There is one element, however, that he does not address – the wrong people being chosen for the job. Interviews are key. Good healthcare workers take pride in their job and work well as part of a team. They have compassion, empathy, respect and integrity. These qualities cannot be taught in the classroom, but they can shine through in interviews. In interviews, people should always be encouraged to talk about themselves, their life experiences and what has contributed to making them the person they are now. Such interviews, especially where the interviewees are encouraged to talk about their life-changing experiences, reveal a great deal about the person. Some people have a zest for life, are positive and motivated, which shines through when they talk. They are passionate about their work, always looking for ways to improve things, and are adaptable to change. Such people get on with the task at hand and are mindful of their actions and words. These are the people we need to employ to care for vulnerable older people. Marie Rowe, by email
FORGET THE CULTURAL NICETIES, WE NEED TO SEE FGM AS CHILD ABUSE Niall McCrae is a well-respected lecturer and researcher at King’s College London with a particular interest in the history of psychiatry and mental health care. He has often spoken out against the abuse that is female genital mutilation (News May 28). He co-authored with Felicity Mayer a much-cited 2013 paper, ‘The role of nurses in tackling female genital mutilation’, in the International Journal of Nursing Studies (tinyurl. com/TacklingFGM). So it is good to see him hammering home the point that female genital mutilation (FGM) is a child protection issue – not something to be swept under the carpet as culturally sensitive. FGM is an ancient cultural practice that existed before Islam,
NURSING STANDARD
Christianity and Judaism. It is not a practice that is required in Muslim law or something that devout Muslims need to observe. It is a barbaric procedure, and physically and mentally damaging. The physical risks alone include infection, haemorrhage, scarring, urinary and reproductive problems – and even death. Catherine Marsh, by email
THE NHS DISPLAYS ABSURD DOUBLE STANDARDS ON CIRCUMCISION I support the law in the UK against female genital mutilation (FGM) and the fact that staff in acute hospitals are now mandated to record information on a national database about women and children who have undergone FGM (News May 28). I would also like to see criminal prosecutions to help highlight the unacceptability of the practice. Some substantial fines or prison sentences would act as a deterrent in communities where the procedure is tolerated or encouraged. Nurses in hospitals and the community have a role to play in reporting abuse. We need to be clear that FGM is abuse and that the key issue here is child protection, not the fear of upsetting some communities. There are no medical conditions that would lead to FGM being an acceptable procedure. There are very few medical conditions justifying the circumcision of boys, which can cause copious bleeding, infection and discomfort. The NHS displays double standards on circumcision, in some areas continuing to operate on boys for religious reasons. It is absurd that FGM is denounced as barbaric, while male genital mutilation is performed on the NHS. The procedures on boys and girls are similar in that part of a child’s anatomy is cut or excised without their consent and pain is inflicted without any clinical purpose. Christine Clark, by email
TWEETS OF THE WEEK Of course a slim nurse talking about weight loss is the ideal, but that doesn’t mean a fat nurse can’t give advice too @justgracephiri
Many are overweight because they can’t afford healthy food any more, so understandable that we need to subsidise gyms etc @MsNaughtyCheese
Where do we draw the line? If I have a car crash, is it my fault for choosing to drive? @Joanne_Hodge
Would it be beneficial to put similar regulations on fast food as they have with alcohol? Make them more expensive @marcaevans
That’s the message we should be getting across to the public! Weight is health = Visit your healthcare practitioner! @acox6701
It’s all right saying nurses should be brought in on tackling obesity, but will patients really listen? @acox6701
If we’d said that about smoking, half of us would still be lighting up. Change is easier with nurse input @GGByrneSTN
I never met a fat person truly happy. Our relationship with food is complex and investment in psychological therapies vital for change @e1ucidate
Follow Nursing Standard @NScomment and join the #NScomment chat on Thursdays at 12.30pm june 4 :: vol 28 no 40 :: 2014 35
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FORGET THE CULTURAL NICETIES, WE NEED TO SEE FGM AS CHILD ABUSE Niall McCrae is a well-respected lecturer and researcher at King’s College London with a particular interest in the history of psychiatry and mental health care. He has often spoken out against the abuse that is female genital mutilation (News May 28). He co-authored with Felicity Mayer a much-cited 2013 paper, ‘The role of nurses in tackling female genital mutilation’, in the International Journal of Nursing Studies (tinyurl. com/TacklingFGM). So it is good to see him hammering home the point that female genital mutilation (FGM) is a child protection issue – not something to be swept under the carpet as culturally sensitive. FGM is an ancient cultural practice that existed before Islam,
NURSING STANDARD
Christianity and Judaism. It is not a practice that is required in Muslim law or something that devout Muslims need to observe. It is a barbaric procedure, and physically and mentally damaging. The physical risks alone include infection, haemorrhage, scarring, urinary and reproductive problems – and even death. Catherine Marsh, by email
THE NHS DISPLAYS ABSURD DOUBLE STANDARDS ON CIRCUMCISION I support the law in the UK against female genital mutilation (FGM) and the fact that staff in acute hospitals are now mandated to record information on a national database about women and children who have undergone FGM (News May 28). I would also like to see criminal prosecutions to help highlight the unacceptability of the practice. Some substantial fines or prison sentences would act as a deterrent in communities where the procedure is tolerated or encouraged. Nurses in hospitals and the community have a role to play in reporting abuse. We need to be clear that FGM is abuse and that the key issue here is child protection, not the fear of upsetting some communities. There are no medical conditions that would lead to FGM being an acceptable procedure. There are very few medical conditions justifying the circumcision of boys, which can cause copious bleeding, infection and discomfort. The NHS displays double standards on circumcision, in some areas continuing to operate on boys for religious reasons. It is absurd that FGM is denounced as barbaric, while male genital mutilation is performed on the NHS. The procedures on boys and girls are similar in that part of a child’s anatomy is cut or excised without their consent and pain is inflicted without any clinical purpose. Christine Clark, by email
TWEETS OF THE WEEK Of course a slim nurse talking about weight loss is the ideal, but that doesn’t mean a fat nurse can’t give advice too @justgracephiri
Many are overweight because they can’t afford healthy food any more, so understandable that we need to subsidise gyms etc @MsNaughtyCheese
Where do we draw the line? If I have a car crash, is it my fault for choosing to drive? @Joanne_Hodge
Would it be beneficial to put similar regulations on fast food as they have with alcohol? Make them more expensive @marcaevans
That’s the message we should be getting across to the public! Weight is health = Visit your healthcare practitioner! @acox6701
It’s all right saying nurses should be brought in on tackling obesity, but will patients really listen? @acox6701
If we’d said that about smoking, half of us would still be lighting up. Change is easier with nurse input @GGByrneSTN
I never met a fat person truly happy. Our relationship with food is complex and investment in psychological therapies vital for change @e1ucidate
Follow Nursing Standard @NScomment and join the #NScomment chat on Thursdays at 12.30pm june 4 :: vol 28 no 40 :: 2014 35
Downloaded from RCNi.com by ${individualUser.displayName} on Nov 30, 2015. For personal use only. No other uses without permission. Copyright © 2015 RCNi Ltd. All rights reserved.
