New technologies and access to a wealth of information on the Internet is helping patients learn more about their bodies so that health care becomes accessible to everyone. As nurses, we need to listen to what the patient's priorities are. If the patient prefers alternative medicine to what the doctor recommends then we should be willing to let the patient choose as long as we inform them of all possible outcomes. Instead of expecting the health care system to rescue them from destructive lifestyle choices, patients need their nurses to counsel them on improving their eating and exercise habits and reducing stress. To reduce stress in our own lives, we nurses need to learn how to remain positive and life-affirming. At the same time,...
Until the system improves, we need to become stronger and more efficient professionals.
When we listen better to patients we take the first step toward eliminating the problems that plague our medical system. If no nurse bowed down to administrative pressures to perform procedures or administer medications that do not suit patient needs then we will have taken the first step toward forcing wholesale changes in the American medical system. Remembering why we work the long hours we do and why we continue to work under the increased stress and pressure will help us make improvements to the health care system.
