LindsayToday’s post about the importance of great health care advocates comes from a special guest blogger, Melanie Bowen. I’m very pleased to have Ms. Bowen as a guest blogger because she is a great writer and it gives me a chance to rest (rough couple of weeks) while still posting new content. If you’d like to write something for my blog about chronic illness from any perspective (patient, friend, family, caregiver, etc.) and any approach (traditional, alternative, etc.) I would be honored to include it. Email me at lindsay@dysautonomiac.com if you are interested.
Melanie Bowen’s article relates primarily to cancer, but as its message applies to all chronic illnesses, it seems appropriate for my blog, especially in light of the recent post about my former cardiologist. Ms. Bowen joined the Mesothelioma Cancer Alliance in 2011 as an awareness advocate for natural health and cancer cure initiatives. You will often find her highlighting the great benefits of alternative nutritional, emotional, and physical treatments on those diagnosed with cancer or other serious illness. Melanie also assists in social media outreach in her efforts to help spread awareness. If you have comments or questions about this article, or would like to read more, visit Ms. Bowen’s site at http://www.mesothelioma.com/blog/authors/melanie/. If you enjoy this article, please visit that website and let her know.
Stay tuned.
– Linds
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Nursing programs train and educate registered nurses, nurse practitioners, licensed practical nurses and certified nursing assistants. Although these types of nursing occupations are on different levels of education and job duties, each one plays an important role in providing quality care to a patient.
Nursing assistants and LPNs ensure that the primary comfort and basic care of a patient is met. LPNs work closely with RNs and share many of the same duties as RNs, though RNs have more supervisory training and more extensive education.
When a patient who is chronically-ill chooses a hospital, oncology clinic, hospice facility or a recovery clinic that provides exceptional nursing staff, the patient will have an excellent opportunity to receive the best care possible. This helps to establish a healthy patient/nurse relationship. Establishing a good patient/nurse relationship is essential to the patient’s health and may even increase the chances of the patient recovering from an illness.
Nurses must endure long hours standing on their feet, hours of walking through a hospital or clinic during a day, and constant supervisory duties to ensure a patient is being taken care of and the patient’s needs are being met. While nursing can certainly be a stressful job, it is also a rewarding one when a nurse is able to enhance a patient’s life, educate a patient on how to become healthier and soothe away fears and concerns.
When a person is able to find a dedicated nurse who takes time to provide quality care and answers questions the patient has patiently, the person will typically be able to relieve tension and concern and concentrate on healing and getting better.
If a patient believes that his or her relationship with a nurse is not as worthy as it could be, he or she should be encouraged to speak to the nurse or the attending physician and express concerns. It is common for nurses to become focused on handing out medication and reviewing patients’ charts and taking vitals. While these are common duties of a nurse, it is also important for the nurse to take time to talk to a patient and listen to any concerns or questions a patient may have.
People who have chronic diseases or illnesses such as mesothelioma rely heavily on nurses to provide them with follow-up care and on-going treatment. When a chronically ill person is consistently in a medical facility for treatment or stabilization procedures, it is imperative that the relationship between the patient and the nurse be an open and positive one. This will lead to increased chances of success on the patient recovering and will help to put the patient at ease.
The U.S. National Library of Medicine has an excellent publication on improving nurse/patient relationship. Patients and nurses both can benefit by reviewing any professional and helpful literature that will encourage and inform both parties to establish a healthy and trusting patient and nurse relationship. Find a nurse that will put you on the right track to a successful road of recovery and never stop fighting against your cancer.
Sorry things have been rough for you. Hope they get better. Thanks for sharing the guest blog.