Hildegard Peplau was the mother of Psychiatric Nursing and it was from her theory or model of the nurse patient relationship that I understood about empathy or the empathetic relationship that is established and can be understood in three stages. Please take a look at this slide presentation and see what is old is new again! I smiled and nodded to myself as I read that she identified all of the same problems facing nurses when she was working and writing about nursing. I have read a great deal about nurses needing to be more caring etc. and when left in working conditions of continual and chronic stress due to budget cutbacks and constraints while at the same time people have to hold onto their jobs and that's understandable. It seems to be a situation like a snowball that keeps gaining momentum and then suddenly it has built up into a sizeable problem that can come under investigation and nurses get caught up in the midst. Professor Jonathan Parker - Bournemouth University wrote to The Guardian to express his feeling about this matter: 'The outrage expressed in respect of the abuse of people who are frail and vulnerable is something we can all agree. But it is equally morally outrageious to pass the blame for structural deficiencies and governmental choices that have engendered the conditions for such abuse to take place to over stretched and pressured invididuals.' He is right on target and I am glad to hear him speak up for people who are put in this awful predicament.
www.bbc.co.uk/news/ has an article 'Six out of Eighteen trusts in London trying to gain Foundation Trust status would be financially vialble within three years' It seems that some hospitals are trying to operate serices which they cannot afford and then cook the books to cover up the lack of care given and still keep money flowing in. Dr. Gordon Coutts who earned one hundred and sixty thousand pounds per year as a chief executive of Colchester Hospital, Essex was a fairly new physician when he took over the reigns of his budget very seriously and was going to meet financial targets no matter what the costs. Two clerical workers had come forward as whistleblowers to allert senior staff that staff were being pressured to change data and the red flag was raised since Dec 2011. They were not interviewed and no action was taken after a brief investigation. Dr. Coutts was such a bully that he even told an RCN director to 'shut up' at a meeting. I really find it hard to believe that if this was a meeting with more people present that he wasn't told to stop that behavior right there and then. Mandy Tapfield who had worked for the hospital for 28 years was Dr. Coutts assistant. She resigned after two years of relentless bullying by her boss. You would think that HR would have intervened and taken all the pieces together and would have had access to higher authorities to report these problems.
http://www.bizjournals.com/kansascity/news/2013/09/25/former-hospital-administrator.html?ana=e_du_pub&s=article_du&ed=2013-09-26 It makes me wonder where hospitals hire these people from. Jim Rohn my favorite coach said 'Good people are found, not changed,' and shared that he had read an article that said 'We don't teach people to be nice. We simply hire nice people.'
Mr. Jeremy Hunt, Health Secretary is really trying to address issues and solve problems but they just keep coming at him faster than a person can possible put out all the fires. I feel for him in his position and I believe that he's the right man for the job. When Mr. Hunt says we must report our concerns I wonder whose listending to him? It's the people who have concerns for sure, but those who are at the top of the food chain don't seem to care what he says about whistleblowing protection because they just keep sweeping their dirty business under the rug as a reflection of a culture that chooses not to do things properly at the cost of peoples lives. The police are now involved with the Colchester Hospital case of fiddling with patient waiting lists. Those who told others to do this need to face the consequences and it shouldn't involve people's licenses who are at the bottom of the food chain - in my humble opinion. The New York Times wrote about the cuts that are coming to Georgia hospitals due to the Affordable Care Act. They wrote 'Cuts in subsidies for safety-net hospitals are set to toal $18 billion through 2020. Safety net hospitals comprize of 2% of acute care hospitals. The Government has projected a $22 billion more cuts in Medicare subsidies by 2019. Think what this means to you as a nurse working in these kinds of situatins now and look on line for where the hospitals are that are more viable because when push comes to shove history seem to repeat itself.
