The Today Show

Antikigirl, ASN, RN · Sep 21, 2006

I personally think that all this stems from the fact that patients need to finally take an ACTIVE role in their care now a days, and not fully depend on healthcare staff to provide every little detail to them now. We have all had to swing with the trend of really educating our patients so that they may care for themselves at home and not make the hospital the primary source of healthcare needs.

However, despite this trend...people are still sue happy, and still so caught up in the 'customer is always right' mindset where it isn't meshing well with actually teaching them how to care for themselves! Many of my patients still feel they wish for the nurse with the white cap...not to identify an RN, but to have that feeling of servitude (and I have asked!!!!) from the nurse. It is the old mindset...get sick or hurt...go to the ladies in the white dress and cap and all will be better! This mindset needs to stop if we are to continue with actually achieving in and out patient sucess!

I have asked many patients and people outside and typically they respond about tasks onlys like bed baths, shots, feeding, wheelchairs, IV's, making coffee, and helping the doctor. And they feel safe around nurses because they are like a mom that are there to help them. But NEVER do they EVER say anything about being a professional...a real licensed professional! That chaps my hide, and I remind patients and others about this often...that nurses aren't little college grads that parade around catering to everyones needs under the direct thumb of an MD...that we are professionals, and actually have quite a bit of schooling behind our RNs so that we can ASSIST the doctor and other disiplines!

The nurse persona is still very misunderstood, and this is why hints or even direct remarks towards healthcare errors go directly...almost instinctually towards the NURSES!

A white outfit and cap are NOT going to fix this trend, and I don't belive the white coat is working for MD's either (since too many other disaplines use them too...like our student nurses, lab, RT, some PT, etc.).

What we need is patients to be a little more aware of whom is working on them by asking, and always be curious about what is going on and ask questions. If they are unable then their Medical POA should be there (which I find they are usually not there are not to be found when I need them!).

Healthcare teams must really introduce themselves clearly and have name badges that state their title in large letters and in simple terms! Too many of our nurses have RN and other titles on the badge that fill up room...a simple RN is easier to understand for patients or even NURSE (I have run into people that don't know MD or RN). I know we all earned our titles...but we don't go into pts rooms declairing them...why??? Too confusing so lets go simple with name badges!

I agree with the colored scrubs...my patients don't even remember the color I was wearing vs the CNA...so that doesn't do much.

I introduce myself as ____ Your nurse at the start...and "your nurse" throughout the day...unless they are forgetful then I will continue with ___ your nurse! We also have dry erase boards to write our names on and the cna's name too!

OH well...I better get off my soap box too..LOL!

MAP1 · Sep 21, 2006

Nursing - the biggest problem in our profession is the lack of respect - this is because no one understands our job. Shows such as Grey's Anatomy and House - never show nurses in critical roles. We all know how impossible it would be for the Docs alone to care for the patients but on TV that is what you see. Docs standing around a patient with many IV drip and on Vents and no nurse in the room. This is rediculous but the people who watch this do not see the exteme value of the nurse at the bedside. Errors occur - human nature - but short staffing and long hours certainly makes it easier to err

LisaRn21 · Sep 21, 2006

Hi Lisa,
Before the internet and cell phones and all the other
modern changes....
When I was a child and young adult nurses were respected
and the professional uniform was white and a nursing cap.
Nurses worked very hard in those days.
Kindly do not degrade the attire of the hard working
nurses who have worked over the years in a nursing cap
while caring for their patients.
Nursing advanced to where it is today because of their
commitment to patients and their assertiveness to change
and advance the profession.

Hi

I was not disrespecting or degrading anyone. I was simply stating, if someone decides to demand I wear certain clothes especially a hat on my head I would quit. I don't feel the nurses who have worked over the years helped advance nursing to the profession it is today because of the clothes they wear... it was the caring nature, and the assertiveness. Please don't degrade me for having an opinion .. thank you :nurse:

flashpoint · Sep 21, 2006

I don't see how wearing white is going to make us more professional...sure it will make us easier to spot, but it won't make me a better nurse. It might make me a little more hesitant to "get my hands dirty." I spent half an hour crawling on the floor looking for something a resident dropped last week...don't think I would be so willing to do that in white. I've said this a million times, but I thik we need to get all non-medical staff out of scrubs. Housekeepers do not need to wear scrubs...dietary does not need to wear scrubs...the receptionist does not need to wear scrubs. And what exactly do caps do? I had to wear one in nursing school and sure, it looked kind of sharp, but it didn't keep may hair under control or anything and it got knocked off when I held little kids or hit it against something.

There are a lot of things that need improved in health care, but it always seems to fall back on the nurses. The hospital I worked for blamed everything on the nurses...the IT manager left his computer on one weekend...some how a little fire started...who got blamed? The nurses...we should have somehow known, even though his office is always locked and isn't anywhere near where patient care areas are.

DusktilDawn · Sep 21, 2006

i think the today show could have better served the public than they did:

make sure you see the surgeon

definately patients should be encouraged to see and talk to their doctors, especially before being given sedatives pre-op. what wasn't addressed in this piece was encouraging people to write a list of concerns and questions prior to talking to the doctor. i can't tell you how many times the physician has just left the unit and the patient/or family has a question they forgot to address while the physician was in the room.

marking no on the side that is not being operated on

bad idea to suggest marking a body part not being operated on prior to surgery on their own, period. as others have stated, marking other limbs not to be affected may add to confusion, especially if they decide to take dr. snyderman's suggestion further and do it on their own. having patients inquire about pre-op check lists that ensure correct procedure on the correct limb is a better suggestion. having patients insist that they and their surgeon sign or mark the surgical limb together is a another good idea.

