When do you have the time.

[cinja]

I have noticed in all of my lectures and reading that a common theme of "the nurse should discuss or be aware of" from certain patients but during clinicals I never have time to have a real discussion. I have even asked experienced nurses who just laugh at it and say just know it for school and the boards and youy will learn later how it really is. The instructors and schools in my opinion are doing a disservice to their students by not being upfront with the demands. Anybody else feel the same or can explain a counter point to me?

[puggymae]

Are you talking about patient teaching?

[cinja]

Not just patient education. I get the impression we are to sit with these poor souls and focus our attention on just them. I am just currious where is the time. I barely have time to change a bed or get extra towels.

[mysterious_one, ASN, RN]

yes, i know what you mean, sadly that are the sign's of the nursing shortages. My personal goal is to be able to find the time to do some "therapeutic talking" with my patients. I know this will be hard to do, but at least we should not give up and strive for the best patient care.

[Altra, BSN, RN]

You're absolutely right, cinja ... real-world nursing doesn't progress like those videos you see in nursing school.

However, with additional experience you'll learn to incorporate "therapeutic communication" & patient teaching into little chunks of a few minutes here & there while you're also doing other things at the same time - assessments, dressing changes, getting someone up to the bathroom, giving meds, etc.

It's more meaningful than you may think right now.

Good luck to you! :)

[traumaRUs, MSN, APRN]

I'll be honest here too guys. Nursing is part of the health care business. We are not generating income when we sit with the "poor souls." I know evan as an advanced practice nurse, that when I do take the time with a patient that needs emotional support, another patient is shorted on the time I spend with them.

However, we as nurses, must strive to be the best that we can be and to provide the best care possible. Unfortunately, we do not usually have the time to do so.

I'm sorry.

[Lisa CCU RN, RN]

You have the time right now as a nursing student.

After you start working, it's another story. You are going to have to break patient teaching into segments and do it throughout pt. care.

At one hospital I want to work at, they have a diabetic nurse who comes in and teaches the pt. about diabetes if they have been diagnosed, but like Trauma said, that is just more money spent.

I once heard someone say, that a well patient doesn't need to come see the doctor. Well, that means no doctor bill.

Think about it.

You just have to do the best you can. What you learn in school has little to do with what you do in real life.

[colleennurse, ASN, RN]

I am a fairly new RN. Just grad last June. I am sorry to tell you that what are saying are true. You just don't have time to sit with patients and talk. I would love to be able to, but as someone else said, if you spend more time with one pt, that is less time with another. Sometimes I have every intention of doing this, and before I know it shift is over. Just like other poster have said you have to incorporate it in your care. Enjoy being a student with 1 patient or 2. Good luck :)