What is good patient care? What is bad patient care? Perhaps it is all in the eyes of the beholder. However, if the patient has their needs met, then this is good care. Needs i.e. taking care of all aspects of the patient - medical/physical problems, as well as what the patient is experiencing emotionally. Certainly, it is not easy being a patient.
Do nurses understand? Perhaps, all nurses and doctors should experience a life threatening situation, of their own, before they go into school. A good pre-requisite, I think, but then, I am very critical of delivery of care. Perhaps because I have not only observed situations of poor care, but have seen the negative results from errors made in hospitals.
As a patient you should expect your nurse (who is providing care for that shift) to know why you are in the hospital and what treatments, etc you are receiving. What progress you have made (or not) since you were admitted. And, just where does this information come from. Simple. From the first nurse who provides your care. Each nurse who takes care of you gets a report from the previous nurse who took care of you. Therefore, all the information should be given. However, like the game 'telephone' by the time it gets to the third nurse, it might not be correct information or all the information might not be there. This is the reality.
The other part of this reality is that, many times, there is not enough time for the nurse to review your chart. All the more important, for the first nurse (who cares for you) to have your history and present problem, in order to pass on this information. Any changes in your condition, doctor's orders or special problems should be given to the next nurse who will provide your care. Simply put, this is the 'nurses shift report'......So, one can see that when we are a patient, we are at the mercy of the nurse, so we trust the nurse.
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