The Wingham Advance-Times, 1988-05-10, Page 11,m-aymPagel2A- The main' ebassiAd 9
Today's nurse f
By Lavonne N. Ballagh
The bedside bell in Room 226
incessantly. Mr. Smith is not w
night. He is restless and mo
most constantly. His cone
family thinks he needs medic
control pain and help him
They have pushed the bedside
er, hoping a nurse will come
several minutes have passed
one has answered the call.
anxiety and, by this time, ange
ceed their patience and they
their loved one to find a nurs
"get some action".
This scenario is played out
again
tions.
again in health care institut
A nurse must be all things t
people and there when she is ne
at all times. Never mind the
that the nurse is probably one of
two or three looking after from
20 patients, each of them nee
varying degrees of care and
tion; she has been cleaning b
rubbing backs, changing dress
and emptying bedpans for si
eight hours; she must answer
phone calls from doctors, other
cerned families and sisters and
sins in Vancouver and Arizopa ;
must do up -to -the -second
rting
and complete an increasing
ount
of paperwork; must always
aware of all medications being ta
by all her patients and is even cal
upon to complete tasks which are
in her job description. Especially
evening and night shifts, when
ther
staff is off duty, she may have to
kitchen staff, maintenance work
housekeeping personnel or even
liver flowers to keep things runni
smoothly.
Among the growing list of co
plaints from members sof
the
generation of the '80s is the gr
that "Nurses don't care 'anymo
They're -in it for the Almighty Doll
— their patients- come last."
ing
this Nurses' Week, May 8-14,
ses
want to dispel that myth; convin
their public that they look on
ing prof ell to-
ns al-
erned
tion to
sleep.
buzz-
. But t
nd no
Their
r ex- p
leave
and r
ions. n
toall a
eded, p
fact c
only n
15 to A
ding n
x or pa
tele- th
con- th
cou- in
she tw
'70
as
be co
ken wa
led m
not De
on ho
her in
be tha
er, wa
de- ing
ng mo
pu
sho
mo
ipe and
re. inc
liar tere
ofte
fam
ce not
prof
nd tion
ng
Co
g- men
r, thos
d calle
e mak
r- fam
g men
re sleep
d they
e one s
e one.
spen
g calle
- A Is
y wher
to nanci
n your
- nized
1 semi
, tions
upgra
- no re
cial r
most
days o
t and tr
course
the R
does
rewar
keepin
up -to -
better
"It wo
letter
tificate
Emil
drug c
tend a
tion. D
. nurses'
a CCN
ficate;
vanced
ing; tr
and has
vanced
nessed
responsibility they shoulder
they are the highest percen
caregivers in the health care
and always visible, it is
make them the scapegoats a
out at them when a problem
She blames much of this
media and adverse publici
ends to prejudge the nur
volved in a hospital tragedy o
who take to the streets ca
icket signs when they fee
must fight for their belie
ights.
WAGES ARE LOW
Debbie Karcz-Howes, a regi
urse trained in critical car
Iso an employee at Wingha
itai, agrees. From all sides
omments about how much
urses earn, the publicity abo
lberta nurses' strike of las
ot helping, since the media t
tten- to stress the financial aspect,
eds, several issues were at stake.
ings ses, in fact, are not nearly a
id as the public seems to thi
e mid -'70s, nurses rebelled
eir low wages and were succ
getting a 45 per cent increa
o years. Even at that, in th
s, they were not earning as
.building contractors, gar
Hectors, television repair
itresses, secretaries or s
arket cashiers. In 1981,
bbie was employed at an Al
spital, cashiers in a superm
the same city were earning
n the nurses. Since then,
ges have followed the costo
-increase guidelines but
ved much higher. A re
blication quoted figures w
wed a brewery worker e
re money than a graduate n
salaries of graduate nurses h
reased more than those of re
d nursing assistants. Nur
n are the major wage-earner
ily and salary increases h
kept in line with those of o
essions — law, business, ed
WORKING CONDITIONS
POOR
nsider the working arra
ts of the nurse, compared
e other professions. They
d upon to work shifts wh
es it difficult to have a nor
ily life and is physical puni
t for their bodies. They eat a
at weird hours and, just
are becoming accustomed
hift, they must begin a differ
Many of their weekends a
t working and often they a
d into work on short notice,
o, unlike other professio
e you receive attention er
al reward when you imPro
education, a nurse is not reco
for extra courses she takes
nars she attends. Most instit
urge and expect a ,nurse
de her education but there
cognition, gratitude or fina
emuneration if she does.
cases, she is expected to tak
ff work, pay her own expens
ansportation and pay for th
, though in some instances
NAO and RNA Associatio
help defray costs. Her onl
d is the satisfaction she i
g her knowledge current an
date and she can now be
nurse. In one woman's words
uld be nice to even receive
of acknowledgement — a cer
of recognition''.
y has recently completed a
course and in the fall will at
course in neo -natal resuscita
ebbie earned her registered
s diploma in 1981 and also has
(Critical Care Nurse) certi-
basic CPR training; ad -
cardiac life support train-
auma management course
been an observer at an ad -
trauma course. She has wit -
nursing from various per-
. Since
mage of
system
easy to
nd lash
arises.
on the
ty that
ses in -
1' those
trying
1 they
fs and
stered a
e and g
m hos- e
come m
money o
ut the n
t year i
ended m
nk. In a
about
essful
se in ti
e late to
much M
bage by
men, gr
uper- du
when- in
berta fel
arket gr
more tut
their the
&Hy- Th
not do
cent Nu
hich RN
erns tor
urse has
ave A
gis- wil
ses Kn
in a sin
ave the
ther mo
uca- of t
nur
fess
peo
ge- sick
to they
are tow
ich mos
mal unix
sh- coul
nd beds
as a ch
to caus
ent conta
re their
re edge
nurs
ns work
fi- level
ve
g- Re
or Ontar
u- body
to the C
is much
n- istere
In of He
e mand
es the R
e not gi
only p
nRNA s
y Ano
s socia ti
d ployed
a other
, tendan
a quired
- capaci
they w
sociati
- name
- Practic
tical N
obvious
Caro
years
ment w
' may de
eight -ho
spectives, having worked in
hospital and small commUni
pitals, and would like tote
as a resource person. Both up
their education because they
to and are continually seeki
portunities for self -improv
But there is still a feeling of
ment that their achievement
gone unrecognized and, see
unappreciated.
