Nurses, the Door to Better Health Care
October 3rd, 2009 | by admin |
Darlene G. Snyder asked:
In every area of life, communication is required. Communication between bosses and employees, husbands and wives, children and parents is essential. In a time of sickness or extended illnesses, communication between the patient and the nurse is paramount.
It is the nurse, if he or she is a good communicator who helps the patient understand what the doctor is saying.
Because Mike, my husband of thirty two years spent approximately fifty days in the hospital and continues to make countless visits to doctors offices, I’ve learned what it takes to have less complications during a hospital stay, or to have a successful visit with the doctor. The answer lies in positive contact with the nurses.
For us, nurses brimming with good communication skills were the best nurses we encountered. They were the ones who took time to explain what to expect, clarified what some of the unfamiliar terminology meant and communicated clear instructions. They did not assume just because they knew what was to come, we knew and understood. During Mike’s hospital stay, we appreciated the nurse’s explanations when the doctors left us with more questions than answers.
Those displaying genuine compassion and concern toward our particular situation were the ones we befriended. We felt comfortable discussing our feelings with them. Yes, there were those falling into the worthless category appearing to be in to much of a hurry to care about what we were experiencing. Even so, we recognized the nurses were under tremendous stress and we understood the pressure of their job sometimes was overwhelming. While we met those who displayed unacceptable behavior, their negative actions reflected more on them than on us.
Those nurses whom we met who understood we too were stressed and overwhelmed defused problems before they had a chance to erupt. Their actions and reactions went a long way in calming us.
When we are struggling with health issues, our stress level rises often times to a boiling point. We must take care not to oust our anger and resentment in the wrong place. Most of us can recall moments where either we have acted inappropriately or witnessed others who behaved this way toward nurses. At the same time, we may recall moments when nurses failed to act in an apt manner.
The difference between good nurses and the bad ones lies mostly in attitude - theirs and ours. If either party enters the hospital room or the doctors’ office with a poor attitude, they likely will cause the other to react in kind. Our mannerism, and inability to ask questions and patiently wait for answers, and their inability to listen without lecturing and their failure to show compassion will often lead to miscommunication.
What happens when we do face those nurses who are failing miserably? If you are like me, sometimes we act before we think. This often serves only to add to the stress and makes the problem worse. Don’t be haste in your response, allow the situation time to resolve itself. If the problem isn’t affecting you or the patient significantly, be patient until the shift ends.
If you feel a nurse is being difficult or both of you are facing personality differences, don’t get involved in a confrontation. Ask to speak to their supervisor. Don’t confront, demand or shout, but explain in a calm, clear voice what took place. Allow the supervisor to sort out the problem. He or she may be able to act as an intercessor or assign a different nurse to you or to the patient. Many times, taking the time to understand the other side of the issue solves the problem.
Many nurses travel miles to the hospital, work a great number of hours and spend the night in a hotel adjutant to the hospital. Some stay away from their home and families; work long hours only to travel back home to work in another hospital. We should show them the compassion and kindness we desire for ourselves.
Another area where good communication skills are required is in the doctor’s office. Befriending nurses there gives us someone to call if we are having a problem. Often times, I call the nurse in my doctor’s office to talk to her about a health issue. If she makes recommendations, I follow them. If she finds I need to speak to the doctor, she has him return my call or helps me get an appointment as soon as possible.
Nurses are the door we have to walk through before we can get to the doctor. It behooves all of us to keep the lines of communication open so when we must walk through that door, we can do so without stumbling.
Whether it is in the hospital setting, physician’s office, or some other health care facility, take time to show kindness to the nurses. Ask questions, show genuine interest in them, if you do, I believe you will discover most will return the favor.
Plumbing Tips For Homeowners
In every area of life, communication is required. Communication between bosses and employees, husbands and wives, children and parents is essential. In a time of sickness or extended illnesses, communication between the patient and the nurse is paramount.
It is the nurse, if he or she is a good communicator who helps the patient understand what the doctor is saying.
Because Mike, my husband of thirty two years spent approximately fifty days in the hospital and continues to make countless visits to doctors offices, I’ve learned what it takes to have less complications during a hospital stay, or to have a successful visit with the doctor. The answer lies in positive contact with the nurses.
For us, nurses brimming with good communication skills were the best nurses we encountered. They were the ones who took time to explain what to expect, clarified what some of the unfamiliar terminology meant and communicated clear instructions. They did not assume just because they knew what was to come, we knew and understood. During Mike’s hospital stay, we appreciated the nurse’s explanations when the doctors left us with more questions than answers.
Those displaying genuine compassion and concern toward our particular situation were the ones we befriended. We felt comfortable discussing our feelings with them. Yes, there were those falling into the worthless category appearing to be in to much of a hurry to care about what we were experiencing. Even so, we recognized the nurses were under tremendous stress and we understood the pressure of their job sometimes was overwhelming. While we met those who displayed unacceptable behavior, their negative actions reflected more on them than on us.
Those nurses whom we met who understood we too were stressed and overwhelmed defused problems before they had a chance to erupt. Their actions and reactions went a long way in calming us.
When we are struggling with health issues, our stress level rises often times to a boiling point. We must take care not to oust our anger and resentment in the wrong place. Most of us can recall moments where either we have acted inappropriately or witnessed others who behaved this way toward nurses. At the same time, we may recall moments when nurses failed to act in an apt manner.
The difference between good nurses and the bad ones lies mostly in attitude - theirs and ours. If either party enters the hospital room or the doctors’ office with a poor attitude, they likely will cause the other to react in kind. Our mannerism, and inability to ask questions and patiently wait for answers, and their inability to listen without lecturing and their failure to show compassion will often lead to miscommunication.
What happens when we do face those nurses who are failing miserably? If you are like me, sometimes we act before we think. This often serves only to add to the stress and makes the problem worse. Don’t be haste in your response, allow the situation time to resolve itself. If the problem isn’t affecting you or the patient significantly, be patient until the shift ends.
If you feel a nurse is being difficult or both of you are facing personality differences, don’t get involved in a confrontation. Ask to speak to their supervisor. Don’t confront, demand or shout, but explain in a calm, clear voice what took place. Allow the supervisor to sort out the problem. He or she may be able to act as an intercessor or assign a different nurse to you or to the patient. Many times, taking the time to understand the other side of the issue solves the problem.
Many nurses travel miles to the hospital, work a great number of hours and spend the night in a hotel adjutant to the hospital. Some stay away from their home and families; work long hours only to travel back home to work in another hospital. We should show them the compassion and kindness we desire for ourselves.
Another area where good communication skills are required is in the doctor’s office. Befriending nurses there gives us someone to call if we are having a problem. Often times, I call the nurse in my doctor’s office to talk to her about a health issue. If she makes recommendations, I follow them. If she finds I need to speak to the doctor, she has him return my call or helps me get an appointment as soon as possible.
Nurses are the door we have to walk through before we can get to the doctor. It behooves all of us to keep the lines of communication open so when we must walk through that door, we can do so without stumbling.
Whether it is in the hospital setting, physician’s office, or some other health care facility, take time to show kindness to the nurses. Ask questions, show genuine interest in them, if you do, I believe you will discover most will return the favor.
Plumbing Tips For Homeowners
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