related to nursing: GOOD OR BAD!?

This is an interesting question. I forgot to star it. But I will. I worked in nursing as an aide for awhile and I was with my father at the end of his life when he had a home health aide coming in and I also saw him in the hospital with the nurses caring for him.

First off I have to say, that all the aides and nurses I knew either chain smoked or weighed 200 pounds. Or more. So to me that proves that continual caregiving is not a natural state. All that giving depletes you and you have to fill up again on something.

I also think that professionalism as far as real quality care of the patient is very important. Like giving the meds on time, turning them, making sure the t.v. is not too loud, monitoring their i.v This all seems obvious but I've seen these basic things neglected. If you are efficient and professional that must be reassuring to the patient.

However, that said, there is a place for caring. I was working in a nursing home one time and a woman without friends or family was dying of cancer. She was days away from dying. One of the aides just assigned herself the task of staying with this woman. She planted herself in her room and was her constant companion. This was not her job, but she said, 'when I'm dying, I hope I have someone like me.' Only caring could make a person do this. And I'm sure it was a great comfort to the woman. When my father had his health aide, she was a person who really cared. It was obvious and my father loved her. It meant a lot to him. It cheered him up. There is a place for caring in nursing. Maybe you should look for something in nursing that doesn't require patient contact or at least minimizes it. I think being authentic/honest is a good trait, but people who are frail sometimes need love. Think of how you feel when you're grieving or sad. That's not the time you most value authenticity. People who are physically compromised or dying may be much sadder than than appear.

You always need to have respect and be kind to the patient. I am also a trainee nurse, in aged care, but no matter what field you need to make the patient feel comfortable and wanted. You need to keep you personal issues seperate from you work. If you don't like the person for a little reason, e.g., they are arrogant or rude, then dont take it personally and get on with the job, however it is a much bigger reason, like umm, you have an unpleasant history with the person then your colleagues would understand if you request for someone else to nurse that person. If you are studying emergency nursing then you just have to be nice to that person for a little while anyway. Get over you issues and be nice to them. They need your help!

I agree with your particular approach. I am a naturally compassionate person, however I have never been able to pretend to like a patient I did not like. We can still do our jobs professionally, without oozing insincerity.

As a nurse on an orthopaedic ward it was my responsibility to rehabilitate patients and maximise their independence - if they were failing to do that - I did not hesitate to tell them.

I cannot recall the particular incident, but I remember being chastised by a colleague, when a patient complained I 'looked like' I did not believe him. To this day, I resent that I was told I shouldn't have felt what I was feeling!

Respect works both ways!

Maybe you are in the wrong profession. You appear to be very self centered and compassionless. I would not want you to be at my bedside, even to empty a bedpan.

The is definition of egotist.

Egotism is the motivation to maintain and enhance favorable views of self. Egotism means placing oneself at the center of one's world with no direct concern for others.

It is closely related to narcissism, or "loving one's self," and the possible tendency to speak or write of oneself boastfully and at great length. Egotism may coexist with delusions of one's own importance, at the denial of others. This conceit is a character trait describing a person who acts to gain values in an amount excessively greater than that which he/she gives to others. Egotism is often accomplished by exploiting the altruism, irrationality and ignorance of others, as well as utilizing coercive force and/or fraud.

And look here for the requirement of a good nurse

http://www.nursing.purdue.edu/academics/undergradu...

...such be the choice of the nurse...

...so be the pen of a voting member of the board...

...best be courteous...as a hallmark of a professional...