I've read here in many, many threads that we're dismayed, annoyed, and bewildered that the general public doesn't understand what we do.
So I have a question for all of you--
are you telling them?
and for our collective benefit, HOW are you telling them? Please share so that we may all teach our patients about who we are as nurses and what we really do.
My patients get detailed admission teachings on medications, labs (what certain ones are targeted to do and when they can expect to get them), and treatments. They're encouraged to call me for changes in symptoms and for pain control.
Here's something I learned to tell them from some of these threads and thoughts from other nurses:
At a certain point in the admission, I point to my badge and show them where to look for our name and license designation, and explain that nurses are LPNs and RNs, and that we or their doctor are best able to answer questions about medications, tests, or treatments, and it was important to identify who their nurse was as opposed to say, the housekeeper or the unit secretary since we all wear scrubs.
Almost without exception, these patients will pretend that they already knew that, but I can tell that they did not.
I make it a point to explain that the tech will be assigned to help with getting to the bathroom, taking vital signs, and things like that, while I'll be giving medications and consulting with their doctor about changes in symptoms.
My goal is to teach all of my patients some functions of nurses today and how to identify the nurse in the hospital setting as being part of an informed healthcare consumer.
I need to thank those of you at Allnurses who shared in the threads about public perception of nursing. They've really been a springboard for changing the way I talk to my patients and how I educate them throughout their stay in the hospital. But there are always more ways to do this, and I would appreciate your thoughts. So don't be shy....
Please share how you are teaching your patients what nurses do as you care for them throughout their stay.
I honestly do not think while people are sick and vulnerable, it's a good time for me to educate them as to what I do. I will say this: I do think patients notice it all the time.
Honestly, If I had a dime for everytime a patient told me "darn, you do a lot I thought only the dr's did"---or "you sure know a lot of stuff, don't you?" ---I would be living on the oceanfront sipping mai tai's, not wearing scrubs and working as I do.
Many do know what we do.....and appreciate us. Many who don't, do not care, anyhow. All we can do is educate the public as much as possible----and display nothing but true professionalism on the job, whatever job that may be. Our IMAGE is as important as educating others is, if not more. It's time to really fight those stupid media shows/portrayals that hurt our image. That is a big part of where the public gets its information, right or not.
And it's time we take a LONG look in the mirror at the image we ourselves portray. Getting rid of the gum-popping, long nails, sloppy scrubs, gossipy behavior at the nurses' stations, etc, are real steps in the right direction.
AMEN TO THAT!!!! Most especially that "look in the mirror" business. Actions really do speak louder than words. And they are remembered far longer (See my previous post for my gonzo approach to educating the public)
Although it is good to redirect us to the original intent of this thread, I still find myself amazed that someone besides the RN or LVN put a foley cath in or takes a blood sugar or D/C's an IV.
That would never happen where I work.
Maybe another thread on this issue . . . giving away our nursing duties to unlicensed staff. Like the medication aides - although I realize there are many such threads.
Yeah, really. In nsg school I was taught that a foley insertion is a sterile procedure and can be perfomed only by a licensed(educated in sterile procedure according to state standards) individual. Let's hear it for the old days! Where I work, aides can take blood sugars, but are not allowed to d/c ivs or insert or d/c foley catheters. However. . . a few of the cnas I work w/tell me they have experience in these procedures. Scary, don't you think? I also work w/a clerk who feels she is qualified to do nearly anything since she has emt training(I don't even know if she has ever used it in the real world). Sorry to stray from the subject, but we really do have to be careful of unliscenced personnel who believe they are capable of doing anything the "nurse" does just b/c they have witnessed it being done before. I do think this gets to the heart of this thread b/c people (including UAPs) really DO NOT understand the preparation and education we have experienced to be "licensed" to perform certain procedures. As my favorite devil's advocate (Linda Rn), has written before, "You don't know what you don't know b/c you don't know what you don't know". Or words to that effect. Seriously, if we were being true to the standards we all hold dear, we would be calling the house sup/admin on call/whatever the equivalent at your facility and DEMANDING licensed help, now, instead of handing things off to folks who are not educationally or experientially prepared to do them. We really do need a new thread on this particular subject, don't you think?
