Maintain pressure on reforms to protect NHS
Jacqueline de Laporte
Recent activity
Comments (26)
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Comment on: 'Education is not keeping pace with demands in clinical areas'
Have newly qualified Nurses ever been 'fit for purpose'? Surely becoming an educated Registered Nurse is the first rung on a very long ladder of life time learning and adjustments. However Junior Doctors were not fit for purpose either and relied upon the skills and kindness of Senior Nurses to help and guide them. I am afraid I pre date 1974 by some years and also remember post op patients staying in bed for weeks. Very different skills and competencies were required then. However the basic skills and knowledge of A & P, continuously updated over the decades, have stood me in good stead. Inspirational Nurses have also guided me. I have in the past been a Manager and I have been a Nurse Tutor but I am at my happiest now working autonomously in General Practice. All of my knowledge, skills and judgement and education are put to the test daily and I love it. What saddens me though is that there is no one, other than my patients, to share this with. Whilst the emphasis today is moving more and more care into the community and primary care, we never see student nurses, newly qualified nurses or indeed medical students. It seems such a wasted educational opportunity. Therefore I agree, education is not keeping pace, the future is in primary care as well as with Consultant and Specialist Nurses. We give holistic care to the whole family, not just adults. Skills and knowledge of Mental health, learning disabilities, family health and child health and care of the elderly are all as equally important as adult nursing.
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Comment on: Going solo: my experience as an independent practitioner
I worked as an Independant Practice Nurse for 10 years when my children were at school. I was never out of work except when I choose to be, school holidays, half term etc. The good points:- It enabled me to work when I wanted to, to fit in with family life. Mainly I did cover for holiday, sickness, maternity leave, study leave. Word of mouth from Practice Managers and the local PCT provided the work. I also did some insurance screening and occupational health work for Private Companies. All related to Practice work. The bad points:- no sick pay, holiday pay or Pension contributions so make your own arrangements. I agree, keep scrupulous records, pay your self employed national insurance, (otherwise you state pension will be affected) Mostly Practices were delighted that an experienced Nurse can come into their Practice and just get on with it. Some Practices were frankly dreadful but at least you don't have to go back. I am now semi retired, my children are grown up and self sufficent, so I work a regular 12 hours a week in a lovely Practice,which I enjoy. However I don't regret those days of Independance. As long as you keep up your registration and indemnity insurance, it is all perfectly legal. Go for it!
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Comment on: Senior nurses working the floor has 'little impact' on patients
When I was a Nurse Tutor, (a long time ago,) our Head of School, then also the Chairman of The English National Board, insisted that all teaching staff spent a day a week on the wards. We were not counted on the 'off duty' and had no Managerial responsibilities. We just found a student to work alongside and learnt from each other. This was extremely empowering and the students and patients loved it. We had the time, that rare commodity these days, to give Gold standard care. This sort of experience can not be measured or evaluated but was certainly valued and appreciated.
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Comment on: 'Should we call last orders on drunks and traffic cones in A&E?'
I agree with 'beady eye'. Standards of behaviour in public areas have slipped in recent times. The culture of making complaints has made it difficult to challenge unacceptable behaviour. Yesterday, as I went to collect my next patient from the waiting area in the General Practice Surgery I work in, the noise from the rioting children hit me. We provide a play area where parents generally sit quietly with their children. However on this occasion there were two young children in the general waiting area, where there were elderly patients waiting. The children were running around screaming as they would in a play ground and the Parents were ignoring this. Would they be allowed to run around screaming in a Public Library or a Museum or Restaurant? Having regard to the other Patients waiting (frail/elderly), I pointed out to the Parents that this was a Doctor's waiting room and could they please keep their children under control. Yes you have guessed the outcome. There has been a complaint made against me! Do I regret my actions? No. If antisocial and inconsiderate behaviour is never challenged then it will only escalate.
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Comment on: Dogs could screen for bowel cancer
Wow how fantastic. It gives a whole new meaning the the 'Lab report'. What next the 'Cat scan'?