medication errors

interesting how they mention illegible writing on the physician's part, but offer no solutions to this problem, and yes this is a serious issue. how about pharmacies, nurses, hospitals, and other health care facilities insisting on computerized/or typed scripts or refusing to process illegible scripts. also encouraging patients to ask what meds they are receiving. what about encouraging patients to keep an updated list on them at all times in regards to medications and allergies, easily done on a piece of paper or a card that can be kept in their wallets right beside their health cards/credit cards, sin, birth cert, etc. encouraging patients to educate themselves on the medications they are taking, even requesting printed information from their pharmacy or health care provider. i'm baffled at the number of people who don't even know why they are on a medication. personally, i always tell the patient what medications i am giving them, it allows them the opportunity to ask questions. when a patient mentions a deviation from their normal dose or questions the appropriateness of a medication, i take that as a cue to double check again the orders and doses. no mention of not interrupting the nursing staff when they are dispensing medication.

infection control

yes, they did discuss handwashing, but how about emphasing that it is one of the most important barriers within a hospital to prevent infection. i do agree with advocating for all who come in contact with the patient washing their hands, including visitors. how about if you are visiting the hospital to see family, that you do not actively display any signs of illness or infection. what about limiting visitor numbers and encouraging compliance with that. what about private rooms.

utilizing er

at least they mentioned how ers are being used inappropriately by the public and that they bear some responsiblity for this. i wish they would have mentioned that patients try to be as clear and concise as possible when describing their symptoms during triage. though dr. snyderman doesn't feel er is a place to be polite, i don't advocate for rudeness, in fact that suggestion may do more harm than good. i've always told patients to be proactive and insistant if they feel something is wrong that is not being addressed.

professionalism

i personally felt the cap remark was inappropriate and gender biased. sorry, i felt it encouraged an antiquated stereotype. although it is not a problem at the facility i work at distinqishing nurses from other staff, it can be a problem at other facilities. i don't think scrubs should be worn by non-nursing staff. i do think that every person when entering the room should introduce themselves and explain who they are and why they are there:

"hello, i'm ray and i'm an rn. i will be providing your medications and..."

"hello, i'm tammy and i'm a pt and i will be...."

"hello i'm terry and i'm a housekeeper and i will be cleaning your room today..."

encourage patients to ask for explainations in regards to the different roles. encourage patients to know who their nurse is for the shift, and to treat them as professionals instead of maids.

parrotmom · Sep 21, 2006

I agree with no scrubs for ancillary pesonnel. There is no reason for a receptionist/dietary person/housekeeper or transport tech to be in scrubs. A hospital near hee provides polo shirts for these employees which they wear with slacks or in housekeepings case they allow them to wear cotton pants as well. I do not think the majority of people think that putting a white dress and a cap will improve their care but I do believe they ae upset by the casualness of some peoples dress for work. I know many physicians offices as well as clinic that do not allow the cartoon and animation scrubs except in pedi care and do not allow the new capri scrubs which I think are bordering on unprofesional. Capris can not be construed as business attire unless you are selling beach property. Of course I am offended by bank tellers who wear shirts that belong in a night club or people who wear tank tops to work anywhere but a gym or a beach. JMO

flashpoint · Sep 21, 2006

Sometimes I think that the experts just need to push an emphasis on common sense. Ask questions...know what medication you are taking...know your diagnosis and research it...know the members of your healthcare team...etc. I think a lot of the "experts" make doctors and nurses out to be the bad guys...patients walk in to the clinic or hospital expecting mistakes, expecting to be ignored, mistreated, misdiagnosed, expecting something bad to happen. Too bad they can emphasize how much training we have, how much experience we have, what excellent resources we have when we need more information...

tridil2000, MSN, RN · Sep 21, 2006

how many of you shake your patient's hand when introducing yourself?? i can almost guarantee that your pts will treat you with more respect if you shake their hand upon introduction.

Elisheva · Sep 21, 2006

Of course I am offended by bank tellers who wear shirts that belong in a night club or people who wear tank tops to work anywhere but a gym or a beach. JMO

Funny you should say that! I went to the bank last week and the teller was wearing a shirt that was so low-cut that I thought she might have a pole beside her window. Cover up, for Pete's sake.

PANurseRN1 · Sep 21, 2006

I'll go back to wearing a cap when Matt goes back to having hair.

jonear2, RN · Sep 21, 2006

Anybody else wondering why on earth the Today Show didn't have a nurse on the program to talk about medication errors and ways to prevent them??? No, because we all know that a high priced physician who nevers passes a single med during the day is ssooooo much more qualified to answer those questions. How about a nurse who has done research regarding the topic and perhaps has been published in NJN? You mean there are nurses who do research??? What are these "nursing journals" of which you speak?

Guest717236 · Sep 22, 2006

Hi
I was not disrespecting or degrading anyone. I was simply stating, if someone decides to demand I wear certain clothes especially a hat on my head I would quit. I don't feel the nurses who have worked over the years helped advance nursing to the profession it is today because of the clothes they wear... it was the caring nature, and the assertiveness. Please don't degrade me for having an opinion .. thank you

As a nurse who has family members (nurses) who helped change nursing

to a profession that has included placing entry level at the

university level, my point is to honor those who have gone before you.

I respectfully disagree. To many nurses, they were proud to wear

a nursing cap. The caring nature and assertiveness was present while

they wore a distinguished uniform they earned and the public respected. During the Depression, it was difficult for many

individuals to get an education. My aunt who graduated

during that time, gave me one of her old caps as a gift.

It was one of her treasured possessions. She asked me to

give her one of mine when I graduated.

My statement was- please do not degrade the nursing cap by referring

to it as a marshmellow. It is degrading to those of us who have

earned them and worn them.

Apology accepted. :nurse: