Real Nursing

So very true!
A patient had a Foley removed outpatient. Came back in with terrible "bladder pain." Patient went 15 hours without urinating, verbalized he did not know he was supposed to "pee" within 8 hours. Patient handed all literature to staff and nothing was within the instructions to let provider know if he/she was unable to void. He/she was scared out of their mind!

I stayed late one night giving discharge instructions to a family, I had been with them all day so why not finish up with them. Good thing I stayed late, as when I was about to clock out there was a patient who coded and I was able to help when each Nurse had just got on shift and had 8 patients each.

I had always wanted to be a teacher and a nurse. I am so blessed that I get to do both!

I can appreciate the nurses that take the time to explain the simple things. After my first surgery, I didn't now (was out of it mostly) about the incentive spiro, man did my nurse show me how to use it and the best part was when I went to cough, she showed me a simple "trick" with the pillow that saved me a lot of pain. Taking those 5-15 minutes to explain something simple can help the pt in so many ways.

Great writing and vitally important points. Thanks.

Angie O, you are an allnurses gem. I learn so much from you and enjoy reading your posts.

Hi Angie, I hear you and identify with you, like just about everyone else here. However, the reality is that large corporations are not ultimately interested in the sincerity of your work. They are only concerned with you clocking out on time. Ironically, they become interested when there is a patient complaint, or patient care incident that may damage their image, or have some legal implication for them.
To be an effective nurse and patient advocate, do not figure on your employer. They are concerned with tangible evidence they can read. Don't expect them to understand how good you have been at your job and conscientious in preventive medicine. If you leave late they will eventually 'can' you and depending on the employer, that could come sooner rather than later.
We are working in a health care system that does not put the patient first, but rather the needs of the health insurance companies, JCAHO etc, etc. (Incidentally, you figure last in the equation). You don't think our endless charting is for the sake of the patient do you?
The problem is that corporations want it all. They want all their written and computerized charting done and then whatever else occurs to them! If there is a suggestion that you can complete your charting and still do health education, while you're maxed out with a heavy patient load, possibly taking admissions and doing discharges, they'll add that to your job too.
As nurses, we have always been dumped on. We are seen as people that are willing to attend to all the needs of the patient. Our own "profession" encourages this. Hence, we are easily manipulated by the corporations that employ us. Nothing is too much, since it is always presented to be in the interests of the patient. The role of the nurse continues to become ever more complex. With often competing interests - needs of the corporation vs the needs of the patient. Eventually, if we aren't already there, the job will be so conflicted that we will find it too difficult to do. It isn't that young people don't want to come into the job, it's just that they are discouraged from doing so.

Thanks for a GREAT article!!! Teaching in any setting not only improves patient compliance; it promotes independance and self reliance. This is what quality care delivery is all about. Kudos!!!!

Hmm. Real nursing. Last night I was walking down the hall and noticed an elderly gent drooling on himself as he wandered past the nursing station; i wiped his chin and kept on going. I didn't save his life and I don't know that I taught him anything. I wonder if that is considered real nursing?

Thanks Angie for such wonderful inspiration. Well said.

thanks for sharing!keep it up....