Core Values and Procedures

Apart from discussing the awful weather we are having in the Highlands (it has rained every day for the past 3 weeks and it is cold - longest day only 3 weeks away) with patients, the topic of conversation is the latest report into bad nursing procedures. There have been graphic reports of how patients in hospital and nursing homes have been neglected, uncared for and sometimes abused by the nursing profession. I have certainly seen from first hand experience some of this a few years ago, so it came as no surprise. I suppose you can say that there is good and bad in every trade and profession and you will always get some people who are more conscientious that others at their job.

The nursing one though goes a bit deeper in that we expect that each and every nurse is caring, after all, isn't that why they enter the profession in the first place. The public expects that every nurse has the Florence Nightingale image. The topic is complicated but one theory of mine is that because nursing is now a degree course i.e. academic, the actual nitty gritty of cleanliness, caring, talking to patients, respecting them as human beings has somehow been lost in the pursuit of academia. Thirty years ago nursing training consisted 25% theory and 75% practice - I know, I did it! Now it is completely the other way around. The excuse of 'not enough staff on the ward to give an adequate service' simply won't wash. I have personally seen cases of neglected patients whilst extended coffee breaks are being taken!

I wonder if there is something similar occurring in my profession of physiotherapy? No I don't mean lack of care particularly, but, again because junior physios have all been to university and spend much more time in theory and less in practical aspects than was the case years ago, that they have lost the practical empathetic nature that was apparent 20 years ago. they don't get involved, they don't get their hands 'dirty' and actually TOUCH their patients. Again the excuse is 'lack of time'. The answer to this lame excuse is that they are round and bounce!!! One can achieve more with a patient or client in 15 minutes by treating them with hands-on procedures that one can ever do by simply teaching a formula of exercises or attaching them to the latest electrotherapy machine. Let me know what you think - JRC