The Messenger, 2004 (1-3. szám)
2004-05-01 / 3. szám
jfrom ti)t Btrector of Jíurötng THE BETHLEN HOME NURSING: A COMMUNITY OF CARE The Bethlen Home’s Nursing Staff is such a vital part of whom we are as a long term care facility that without our nursing department, we become just a building made of brick and mortar. The Facility could not provide the high quality of service to our residents without the knowledgeable, creative and caring registered nurses, licensed practical nurses and nursing assistants who are employed here. National Nurse’s Week is an excellent time to recognize this vital role nurses play at The Bethlen Home. Nurse’s Week is celebrated each year beginning May 6 and ending May 12 on Florence Nightingale’s birthday. Ms. Nightingale, the founder of nursing, was a pioneer in making caring a part of nursing as a modern profession. We celebrate our nursing staff for the quality of work they provide seven days a week 365 days of the year. Nursing and caring have always been thought of synonymously, going hand in hand. Most individuals choose nursing because they have a desire to care for other individuals. However, in today’s complex and often chaotic healthcare environment, the concept of caring often can get lost. Individuals accessing health care may feel that caring is not valued or worse not even expected, when in fact caring is the essence of nursing. Nurses have never been more important to health care then they are today. Nurses must be able to act as patient and resident advocates. The top ten caring behaviors cited in the nursing literature are; attentive, listening, comforting, patience, honesty responsibility, providing information so the patient/resident can make an informed decision, touch, sensitivity, respect and calling the patient/resident by name. The nursing department at The Bethlen Home has not lost sight of the fact that caring is the essence of nursing, and that these caring behaviors must be a part of our everyday encounters with patients and residents. The goal of our nursing department is for all residents to achieve and maintain their optimal level of wellness within the mind,-body and soul. This is achieved through a caring approach by nursing as well as our entire multidisciplinary staff that includes therapists, activity aides, social work and a chaplain program. Thank you to our entire nursing department for the tremendous work you do! The true rewards from nursing come from the best place of all - from within ourselves, from the value that each nurse places on their own work and from the satisfaction that comes from a job well done and what it means to each resident. Our nurses do make a difference! Ann Donovan RN, MSN, CWOCN Director of Nursing, The Bethlen Home, Ligonier, PA
