STUDENT EXPERIENCES IN THE REAL WORLD OF NURSING
This scheme will actually devalue the role of nurses This hare-brained scheme can only bring the trust’s recruitment and retention policies into disrepute. It suggests poaching staff from neighbouring trusts, and promotes a revolving-door climate akin to switching utility providers. The suggestion that nurses can be bribed to move jobs for such a paltry sum of money also signifies the true value the trust places on its nursing staff. Where I work, we invite potential recruits to visit the practice, introduce them to the multidisciplinary team, and describe our working conditions. If trusts are serious about improving recruitment, this is what they should be doing, not resorting to cheap, short-term measures that do not address the real needs of the nursing workforce. Linda Drake is a practice nurse in south London
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Starting out
WITNESSING EXEMPLARY PATIENT CARE TAUGHT ME A LESSON IN COMPASSION During my first clinical placement as a nursing student, the compassionate care my mentor and a colleague delivered to a deceased patient left a lasting impression on me. The nurses were carrying out last offices, and as this was my first experience of this, my mentor invited me to observe the procedure. I watched as they washed the patient and changed her hospital gown, talking to her throughout. They explained what they were doing, and turned her gently as if she were still alive. Although the patient could no longer hear their voices or understand their actions, she was still shown the utmost respect and dignity. Before this experience, I could not imagine talking to a deceased patient. But what I witnessed was so natural and touching it made me realise that compassionate care is not only for the living, but for those who have passed away too. If all deceased patients were treated with such respect, I believe our commitment to caring for the living would be greatly enhanced. Despite the well-documented cases of poor care, such as those seen at Mid Staffordshire NHS Foundation Trust, I believe that most nurses show great compassion for their patients. Through their skill and experience, my mentor and her colleague guided me on a compassionate path towards patient care, enhancing my own contribution to the patient experience in the process. I always keep this experience in mind as I carry out my nursing practice. I listen to my patients, respect their preference and choices, and am empathetic to their feelings and concerns. GETTY IMAGES
to external recruitment, and pays staff for their help. It can also result in better quality applicants, and there is evidence that it leads to longer-term retention and a better fit for the nurse within existing teams. But it can also lead to problems, such as reinforcing cultural characteristics, as candidates are often drawn from similar ethnic and social backgrounds as existing employees. This adversely affects the diversity of an organisation, which research shows can reduce the quality of patient care. The incentive scheme could also mean that for one trust to be successful, it has to recruit high-calibre staff from another, meaning that staffing problems are moved around rather than truly solved. Scott Justice is a staff nurse in Edinburgh
At the end of my first year of training, I received a ‘thank you’ card from one of my patients acknowledging and appreciating the care I delivered. This meant a great deal to me as it showed that I had indeed made a difference to this patient’s care. I was also supported to attend ‘The Sound of the Student and Trainee Voice’ event, organised by Health Education Kent, Surrey and Sussex, which was an encouraging and rewarding experience. Now in my second year of training, I have a much better understanding of the Nursing and Midwifery Council code of conduct and how – along with the chief nursing officer for England’s 6Cs – this applies to daily nursing practice. But observing my mentor and her colleague carrying out last offices so early in my training significantly improved my understanding of care, compassion, respect and dignity, inspiring me to deliver the best possible care I can to my patients. This experience has strengthened my passion and dedication for nursing. I have since shared it with my fellow nursing students and colleagues on clinical placements to encourage each other to show compassion to all of our patients. Every person is unique and must be treated as such. Care delivery should be the same irrespective of whether the patient is able to participate or respond. They are still human beings who deserve to be treated with compassion, dignity and respect. Lijun Ding is a second-year nursing student at the University of Surrey
On the web rcnpublishing.com/r/starting-out. Send your experience, between 500 and 600 words, to [email protected]
NURSING STANDARD july 2 :: vol 28 no 44 :: 2014 31 Downloaded from RCNi.com by ${individualUser.displayName} on Dec 03, 2015. For personal use only. No other uses without permission. Copyright © 2015 RCNi Ltd. All rights reserved.