A registered nursing assis
Wingham hospital and presid
he_ Wingham RNAs, Ca
Greenaway, agrees. She me
n attitude in nurses which s
rets — the "Why should I giv
xtra effort and spend all
oney? Where will it get
pinion often expressed
otices are posted about upc
nservice education. Though s
its this may say something
a city
1Y 110s,
Utilized
graded'
wanted
ng op-
ement.
resent-
s have
mingly,
tant at
ent of
roline
ntions
he re -
e that
that
me?"
when
oming
he ad -
about
ncep-
e due
sing.
rmed
d to
their
nurs-
her
are
nsti-
g all
fled -
set
e of
the
rec-
who
tarso
13.
alist
an,
t is
are
All
pro -
out
the
use
end
ere
ve
his
the
ob,
be -
nal
of
wl-
est
as
ng
g
in
a
y
e
t
s
e
e
though the dedication of nurses, she more
Nur- strongly feels it reflects the frustra-
s well tion of a profession that works hard
nd gives all with little reward.
CHANGING TRENDS
Many nurses feel that misco
ons about their profession ar.
the changing trends in nur
any duties traditionally perfo
doctors are now allocate
aduate nurses and some of
ties passed on to registered
g assistants. Caroline and
low RNAs feel that RNAs
eatly under-utilized in many i
ions and are not performin
duties M which. they are trai
ough there are guidelines
wn by the Ontario Colleg
rses as to what the RN and
A may do, it is usually the di
of nursing in each institution
the final say.
s part of Nurses' Week, On..
1 celebrate RNA Day onMay
own as the bedside speci
ce the RNA course first beg
registered nursing assistan
re involved with "hands-on" c
he patient, a role they enjoy.
ses explain they chose their
ion because they care ab
ple and they want to help
. And all are concerned beca
see down the road a tr
ard "degree nursing" wh.
t graduate nurses must ha
ersity degrees. They fear t
d take the nurse away from
ide and move her to a desk j
ange most nurses regret
e it would remove the perso
ct. Degree nurses, in spite
increased tecluncal kno
don't always make the b
es, observes Debbie, who h
ed with nurses with varyi
s of training.
ANT SELFREGULATION
gistered nursing assistants
io want their own governin
rather than being governed b
°liege of Nurses which has
larger representation of re
d nurses. The Ontario Ministr
alth still has not granted th
ate for their self-regulation bu
NA Association of Ontario ha
ven up the battle. Ontario is th
rovince which does not hav
elf -regulation.
ther concern of the RNA As
on is the RNA who is ern
in an iristitution in categories
than an RNA, ie., a nursing at
t or nursing aide, being re -
to perform duties in a
ty other than that for which
ere originally hired. The As
on is also perhaps looking at a
change in 1988, Licensed
al Nurse, Registered Prac-
urse or Practical Nurse the
choices.
line has worked for several
in the Emergency Depart -
here she and her co-workers
al with 60 patients during an
ur shift. About 40 would pass
as a profession, not a job; a
educate people about their changi
role in the health care system.
A DIVERSE ROLE
Today's nurse faces the challen'
ing and diverse role of counsello
teacher, therapist, researcher an
patient advocate. The nurse of th
'80s must be a highly skilled asse
tive individual, capable of takin
charge and providing comprehe
sive, competent patient care aroun
the clock. In fact, nurses are th
largest single group involved in th
delivery of health care today.
Nurses work in hospitals, nursin
homes, public health units and in
dustry. But no matter where the
work, nurses continually strive
reach new heights of excellence i
total patient care. They are profes
sionals who give the kind of persona
care we all need. Nurses, this week
are celebrating a tradition of caring
a tradition where nurturing, knowl
edge and care are treasured.
NO LONGER
HANDMAIDEN
When Florence Nightingale firs.
served as a nursing sister, she was
referred to as a "handmaiden" a
servant who followed the orders of a
doctor and was not given a lot of
freedom or responsibility. That is no
longer the nurse's role. Traditional-
ly a woman's profession, nursing
now includes many men, from ad-
ministrative positions, to graduate
nurses, to registered nursing assist-
ants, special -area technicians and
health-care aides like orderlies.
Nursing should no longer be con-
sidered an extension of the doctor's
role but "a separate profession", in
the words of Emily Phillips, pres-
ident of the Huron Chapter of the
Registered Nurses' Association of
Ontario and an obstetrical nurse ar-
Wingham and District Hospital.
Emily feels that nurses are not given
credit comparable to the amount of
(Continued on Page 13A)
A CALMING INFLUENCE—Patients often are uncertain about what
awaits them when they enter the hospital, Here Registered Nue
Debbie Karez-Howes calmly explains a inediCal prifoceddie to a a -
tient.
MENWINEIMINEMPtiMilaiV-
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THE WINGHAM ADVANCE -TIMES