Just thought I'd share my thoughts w/ all of you. I currently work in a sleep disorder lab and previously worked @ a regional medical center, working on a cardiac/stepdown unit.
I always start out introducing myself and who the CNA is. We actually write down our names and titles on a marker board in the pts rm. I then start out by asking how their night/day was and how they are currently feeling. Next I go into my physical assessment. I always (when deamed appropriate) ask them if they know what to expect for the day/night. I educate them on what to expect for the day and try to add a little light humor when appropriate. An eg. includes: Pts often have the misconception that they will get uninterrupted sleep. I tell them @ the beginning of the night that I will try to let them sleep as much as possible, however, there are routine vitals to be checked and other necessary interventions that need to be tended to in order to maintain pt safety (more often they tend to be less angry w/ interruptions when forewarned). I always try to base my edu. on person specific appropriateness. There are definatelly those that want to learn more and those that either don't care/are too sick to comprehend.
I'm always amazed @ some 1st impressions that I've had. One pt for instance was a quad who was on the vent. My 1st "initial" thought was that he was incapable of comprehending much (I try not to let that 1st impression stick however). I will never forget the look in his eyes when I took the time to look him in the eyes and tell him everything that I was doing and the rationale behind it. It was a look that went from fear to ease. I could tell that his fear was lessened and having the opportunity to care for him left a lasting impression upon me.
Whenever you can, try to get a feel for the pt individually, and educate them to the level appropriate for them. I think we often get so wrapped up in the "politics" of nursing and forget that yes, we are educated professionals who have a voice and one of the greatest impacts is to leave a positive impression w/ our pts and family members so that they can spread a positive experience to the public that they had w/ nurses and other healthcare professionals.
Also remember that it was not too long ago that RN's could not give IVP meds, this was an MD's responsibility. As our scope of practice advances there are certain skills that can be delegated to CNA's when deamed safe and appropriatelly. Every state board is different. Hope I helped answer the thread a little. :) :)
I agree! I never have seen a CNA take out an IV or place a foley. Since I have to chart on both procedures, especially if it's a central line being removed, I would probably not allow it.
I always write my first name and RN on the patients board in the room, briefly introduce myself, explain the plan of care and do my assessment at that time. I also tell them when I will be giving meds, doing any dressing changes and will inroduce the other team players, CNA, PT, OT, SLP, case managers and last, I WEAR MY BADGE FACING OUT!!!!
I almost have a whiplash at some facilities I work at trying to read the ID badges that are crazy glued in the wrong direction from a lanyard.
Well its gotten to the point where there is so much to do, that we often choose to address more essential demands stuff (physical patient care issues) than the 'talking' stuff. I've been guilty of that...there is so much to be done, so little time in today's short staffed environment of care.
I make a point of introducing myself and explaining basically what my role is wherever I'm working. They understand so little of the technical jargon, I find they mostly get the message I'm responsible for everything for them...including minor housekeeping duties and stuff for other depts.
So..the public has quite selective hearing/understanding..and its understandable when they're ill. They just want 'somebody' to DO for them, and the nurse is the one who is 'there.'.
I agree with you totally! We DO have too much to do and our numbers are getting smaller. Most of my patients know me on a first name basis because I've worked at the same hospital for 25 years. I always introduce myself and let the patient know about the additional responsibilities I have, should they happen to ask WHY I am so busy.
The public,in general, have no idea how demanding and necessary our job is until they make that first visit...then they are very grateful to have us. For the most part, our responsibilities to society are taken for granted and are not recognized as a very important part of a community.
kadokin, ASN, RN
550 Posts
AMEN TO THAT!!!! Most especially that "look in the mirror" business. Actions really do speak louder than words. And they are remembered far longer (See my previous post for my gonzo approach to educating the public)