fosters historically have held an e...

fosters historically have held an enviable position in the observations of the public. We have been viewed as dependable, trustworthy patient advocates who patronize promote, and restore the public's health. We must screen this trust-based relationship with the public if we expectancy to be effective health care providers and patient advocates in the restructur health care system

with what intent is this a concern in 1997? As health care issues gain visibility in the media and the public trys to understand changes in insurance coverage and provider relationships, all health care professionals--including nurses--are being scrutinized more closely When policymakers and patients read of the present days stories about nurses being placed upon probation, causing the deaths of patients at administering medications incorrectly, or participating in conducts where surgeons amputate the unfair limbs or anesthesiologists reportedly fall asleep, the public is les likely to trust us. lease me share examples of brace nurses who recently came beneath public scrutiny. Which story do you think will have the greater impact?

Item the same A perioperative nurse manager and her radiology technician husband witnessed the flagrant violation of a maternity patient's confidentiality when they were visiting a hospitalized relative. A pamper violated hospital policy by writing "HIV+" forward the front of the patient's chart. Unfortunately, the chart was placed forward the patient's bedside table in sated view of her father--who was unaware of his daughter's illness--and other visitors. The patient's father, overturn about his daughter's disease, missed a stop sign when leaving the hospital and died in a motor vehicle collision. A nurse's failure to patronize the patient's confidentiality robbed a young woman of her father at the time she principally needed his support.(1)

Item sum of two units An article and large photograph forward the front page of The Denver place described a neurosurgical nurse practitioner's guide role in the care of a 12-year-old male child with an extensive right frontal lobe arteriovenous malformation. The male child and his mother arrived at the hospital with his medical records written in Spanish and with many doubts about surgery The article credits the promote practitioner with assembling a team of Spanish-speaking health care professionals who could help this mother weigh the risks of the attract favor toed surgical procedures. The nurse practitioner noted that the surgical team was well-prepared to perform these conducts "but first I needed to come by Mom's trust."(2)

PROTECTING OUR PUBLIC IMAGE

We have shared our be of importance tos about recent health care restructuring quite candidly with the public. In our measure and estimate responses(3) and public testimonies, we have raised the issue of patient issues related to the elimination of nursing positions and the use of unlicensed assistive personnel Although this issue is crucial for the public to understand, we must be careful not to mislead patients and policymakers into thinking that nurse-patient relationships exist in isolation of other variables that affect patient issues To do so would damage our credibility and undermine the public's trust in nurses

We ne to remember that the public scrutinizes everything we do, say, and write. We ne to act with integrity as we educate the public about passing from hand to hand health care issues, as we advance health care legislation and regulations that we believe are in the public's interest, and as we guidance research on patient outcomes. To continue to be effective health care providers and patient advocates, we must remain worthy of the public's trust.

NOTES

(1) E C Ajeti, I Ajeti, personal communication with the author, Denver 9 Nov 1996

(2) A Schrader, "Keep the faith: Search for restoration leads mom, son here," The Denver support 20 Nov 1996, sec A1, 12-13

(3) J Shindul-Rothschild, D Berry, E Long-Middleton, "Where have all the succors gone? Final results of our patient care survey" American Journal of Nursing 96 (November 1996) 25-44

COPYRIGHT 1997 Association of Operating field Nurses, Inc.

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