Maintain pressure on reforms to protect NHS
Heather Speirs
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Comments (9)
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Comment on: Why are nurses acting like rude shop assistants?
I, like many others above, have seen both sides of the above argument/debate. I have been qualified over twenty years and never been rude to a patient. I have always attempted to communicate with patients in an effective way, explaining, encouraging, with reason and logic and empathy where applicable. I have met abusive patients who have behaved incredibly rudely - treating me like a slave to their whims, barking 'pass the tissues/cup/whatever' at me without any manners and expected me to be there for them instantly, even when I have clearly had priorities to attend to involving their care. Even so I have politely pointed out that I had other priorities and I would assist them when I was able to, if they required it. I looked after a very rude individual who had nothing but praise and courteous behaviour towards the consultant, (and brought him a bottle of whisky as a thank you present), but who treated the entire nursing staff with utter contempt and as second class citizens, behaving like a spoilt child, demanding his medication 'on time' or even 'early' because he wanted to get to sleep early, and completely oblivious to the fact that I also had other patients to care for who did require 'more urgent' treatment at that time than himself. He obviously felt that his senior position in the place he worked gave him the right to treat the nurses as morons and slaves and I pitied his own staff, who I am sure, left working 'under him' as soon as they were able to. I have also been a patient, and been treated to both good and bad treatment by nurses. I do not think there is ever any excuse for nurses being rude to patients, but some patients make it very difficult to treat them with courtesy and respect at times.
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Comment on: Nurses may have to admit drug errors to patients
Having read the comments above I too am surprised that some nurses are not admitting to drug errors. I made a drug error on my chosen speciality of ITU a short time after moving onto the unit to work. I had chosen to specialise in ITU and this was to be my career path, and I was devastated at making the error. It was entirely my fault, lack of concentration on a night shift and I had no excuse at all - having slept well during the day and feeling fine throughout the shift until I made the error. I was horrified and very quickly attended to the patient, taking obs, replacing ECG electrodes (which he had pulled off repeatedly) to assess his condition. My heart was pounding and I ensured he was physically ok before I enlisted the help of a colleague nearby in case of any difficulties and waited to tell the charge nurse what I had done, (he was busy with other colleagues admitting a new patient to the unit and too tied up at that point to speak to me). I briefly caught his attention and told him I needed to speak to him as soon as he was free, and I returned to my patient to keep an eye on him. I confessed to the charge nurse, who advised me that he would need to inform the doctor on for the unit who would need to check the patient and ensure he was ok. I had no problem with this and told him to inform whoever he needed to. I later had to explain to the unit manager and the directorate manager what had happened, which I did, and I received a written warning which stayed on my record for twelve months and was then removed and never mentioned again. The error was documented in the medical notes and the patient was informed of it later on when on the ward (and conscious). Throughout the process my colleagues were very supportive, as were management, especially the unit manager, who told me not to think my 'career' in ITU was finished, as she knew she could trust me to own up if I made a mistake and not try to cover it over, as some had done. This helped me to gain confidence, which I lacked for a long time afterwards, and to get over the error. But it was never an option to cover up and brush it under the carpet. The patient was informed, and his relatives, and it was documented in his notes. And fortunately he did not come to any harm as a result of my actions. But I do not know many nurses that have not made a drug error at some time in some place. We are human, as are doctors, not machines.
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Comment on: Care of the dying must be part of mandatory training
I am appalled and shocked at the experience encountered by Beverley during her fathers last days. That is unexcusable and as pointed out in other comments someone should be accountable for it. I would also highly recommend Beverley that you make a formal complaint to the hospital, but I do understand how your emotional state is hindering this step at present. I would advise though that you do not leave it too long before writing at least a formal letter stating you intend to make a complaint if little else, so you do not run out of time on this. You may be already aware, and I apologise if you are as I have no intention of telling you what you know, but legally you have a year to make the complaint from the time you became aware of the event occurring. In reality most trusts will look back farther than that although with too much time elapsing between the event and making the complaint it can be difficult to obtain records and documents. I have already made comments on the unacceptable practice covered in a previous article about care of the dying patient regarding the lack of training for students on this topic and I will not repeat them here. Suffice to say that Beverleys experience highlights this unacceptable behaviour which, from the sound of it, is happening in many other places. I feel very sad and ashamed that the nursing profession, which I have always been proud to be a member of, has sunk to this. I wish you well Beverley and hope that you soon feel able to address this issue with those who must give you answers and explanations. Take care of yourself and your family and kindest regards to you all at this awful time.
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Comment on: Last offices neglected in over half of hospital deaths
I have read the comments above with interest on this topic. I have to agree I am appalled that nurses now are not taught how to do this properly and that some patients are being treated in this way after death. I trained in the early 1980s and I was fortunate enough to be one of the last group of nurses to be trained in what had been the 'traditional way' - working on the wards and having placements in schools in between ward specialities. We spent an average of 11 weeks on most wards and during that time learnt all the basic procedures, and other more specialised procedures as they arose or we were in a position to take advantage of the training available. We were taught by staff who had the knowledge and experience to teach us well, (mostly - some treated us as 'pairs of hands' but this was rare). When I qualified in 1988 I spent some time on a general ward and moved to Intensive Care when I intended to specialise. But everywhere I worked this basic fundamental of nursing, caring for the patient who had died, call it last offices (we did) or any other name, was of paramount importance and regarded as some have observed above - the last final act of help and assistance one was giving to a patient. It was considered imperative to take time over performing all the procedures properly and in a dignified manner. We always spoke to the deceased while doing these things and acted with compassion and care towards them, as we would have done if they had been alive. On ITU I had the privilege, and it was considered so, to perform these tasks for many patients. I also had the opportunity to include patients relatives in the care if they wished to do so, and many did, and thanked me for asking them as they too felt it was an honour for them to help their relative with the last care they could give to them. On many occasions relatives thanked me for taking the time to wash, shave, change nightwear and comb the hair of their deceased relative, and stated it was the image they would take away with them. (And we used to place a small pillow under the chin of the deceased if their mouth refused to close properly, discreetly hidden if possible under the top sheet). I was always taught that the final picture of the deceased that a relative takes away when they leave the unit or ward will live with them for a long time. If the patient is unkempt, dirty, unshaven, in nightwear with blood or secretions all over it, and a dirty mouth or teeth - that is the image they will remember, and for a long time afterwards!! It is common sense really. What image would you want to take away with you of your father/mother/brother/sister etc?
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Comment on: Changing the rules of engagement is inspirational
I attended a training session last year which made a lasting impression on me more so than any other training I have ever been on. The topic was Safeguarding Adults and while we all know it is very important it can be a bit dry. It was scheduled for a whole day and we all looked on it as a chore to go but being mandatory there was no choice. It was run by a team of professional trainers who used drama to put their point across. When the idea was broached we the audience panicked thinking the dreaded 'role play' but it was not that at all. The team presented their points in small 'plays' acted out to us the audience with a 'narrator' who involved us in feedback and questioning over what was being depicted. It was absolutely brilliant and made such a difference to the overused Power Point and the old OHPs. It cost a bit to do but was well worth it in terms of impact and making us remember it.
