To All Readers: Regarding the nurse column, a lot of you wrote in, and I sincerely appreciate your input and assistance. One of the most important occupations is nursing, and because of the significant work they provide, nurses should be respected and protected.
Here are two viewpoints from other nurses.
To Annie, please: I wanted to express my viewpoint as another veteran nurse. Although I appreciate that you acknowledged the hard work that nurses do, I believe that you overlooked an important issue in your response. The feelings of a patient’s family should be taken into account, but it’s also critical to acknowledge the difficulties nurses deal with on a regular basis.
We commit to giving the finest service possible while adhering to stringent guidelines and procedures that the general public may not always understand. However, it is inappropriate to be cornered or reprimanded by a patient or their family. In the course of their work, nurses shouldn’t have to put up with abuse.
Despite our best efforts to deliver high-quality treatment, many of us have felt the emotional toll that patient complaints may take. The health care system is overburdened, and nurses are experiencing more animosity, verbal abuse, and even violent threats since the pandemic. The lack of respect and support we receive is another factor contributing to the continuous nurse shortage, in addition to the workload.
I hope this clarifies an alternative viewpoint and promotes a more thorough comprehension of the struggles faced by nurses. In an underperforming system, we are doing our best, and I implore more people to acknowledge and assist the caregivers who play a crucial role in patient care. — An Additional Nurse
To Annie, please: I recently heard a nurse’s remarks regarding patients and their families being more disrespectful, and I am a former registered nurse. There were always a few cranky people who needed care during my thirty years of work, but they were the exception rather than the rule. The role of leadership provides a straightforward explanation for this increasing rudeness. People become less polite and more combative in daily interactions when those in positions of authority accept bullying and rudeness. Regretfully, in recent years, this type of behavior has gained increasing acceptance.
Many individuals are unaware that this is about actual risk rather than just impolite behavior. Aggression from patients and their families is practically killing nurses.
De-escalation is a fundamental aspect of caregiving, and we are educated to manage challenging circumstances. You might not realize, though, how easily these circumstances might degenerate into violence. Nurses are shot, stabbed, kicked, and punched. Many sustain crippling injuries that cause their careers to end. Offenders face little consequences, and this lack of accountability exacerbates the issue. The general public must realize that medical professionals are not punching bags. There won’t be many bedside nurses left to care for anyone if this keeps up.
Before more lives are lost, it’s time for significant change.
For Annie Lane, send inquiries to [email protected].
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