Member Stories
Getting nursing back to basics
I have been a registered nurse for more than 30 years.
Working on the wards has become a ‘tick the box’ exercise, with management putting greater emphasis on assessments and ticking of boxes, rather than on nurses taking the time to ensure patients receive the right level of care.
It saddens me to think that nursing has become an assessment, computer-driven and productivity-orientated profession. This is all while patients lie in a bed, often with missed care. To be told “he had a wash and bed change yesterday, so he will be okay today” is simply not good enough in my book.
I have also experienced scenarios where a patient has missed a meal due to nursing staff being too busy to feed them. Maslow’s hierarchy of needs puts food and water as a basic need, but due to staff shortages, patients are not receiving this fundamental care.
I feel the time has come for nursing to get back to basics. In doing this, we would be checking patients for pressure injuries, asking about their pain, monitoring their bowels, and listening to their chests. This all prevents issues that arise from patients being left in bed with a lack of care interventions.
While we wait for ratios to be implemented and staffing numbers to improve, we must try to remember to curb our over-reliance on technology and get back to the basics of nursing care: talking to our patients.
Siobhan Mills, CNS
sharon Tomlinson says
Getting nursing back to basics…..I totally agree!!! Time to reduce all this doubling up of paper/computer work & actually get iback to caring for our patients!
Kerrie Cummins says
Siobhan Mills, you are so right that the tick box has taken precedence over the actual doing. So this week my hospital has introduced an addition to EMR called comprehensive care plan, which is supposed to streamline and incorporate all of the teams information. Difficult to manoeuvre, multiple screens and boxes just to determine each basic care plan.
I think whoever purchases these programmes has long forgotten how to care for a patient in the bed, not just the computer and Quality Assurance auditors. I’m lucky that I’ve nursed through many eras now, so the day can flow more easily for me and still feel that I can give most of the care I need to. But, for a new nurse, concentrating on and learning new skills, just trying to complete each task with full focus leaves little time for repartee with their patients. I try to lead by example and carry out the basic cares, but the demands are great especially if you have a clinically unwell or deteriorating patient, or one having procedures on the ward require up to half of your shift. Frequently I will forgo any breaks and still be finishing notes half to one hour after my finish time, but others may not be able to do that. They may have children and a day of chores awaiting them at home. Others still, take a stance and take all breaks and walk out on time. Times have changed, demands are high, systems meant to streamline do not, but the gratitude of most of our patients and families still brings a certain comfort.
Mary Clements says
absolutely true. nurses used to be trained on the wards as well as being taught at medical college. CARE of patients was the priority at all times and though obviously records needed to be kept up to date more time was given to ensuring the patients comfort in every way alongside treatment rather than tick boxing etc. Matron ensured full care was provided to all patients in every ward.
Naomi Smith says
I so agree. To the point where filling out nursing care plans are my last priority. Know that my patient is pain free and well cared for is my first priority!!