What Is Your Definition Of Caring?

Nurses General Nursing

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we were discussing this in my rn-bsn class and we got alot of different answers.

rules are: no dictionaries involve, answer must be what you think caring means. you must define it in your own words, no one else.

hopefully everyone can participate.

iiiseeyaa!

James Huffman,

For what it's worth, strictly speaking, your definition of caring could be attached to the nurse who is most likely to be sued/referred to BON (from a statistical POV). That is, nurses who have exemplary skills, but are perceived as being less friendly by the patient are sued more often than nurses who might have less refined skills, but who have an emotional level attached to caring, which could indicate a less robotic, and more human component to nursing. For clarification, I'm not saying a person cannot have excellent technical skills and be perceived as having emotional parts of caring.

Let me provide a scenario:

You have a dying patient and he/she asks that you hold their hand. IMO this is an emotional component of caring and not a "skilled, professional nursing service". It's clearly caring for the patient's wholistic needs by providing an emotional service, so to speak.

But providing for emotional needs IS part of professional nursing.

As to the question of robotic nurses (don't give hospital administrators any ideas ... : ), personal interaction is likewise part of professional nursing. What I keep coming around to is that nurses seem to fret too much about whether they "care" or not. There are days when we "care" (that is, "have heart-felt emotions" about clients) and days when we don't.

The bottom line is that it doesn't matter. We're there to do our jobs. Not "caring" doesn't mean we treat folks any differently on those days than the others. Fortunately, most days we will genuinely like and feel good about those we care for. Other days, we don't. We're still there to do our jobs.

I guess my complaint, too, centers around the idea that "a good nurse" is one who "cares" as if "caring" somehow trumps dealing with electrolytes or starting an IV.

The other point I bring up is that in a sense, my emotional responses are not the point in provision of care. I can provide services for someone whom I disagree with (say, a neo-Nazi), someone I disapprove of (say, a child molester) or someone whose habits (say, alcohol or drugs) have compromised their health. We're nurses. That's what we do. Whether we "feel like it" or not.

Specializes in Ortho, Neuro, Detox, Tele.

To hold a hand when one is dying,

To call the BS when the med seeker is lying.

Advocate and listen when the patient is confused,

Even if you have 34 meds to pass and she just wants to talk about shoes.

Ensure the heart beats and the lungs are clear,

that the patient feels comfortable when you are near.

It's ok to be stressed, and po'd at the station,

especially when your techs you're a chasin!

To care is to be these things and more,

to never forget who you're there for.

The patients you touch will remember you in some way,

and that, my friends, is better than any amount of pay.

Specializes in Nursing assistant.

i agree that it is does not have to be a heartfelt emotional connection. but a connection is definitely made in care giving. you listen, you assess, you determine the best action. you step out of yourself. in a sense, empathy can be a mental activity. understanding, for instance, what level of pain your patient is experiencing, beyond what they may be able to express, and then doing what you can to alleviate that pain, that is caring.

the word therapeutic kind of says it all. your interactions with your patients, including your words, expressions,and attitudes, can have a helpful or damaging effect.

caring involves all the facets that make us human.

"Caring" A feeling of one or many of the following: compassion, empathy, sympathy, anger, vehemency, advocation, intention, sadness, fear, happiness, protection, enlightenment, love, or passion in direct correlation with the plight/triumph of another human being/entity/idea/culture/population.

Caring is an internal reaction to the above and is often coupled with a sense of need to help physically or emotionally, in an attempt to offer support in a visible way.

Yup, thats it. I guess I would add that its acting on a feeling of wanting to help, or provide for someones needs.:redpinkhe

My definition of caring: Caring is putting another persons needs before your own without wanting anything in return. Caring is being there as a sounding board, a listening ear and emotional support.

"i did not want a response from the book, i wanted a response from the heart!"

too bad. see, this is a lesson in the concept that not everybody sees it the way you do, or sees it the way you want them to. it won't be the last time that unintended consequences rise up to get your attention.

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