to solve his problems, covering all the aspects of life.

Scope of Guidance service in schools.

·  Helps to make a satisfactory transition from home to the school.

·  In diagnosing the difficulties in the learning of basic skills.

To help in avoiding potential dropouts in schools.

·  To help in understanding the purpose and meaning of life.

·  To plan for further education.

1.  Enlist the Functions of Guidance

·  Encouraging and supporting

·  Informing

·  Advising

·  Assessing

·  Liaising and representing

·  Monitoring and coaching

·  Providing feedback

Counselling

2.  Discuss the Principles of Guidance

Guidance is based on the following principles.

(Gordon et al, 2008)

·  Guidance involves holistic development of the individual.

It should be given in the context of total development of the personality.

·  Guidance recognizes individual differences.

Each individual is different with specific needs, interests, and values. Students come from diverse cultural background. Therefore, it is necessary for teachers to be sensitive to these differences.

·  Dignity, respect and freedom should remain integral to the guidance process.

Accept individuals with respect, dignity and freedom.

·  The guidance should be a continuous process. Continued interactions are helpful.

·  Guidance uses good communication skills.

Communication is an important skill needed in guidance. It includes both verbal and nonverbal communication.

·  Guidance is a team activity.

Besides giving personal tutoring time, incorporating more people, expertise and multiple perspectives is highly effective.

·  Every contact is a precious opportunity for meaningful interaction.

Every individual is unique and have their own different style of interaction.

The frequency and quality of interaction with the advisor is critical in helping students adjust to college life.

·  Students are expected to map out a path for success.

·  The core task is working with students to plot a course of action for their educational success.

3.  Roles of the Advisor in Guidance