Everything Nurses >> Nurse Talk >> Respect for Geriatric Care
Respect for Geriatric Care
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Posted almost 6 years ago Is there a lack of respect for geriatric care among nurses? |
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| Posted almost 6 years ago JonZ Thanks for the invite, I look forward to using this site. I have just moved from the UK and think I will need plenty of advice about how best to proceed with a nursing career in the States. |
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| Posted almost 6 years ago You're welcome, feakesandy - I'm glad you've joined NursingLink too! Any additional opinions on a lack of respect for geriatric care - anyone? |
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| Posted over 5 years ago Wow. This is a topic very close to my heart. I worked at UVA for many years and was fortunate to be mentored by a Geriatric Nurse Practitioner while I was on staff in the CCU. I was part of the NICHE project, and developed into what they called a Geriatric Resource Nurse. This project continues and they have a wonderful website. And I have carried what I learned to my new job. My current concern is delirium in the elderly. And yes, I think there is a lack of respect for geriatric care. I think some of it is cultural. Ever try to find a nice birthday card for someone over 40, that does not somehow make fun of growing old? Some is educational. Adult nursing is all rolled together, whereas pediatric nursing is a speciality. Some of it is personal - none of us wants to look at our own aging. Some of it is simply choice - you have to like old people to be interested in improving their care. I simply love to talk about geriatrics......I know there are morre nurses out there like me! I'd love to hear from you. |
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| Posted over 5 years ago oldnurse said: I AM 45 YEARS OLD AND HAVE BEEN A GERIATRIC NURSE FOR THE WHOLE 17 YEAR OF MY NURSING CAREER AND WILL ALWAYS BE SO I LOVE THEM ALL EVEN THE MORE CHALLENGING ONES BUT EVEN IF IT'S ONLY THAT RARE OCCASSION YOU GET A SMILE IT IS ALL WORTH IT I FEEL LIKE SOMETIMES PEOPLE FORGET OUR ELDERLY ARE STILL PEOPLE WITH FEELINGS EVEN THE CONFUSED AND DESERVE THE RESPECT OF US ALL THEY HAVE CERTAINLY BEEN ABLE TO TEACH ME A THING OR TWO ABOUT LIVING LIFE TO IT'S FULLEST I AGREE THERE IS A LACK OF RESPECT FOR THIS FIELD OF NURSING AS A GERIATRIC NURSE ON DAY SHIFT WE ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR ALL OF THE OVERALL CARE FOR 20 PATIENTS ON 3-11 AND 11 - 7 IT'S 40 NOT TO MENTION THE AMMOUNT OF DOCUMENTATION REQUIRED BY THE STATE WE SPEND 2 1/2 HOURS A DAY ON MEDS AND TREATMENTS AND THE REMAINDER ON THE PAPERWORK WHERE IS THE TIME FOR THE VERY MUCH NEEDED TLC THE REALREASON I BECAME A NURSE |
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| Posted over 5 years ago My first job was in a convalescent home where the majority of the residents are the elderly. I loved doing care for the elderly. The best part is seeing their faces light up everyday, when I provided care for them .That was the best part of geriatric nursing . I knew that they felt safe and saw the empathy in my eyes, everyday when I was their CNA. My work was more then just a job, I felt that I was serving them. I feel the elderly deserve to be taken care of just because they lived on this earth longer than I have, and that one day I will be elderly, and I want to be taken care by someone like me, someone who cares and respect the elderly. I am a proud mother of three beautyful daughter. I currently live in Los Angeles California. I've worked as a heathecare provider for almost 10 years. I am curently in school to pursue my MSN in nursing, and wants to work as a pediactric nurse, in public health. |
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| Posted over 5 years ago KCN4206 said: I worked LTC for a while and loved it. But I had to leave for ethical reasons. I actualy had a DON tell me pressure ulcers were bound to happen and would I please be sure all the CNA's not only filled the residents water pitchers, but placed a staw in them. We want to look good for the state inspectors. Like a staw would remind some body with advanced alzheimers to drink fluid! What about a hydration program? What about washing, drying, protecting and turning - better yet - a toilet schedule? |
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| Posted over 5 years ago That DON needs to her head checked. The only way pressure ulcers happens, if pressure is not relieved. Our assignments consists of many total care, overweight, G-tube patients. We had to bath them, out of bed, and turn them every 2 hours. We had the least number pressure ulcers at our convalescent home, because everyone was one on the same page. The only patients that had decubitis ulcers, were the ones that were using electric wheel chairs, and they wanted to sit up longer in their wheelchairs, because they got tire of lying in bed. They got ulcers by choice, but if the patient can't move, it is the heathcare provider job, to relieve the pressure for them. I am a proud mother of three beautyful daughter. I currently live in Los Angeles California. I've worked as a heathecare provider for almost 10 years. I am curently in school to pursue my MSN in nursing, and wants to work as a pediactric nurse, in public health. |
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| Posted over 5 years ago Do you find that there is a genuine lack of understanding for this type of care among all nurses who aren't involved in geriatric care? Or is this just nurse managers? |
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| Posted over 5 years ago I have worked in LTC since 1985 and love it . It does take a special kind of nurse or CNA to care for the elderly. Usually the ones who dont have it leave soon after starting. |
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| Posted over 5 years ago im not sure how much is a lack of respect and how much is a lack of training and education on caring for any type of patient,i have been a cna for 17 years and took care of all ages and stages from birth to 108 year old and i have observed and learned alot, but the so called "lack of respect" is not as intentional as it is made to sound, the cna and nursing programs do not take the time to teach common sense that one would figure that "all" people should have, and yes it does take some very special people to work with the elderly and stick with it, i hear you up there the nurse with all the paperwork and the pills for 40 patients and not having time to give the TLC she wants to give, but you can give it while passingout your pills , give a little TLC while giving them a pill, a pat on the shoulder a slight rub on the shoulder or back or even just a heartfelt smile goes a long way health care has become so much political garbage and rules rulesrules that there is not enough staff or time to give what we would like to, and the article talks of rough speaking well working as long as i have in nursing facilities it is easy to see if you stop a minute that there are alot younger people caring for the elderly and the manners just arent instilled in them or the cultures of the staff there are alot of variables here, but yes there is a certain amount of lack of respect here just not all of it is intentional like stated above in the article |
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| Posted over 5 years ago That is correct mommaboo36. The CNA and the nursing schools don't teach common sense. That is something that has to be in you. I was brought up to respect my elders. Like I stated in my comment earlier, I didn't look at taking care of the elderly, or any of my patients as just a job. I have empathy when providing care for them. When you have empathy, you have respect. I am a proud mother of three beautyful daughter. I currently live in Los Angeles California. I've worked as a heathecare provider for almost 10 years. I am curently in school to pursue my MSN in nursing, and wants to work as a pediactric nurse, in public health. |
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| Posted over 5 years ago Awesome point mommaboo36 and cuttie! In every profession there are some people who for some reason or another have missed out on some very common experiences. This hampers them in many ways when they come into contact with conflict especially. They will learn. What experiences do you think have helped you gain a respect for geriatric care that other nurses and other just don't have? |