Whistleblowco! We need to have good Whistle Blower role models who have had the moral courage to stand up and bite the dust and stand up again! We can only imagine what strength of character it took to be singled out by the system and punished for doing the right thing. Terry Bryan says we need to use the term 'Truth Teller' and forget about whistleblower and I agree as it automatically has a message that isn't as respectful as it should be for this noble action. Mr. Bryan has just published a book 'A Time to Speak' and his actions were key to the creation of the Public Disclosure Act 1988 to protect whistleblowers. There is a whistle blowing commission that says there is more work to be done. The commission was set up by Public Concern at Work. I will mention Helene Donnelly and Mr. Pink who have also stood up for what was right and have a bold and clear statement for us all to follow their lead and not to let the tyrants who run hospitals like Dr. Coutts make us do otherwise. I will post an article about moral courage next time.
Proper staffing ratios are crutial to the quality of patient care as well as patient safety, thus keeping nurses' licenses safe. In the UK the government is proposing 1:8 ratio which is better than no ratio at all and although I read form one academic that the government shouldn't intervene and there should be other tools to decide on ratios. We all know that! - those who have worked in nursing and filled out acuity forms for patients to make sure that the ratios can be adusted according to patients needs and staff skill mix for each shift. It makes me wonder where the academics have been all this time and now the action is sparking debate they jump on the bandwagon and it's still the nurses on the front lines who are taking the lead. Like these nurses in the video who are speaking up about healthcare rights. One academic I have read and admire is Linda Aiken who has caught the attention of the media recently and hopefully politicians are taking note. Every nurse should send a copy of Dr. Aiken's study on nurse to patient ratios to their local politicians. Politicians don't have to be dependent on hospitals doing the right thing because they have money to ensure their loved ones are cared for and I'm sure the hospitals make sure that everything is hunkey dorey when they are on the hospital floors. Dr. Aiken should be included on any countries committee's to do with health care and the effects on patient outcome related to nurse patient ratios. THAT IS SOMETHING WE NEED TO BE SENDING OUT TO ALL POLITICIANS WHERE EVER YOU MAY BE BECAUSE HER STUDIES HOLD THE KEY TO PATIENT SAFETY AND FOR NURSES THEIR OWN SAFE PRACTICE AND LICENSE PROTECTION.
When it comes to money - Money Matters! You have to put yourself first and make sure that you get started in a small business. I use the term 'kitchen table style' because I know that circumstances are trying and the soul song line fits 'Money's too tight to mention.' Especailly as you are adjusting and have all your usual bills coming at you and no pay check. But as the title of this online group says it 'Nurses Transition Network' I want you to believe in your ability to make it through the tought times and keep your sights set on your goals. Use the links that I have suggested and put them into practice. Books that have all the wisdom and knowledge to help you to uncover your inner powers if they are used will transorm you. I really dig (what an old term) Donald Trump. Look him up on YouTube and read his books. Anyone who has succeeded in his/her life can teach you how. He's hugely successful and has the kind of attitude I like and want you to develop. He's approachable and not stuck up but you can tell he's confident and that he likes to earn money. Make that your affirmation. 'I love to earn money and money comes to fill my pockets (and bank accounts) from all four directions.' Know this as a fact and believe it and act upon it in your life. The Donald as he's called says 'Learn, know, and show. It's a proven formula. Put it to use starting today. Think like a champion.' That's the attitude to go with with. You are a winner and your life will be transformed as you move forward with champions like The Donald to show you how. Even write to him for advice and let him know that nurses are loosing their licenses and need to start businesses and ask if he has some suggestions. I believe the internet is the forum for business now a days and you can have your own shop window for free at http://venturevillage.eu/startup-of-the-week-tictail and start now.
My very best wishes are with you as you move on with your life, heal and earn money. Re-visit the work of Margaret Lynch and recognize the 3 paines or vows that we all use to keep us in line which are shame, fear and battle and break them loose!
Till the next time - I will be back in a day or two. I have my things to deal with and I know that it's probably no different than what you are all facing. Meditate daily and eat a vegetarian diet. Two essentials to personal and spiritual growth and the law of attraction that you want to make work for you.
Warm Wishes, Rita
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