This scheme will actually devalue the role of nurses This hare-brained scheme can only bring the trust’s recruitment and retention policies into disrepute. It suggests poaching staff from neighbouring trusts, and promotes a revolving-door climate akin to switching utility providers. The suggestion that nurses can be bribed to move jobs for such a paltry sum of money also signifies the true value the trust places on its nursing staff. Where I work, we invite potential recruits to visit the practice, introduce them to the multidisciplinary team, and describe our working conditions. If trusts are serious about improving recruitment, this is what they should be doing, not resorting to cheap, short-term measures that do not address the real needs of the nursing workforce. Linda Drake is a practice nurse in south London
Join the debate What do you think? Share your views on the Nursing Standard Facebook page
Starting out
WITNESSING EXEMPLARY PATIENT CARE TAUGHT ME A LESSON IN COMPASSION During my first clinical placement as a nursing student, the compassionate care my mentor and a colleague delivered to a deceased patient left a lasting impression on me. The nurses were carrying out last offices, and as this was my first experience of this, my mentor invited me to observe the procedure. I watched as they washed the patient and changed her hospital gown, talking to her throughout. They explained what they were doing, and turned her gently as if she were still alive. Although the patient could no longer hear their voices or understand their actions, she was still shown the utmost respect and dignity. Before this experience, I could not imagine talking to a deceased patient. But what I witnessed was so natural and touching it made me realise that compassionate care is not only for the living, but for those who have passed away too. If all deceased patients were treated with such respect, I believe our commitment to caring for the living would be greatly enhanced. Despite the well-documented cases of poor care, such as those seen at Mid Staffordshire NHS Foundation Trust, I believe that most nurses show great compassion for their patients. Through their skill and experience, my mentor and her colleague guided me on a compassionate path towards patient care, enhancing my own contribution to the patient experience in the process. I always keep this experience in mind as I carry out my nursing practice. I listen to my patients, respect their preference and choices, and am empathetic to their feelings and concerns. GETTY IMAGES
to external recruitment, and pays staff for their help. It can also result in better quality applicants, and there is evidence that it leads to longer-term retention and a better fit for the nurse within existing teams. But it can also lead to problems, such as reinforcing cultural characteristics, as candidates are often drawn from similar ethnic and social backgrounds as existing employees. This adversely affects the diversity of an organisation, which research shows can reduce the quality of patient care. The incentive scheme could also mean that for one trust to be successful, it has to recruit high-calibre staff from another, meaning that staffing problems are moved around rather than truly solved. Scott Justice is a staff nurse in Edinburgh
At the end of my first year of training, I received a ‘thank you’ card from one of my patients acknowledging and appreciating the care I delivered. This meant a great deal to me as it showed that I had indeed made a difference to this patient’s care. I was also supported to attend ‘The Sound of the Student and Trainee Voice’ event, organised by Health Education Kent, Surrey and Sussex, which was an encouraging and rewarding experience. Now in my second year of training, I have a much better understanding of the Nursing and Midwifery Council code of conduct and how – along with the chief nursing officer for England’s 6Cs – this applies to daily nursing practice. But observing my mentor and her colleague carrying out last offices so early in my training significantly improved my understanding of care, compassion, respect and dignity, inspiring me to deliver the best possible care I can to my patients. This experience has strengthened my passion and dedication for nursing. I have since shared it with my fellow nursing students and colleagues on clinical placements to encourage each other to show compassion to all of our patients. Every person is unique and must be treated as such. Care delivery should be the same irrespective of whether the patient is able to participate or respond. They are still human beings who deserve to be treated with compassion, dignity and respect. Lijun Ding is a second-year nursing student at the University of Surrey
On the web rcnpublishing.com/r/starting-out. Send your experience, between 500 and 600 words, to [email protected]
NURSING STANDARD july 2 :: vol 28 no 44 :: 2014 31 Downloaded from RCNi.com by ${individualUser.displayName} on Dec 03, 2015. For personal use only. No other uses without permission. Copyright © 2015 RCNi Ltd. All rights reserved.
