'Lansley must listen to nurses on the front line' 
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There are countless pressures and incidents that require your patience throughout the nursing shift.
Not being able to find the right equipment that you need to carry out tasks. Interactions with members of your team including members of other professions who may not always understand your role. The reality of being a nurse – dirty uniforms, not being able to go to a party because of your shifts, paying to park your car at work and of course the inevitable NHS reorganisation.
And most importantly you need patience with those that you care for, even those for whatever reason you find difficult. Patience with the man who is continually calling out for a nurse. Patience with the elderly woman who keeps sliding down the bed and needs repositioning. And with relatives who don’t seem to appreciate that there are other patients on the ward and expect instant action from nursing staff.
Yes that’s your job but it does require patience.
Where do you find it?
I would be interested to know. Is it from support from your manager? Is it from chat and jokes with your colleagues? Or is it coming from some invisible internal source? Are you born with it or do you have to train yourself in this quality?
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Readers' comments (2)
Anonymous | 12-Oct-2011 11:15 am
Personally it is something I have learnt over time and developed to enhance my practice. I always thought of myself as a patient person but no matter how laid back you may be there is always someone in the nursing profession, staff or patient, who can try your patience. I now have managed to step back, evaluate and then open my mouth appropriately and that is something that comes with experience.
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Jenny McIntyre | 13-Oct-2011 4:25 pm
It is a privilege to nurse patients-patience with them is paramount, even when tried!
Patience with the ridiculous amount of paperwork, even in this computer-age, is something else! I trained when nursing WAS nursing-common sense prevailed! Ever-increasing paperwork detracts from hands-on patient care, does not imply a high standard of care-I can cite many insatnces of beautifully documented care plans, diaries etc, where the care has not been applied, so proves nothing! I am most disgruntled!
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