My floor is developing a new bedside rounding system. Nursing has changed a lot since its founding. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, nursing is projected to grow 19 percent from 2012-2022, which is more than most other professions. From being viewed as doctor's assistants to evolving into an essential part of the treatment team, nursing has more of a voice now than ever. After the latest incident with Joy Behar from "The View" undermining nursing presence by calling stethoscopes "doctor's stethoscopes", nursing has gained even more uproar (thank you for your brilliant stupidity). You can't run a hospital without your nurses and you can't treat your patients wholesomely without us, either. We're a spectrum of a things in addition to being "just a nurse." We're mechanics ("Why the hell isn't my t.v. working?"), waitresses and waiters ("Can you get this tray out of here?"), data collectors ("I notice every night that her sats drop down to 85% temporarily . . have we looked into sleep apnea?"), punching bags, and so much more depending on the type of patient you care for, their needs, and developmental level. The way I see it, we can't "just" be nurses.
Which is why I think the new rounding system, as annoying as it can be initially with adding time to work flow, etc., will actually be a pioneer in the new nursing voice.
After the medical team presents the patient's plan of care, we introduce the nursing plan of care, which might include some more of the holistic stuff the physicians, by no fault of their owns, could forget. This includes psychosocial needs, calling for consults that might fall off the periphery, and addressing the patient's most important needs that might not be medically-related at all. Maybe someone just wants an ice cream. Doctors are trained to cure disease and you can't blame them. Not everyone can take a patient's shit at the same time.
We haven't rolled out the plan for world domination yet, but when we do, I think it'll be good practice for nurses to literally hear their own voices. We chime in during crucial moments of their care in ways other healthcare providers can't. And although patients might not ever see it, there's always a bunch of behind-the-scenes work that we're conducting just to make sure their days are as efficient as possible and they might not have to stay another day in the hospital. So that they can go back to a normal life, and do as many normal things as possible. Whether that means being with loved ones, playing a sport again, traveling, or just being able to chew on a good piece of steak.
If that doesn't deserve a voice, I'm not sure what does.
Which is why I think the new rounding system, as annoying as it can be initially with adding time to work flow, etc., will actually be a pioneer in the new nursing voice.
After the medical team presents the patient's plan of care, we introduce the nursing plan of care, which might include some more of the holistic stuff the physicians, by no fault of their owns, could forget. This includes psychosocial needs, calling for consults that might fall off the periphery, and addressing the patient's most important needs that might not be medically-related at all. Maybe someone just wants an ice cream. Doctors are trained to cure disease and you can't blame them. Not everyone can take a patient's shit at the same time.
We haven't rolled out the plan for world domination yet, but when we do, I think it'll be good practice for nurses to literally hear their own voices. We chime in during crucial moments of their care in ways other healthcare providers can't. And although patients might not ever see it, there's always a bunch of behind-the-scenes work that we're conducting just to make sure their days are as efficient as possible and they might not have to stay another day in the hospital. So that they can go back to a normal life, and do as many normal things as possible. Whether that means being with loved ones, playing a sport again, traveling, or just being able to chew on a good piece of steak.
If that doesn't deserve a voice, I'm not sure what does.