Respect Your Nurse

It is National Nurses week and I have been enjoying the thanks and praise that I have received from some fellow nurses, family, and friends.  After 35 years in the medical profession I can certainly say I have experienced a lot.  I can now appreciate the profession of a nurse from a different perspective after spending much time in doctor's  offices over the past five years.  I have been with my husband and dad to lots of doctor visits and it has been quite an eye opener on the receiving end.  I can tell you from my own work experience that being a nurse is not an easy job.  It is a demanding profession not only physically, but emotionally.  It is also a rewarding profession and one that I am very proud to be a part of.  So, thank you to all my fellow nurses for your dedication and endless hours spent caring for people.

I like reading articles posted by social media Dr. Kevin Pho.  He recently posted an article by Dr. Grumpy who has his own blog, Doctor Grumpy in the House.  The article addressed the doctors respecting and listening to nurses.  From my own experience over the years I have encountered a few doctors who should read the article.  I have always said beside a good doctor there stands a good nurse.  It is true if there is no respect for the nurse then life can be very unpleasant for the doctor.  As an R.N., I have spent many hours of study earning my degree and many hours of continuing education to ensure that I keep updated on the ever changing medical profession.  We are not doctors, but we are held accountable for knowing what to report to doctors, and we can be held liable for carrying out orders that we know could potentially harm a patient.   We need doctors to respect our judgement and value the fact that we saved their asses more than they realize. So thank your nurse this week if you have a great practice, she is your greatest asset.

On another note, I have encountered doctor practices that I have walked out of, because the nurse was not doing their job.  A patient can tell when there is conflict between the doctor-nurse relationship.  If the nurse is telling you one thing and doctor is disputing everything said,  then it becomes very confusing for the patient.  Also if a nurse is saying things about the doctor's character or vice verse, then as a patient I would be inclined to find another doctor.  From my husband's and my experience with doctor's we learned the hard way what poor communication with the doctor-nurse relationship can do to a patient.  This also can apply to anyone that is on the doctor's team.   It starts the minute an appointment is made with the receptionist.  The attitude of the receptionist says a lot about how an office functions.  This attitude with all the staff, whether it is the receptionist, the P.A. working with the doctor, the nurse practitioner, the social worker, the patient advocate, or the appointment scheduler, they can make or break the doctor.  Sometimes no matter how knowledgeable a doctor is, if he does not respect his staff it is reflected by their actions.

I worked with a doctor for years who set the tone for our office and our patients were heard if there were communication problems.  The doctor respected our nursing judgements and we respected her.  She had a great practice and we had happy patients.  We listened to our patients feedback.   I always remember the doctor told us that when patients are ill, they are fragile and not thinking clearly and it was our job to respect them and treat them with dignity even if our day is not going well.  That respect and dignity started with the medical team respecting each other.

One last word before I go.  When medical professionals are the patients we should treat them respectfully too.  I have had a few encounters when I was treated very badly when acting as an advocate for my spouse.  We all deserve to be heard and respected.  We are not always one hundred percent correct when it comes to treating patients and if someone can make us think outside the box then we should be heard.  If people were afraid to speak then the world would never change. 

Honor a nurse this week!!!  

Life is beautiful!!

Elizabeth:)

Home Sweet Home!

There is no place like home and my own pillow to rest my head.  Whenever I travel I thank God for returning me home safely to my small plot of land in the whole wide world.  It is that little dot on the map that my husband and I claim as home sweet home.  I love opening the front door of the house to be greeted by Laney doing her backward two step and wagging her tail as she flips over in excitement.  That is what she did as I returned home Saturday night at exactly one minute before midnight.  What joy she brings to us even when we are tired.  My pillow was awaiting me and Laney flopped down right next to me.  It is fun to travel, but there is never a better pillow than one at home. 

We spent the last part of April visiting friends on the south east coast.   A great way to celebrate the arrival of spring and fill up the social calendar with fun.  Great friends plus beautiful palm trees, warm southern air, ice tea, and relaxing on the boat equals good times.  Friends are the best part of vacation.  Thank you so much to my southern friends for great hospitality and fun memories.  This southern girl was soaking it all in and getting me revved up for summer.

Unfortunately all fun must come to an end, but life's adventure continues.  We literally raced across the country driving twelve hours straight to return home to see another one of our children graduate from college.   Way to go to my son, the drive was very worth it.  We love you! 

Today is back to reality as there are many things to do, like enjoying the fact that the weather is finally warm and the outdoors are calling our name.  A garden awaits to be planted and flowers are waiting to bloom.  So happy that I made it back to my pillow and that place I call home.

Life is beautiful !!

Elizabeth:)