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With the holiday season well under way, families and
friends devote more time to each other than usual compared
to the rest of the year. We make special efforts to
attend celebrations, gather for parties and decorate
our homes and workplaces to be festive. It is also a
time when we are reminded that many people in our communities
are unable to meet their basic needs for food, housing
and health care. I am sure the majority of us find ways
to contribute to the well-being of others.
As nurses we see the unmet needs of people each day
and spend considerable time locating support services
for our patients and neighbors. I am sure that you experience
the difficulty of finding and coordinating these services
despite being a professional who knows many of the ins
and outs of the health care system. So it is difficult
to imagine that a person with health needs would be
able to access the services without considerable assistance.
When we look at the complexity of care, it is clear
that our patient populations are increasingly diverse.
Whether the patient is in the hospital, at home or in
the doctor's office, we are constantly challenged to
recognize and be sensitive to the unique needs of individuals
from different cultures. Just as we work hard to respect
the cultural diversity of our nurses, we must be respectful
of the beliefs of culturally diverse patient populations
if we are to be successful in caring for them and their
families. If it is important to us, we will need to
devote more resources to support nurses as they work
to practice culturally sensitive nursing.
In this month's issue, we also focus on home health
nursing. When you read about the complex roles that
home health nurses play, it is clear that they must
be highly skilled and highly resourceful to bring nursing
care to their clients. With ever-decreasing reimbursement,
these nurses must accomplish more with less and ensure
that their limited time with patients will set the stage
for as much improvement in health status as possible.
All of us who have watched the shortening of hospital
stays realize that we are sending people home quicker
and sicker, thus raising the requirements for care after
discharge. The huge variation in nursing care needs,
coupled with the additional needs of the elderly or
children, requires that home health nurses be able to
independently plan care and coordinate services. I think
you will be inspired by their stories and gain understanding
of their critical roles in health care.
I hope you all have a wonderful holiday season. Take
the time to appreciate the little things in life. Remember
all of the contributions you have made to others' lives
and feel good about that. As we make plans for 2003,
we hope for peace on earth, stability in our lives and
the opportunity to make a difference for others. Best
wishes for the holidays and the new year.
Discuss this and other topics with your colleagues
at www.nurseweek.com/rnvillage
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