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PERSPECTIVE |
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Health? Promotion of wellness? Is this a nurse’s primary commitment to society? I believe that all nurses, in whatever setting, have the opportunity to work with patients, families, and the community to achieve the goal of health. Unfortunately, this goal is difficult to achieve when care is delegated to unlicensed personnel with minimal training. Every patient deserves a nurse, and nurses should have a professional practice environment that enables them to provide the best possible care, as well as educate patients and family. What do you want to accomplish with your patients? What are your goals as a professional nurse? Patients expect to determine their lifestyles and have a right to be treated with dignity and respect. How many times have we talked down to people as we try to have them see it our way? Patients also have a right to be informed about and participate in their health care. This means nurses have to be committed to raising health awareness so people will seek care and lead healthier lives. The right to choose options in health care must be safeguarded. How often do we refer our patients to nurse consultants as an option for a provider? The increased access to advanced practice nurses has led many people to prefer nurse practitioners as their health providers. Strong collaborative relationships with each other as nurses enable patients to gain greater access to nurses when seeking health advice. In the 21st century, we will see more people using computers to monitor their health. With this sophistication of self-health care one would expect a healthier society. However, many people will reject the nurse’s effort to assist them and adjust their lifestyle to the detriment of their health. As a professional advocate for nurses and their patients, I strive to represent nursing care with the highest level of proficiency and competency and in such a way that nurses feel good about their work. Preparing for a healthy 2000 requires attention, forethought, precaution, accuracy, and attention to detail. A nursing care plan should define every aspect of meeting patient needs. Caring may demand vigilant discipline in order to protect and control, but letting go so that people can take care of themselves may be the most difficult act of caring. Encouraging love of self and freedom to be whatever one is capable of being is the greatest gift of health care. Barbara
Brown, EdN, FNAP, RN, FAAN Perspective is an occasional column featuring the views of NurseWeek editorial staff. |