Nurses, perception difference and education

[pedicurn, LPN, RN]

Anyone else tired of this ???

I have this view that nursing is a mixture of : highly skilled, trade,vocation, art and profession.

Thus it is quite possible to be a strong RN without much generic professional development which leads to perception difference.

I see this perception difference as one of the sticky issues on my unit as it seems to be part of the mix whenever there is conflict.

People tire of constantly needing to be aware of this perception difference and the requirement to accommodate it.

I would assert that it's inappropriate for these differences to remain if nursing is to be a real profession. I would further assert that perception will be more unified when nursing education is unified and a more rigorous approach applied to standards (both educational and program entrance)

[dudette10, MSN, RN]

I'm sorry;I'm not understanding your point. Difference in perception of what?

[pedicurn, LPN, RN]

I'm sorry;I'm not understanding your point. Difference in perception of what?

Mostly pertaining to how information is handled - broadness/narrowness + accuracy.

And relating to generic professional skill development as distinct from the 'professional' development taught in nursing school

[Mulan]

Example?

[pedicurn, LPN, RN]

Example?

Here's an example that crops up quite a lot in my unit.

A p't arrives intoxicated with a supply of vodka in their belongings. Many of my coworkers automatically throw the alcohol out because the 'p't has come in here drunk' and alcohol abuse is one of their problems.

However I keep the alcohol and the rest of their belongings in a secure place and return on discharge.

My rationale is based on a few points:

- The p't will just go buy more alcohol on discharge and that will likely mean they wont have enough money to fill their prescriptions on discharge and eat properly. Thus we will have them back in soon enough. It may also mean they could be so skint at that particular time - will be evicted as can't pay the rent -therefore now homeless and with all the problems that entails

- Will need to keep drinking in the short term to avoid withdrawl

- Alcohol is legal

-The alcohol is p't property

- It can be kept away from the p't and others whilst admitted so no risk keeping it in the hospital.

This difference in perception exists amongst our staff nurses and also amongst our group of charge nurses

[Mulan]

I would have a problem with throwing away another person's personal property.

As far as alcohol is concerned though, what is the hospital policy?

Are you saying that you think the other nurse throws it away because of a lack of education or professional development on her part?

[pedicurn, LPN, RN]

I would have a problem with throwing away another person's personal property.

As far as alcohol is concerned though, what is the hospital policy?

Are you saying that you think the other nurse throws it away because of a lack of education or professional development on her part?

Lack of broadness of perception relating to how she/he is handling information.

Mostly (but not always) correlating to education

She/he thinks 'the alcohol is the problem therefore we have to throw it away .... duh'

Others 'think out' more. Simply throwing away the alcohol wont have much effect on the whole picture.

(we don't have a policy on this)

[MillieT]

If this is the only type of incident where you've seen a difference in perception related to education, I would beg to differ that it has more to do with the nurse's perception and personal experience with addiction and alcoholism than education.

Nurses that live with or have close family members with addiction problems can react from a myriad of emotions: anger, sympathy, understanding, acceptance, denial, intolerance etc that have nothing to do with formal education.

[pedicurn, LPN, RN]

If this is the only type of incident where you've seen a difference in perception related to education, I would beg to differ that it has more to do with the nurse's perception and personal experience with addiction and alcoholism than education.

Nurses that live with or have close family members with addiction problems can react from a myriad of emotions: anger, sympathy, understanding, acceptance, denial, intolerance etc that have nothing to do with formal education.

I think personal experience might very well influence action for some nurses. However it is just one explanation for throwing out the alcohol and shouldn't be generalised over the whole nurse population.

Nurses who allow their personal experience to influence their actions here are not behaving like educated professionals

- that would be 'wearing heart on sleeve' behaviour and inappropriate for a professional and this would have a relationship with formal education

[DixieRedHead, ASN, RN]

Just throw the stuff out. The drunk probably doesn't expect it to be returned, and you're only making it harder for yourself when finding a "safe" place store liquor.

Just throw the stuff out.

[pedicurn, LPN, RN]

Just throw the stuff out. The drunk probably doesn't expect it to be returned, and you're only making it harder for yourself when finding a "safe" place store liquor.

Just throw the stuff out.

even if that means we have him back in tomorrow? and then two days later ?

Because that will happen when he makes a choice between buying more alcohol and filling his meds. Eg He doesn't fill his Metformin, his cellulitis worsens

[EricJRN, MSN, RN]

I would mostly disagree with you, pedicurn. If a nurse can identify (the reality) that her personal experiences do have influences on her professional behavior, that's an educated and informed nurse.

What if it were professional experiences, such as working in the ER with altered and combative intoxicated patients, that caused her to pitch the alcohol? Is it any better or worse if that's the nurse's reason for throwing it out?

In my case, I've been in school for years, but I'm better with books than I am with practical stuff, and I have a tendency toward really poor situational awareness sometimes.