NURSE'S NOTES ON DISRESPECT

As we go along our daily activities we work with other people. co-workers, colleagues, non professionals, and some are even our relatives. as a child we were thought the value of respect for the adult and the elderly. being Filipinos most of the time culture, tradition and family can not be delineated from official work. one of this value is respect.... but what does respect really mean in the context of professionalism? how can one accord due respect to some body? here are my views about RESPECT AND DISRESPECT.

"MEN ARE RESPECTABLE ONLY AS THEY RESPECT"

 Ralph Waldo Emerson

 Taking off from Ralf, this very words are one of my philosophies in life. one must earn respect before he can be accorded one. looking at respect the other way around, what makes a person commit disrespects to other individuals?

Reasons for committing disrespect:

1. SELFISHNESS - self centered individuals most often are guilty of this.
2. VESTED INTEREST - we act for a reason. these may be in order to protect our stakes on a MONKEY  BUSINESS.
3. LACK OF SELF DISCIPLINE- this is decay from the inside out.
4.  OMNIPOTENCE - feeling of superiority over others. feeling of all powerful God-like ability.

What do you think of this?

1. pulling off a person performing his official duties just to attend a meeting.
2. A high ranking Gov't Official talking like a vendor in a market place trying to sell an item to passers-by instead of talking calmly to the person he wants to talk with.
3. an engineer mocking a nurse just because the nurse can not go to his office because the nurse is performing his official duties?
4. slamming down the telephone hand set to your friend while the other is still trying to say something?
5. charging an older personnel because of lack of phone ethics?

"RESPECT IS A GIFT TO YOUR SELF 

BEING RESPECTFUL IS YOUR GIFT 

TO OTHERS"

                                                             Charlo jimenez

WAYS TO PREVENT NEGLIGENCE WHILE ON DUTY

Philippines, Filipinos are tagged in the world as one of the most caring, loving, industrious, patient and passionate professionals in the health care arena. Filipino nurses are renowned for their TLC in caring for their patients,  thus earning high viability and demand in today's health care scene. all over the world especially in the United States and Canada including the United kingdom Filipino nurses gain a reputation as one of the best nurses in the aforementioned countries. but the true story is that, nurses in the Philippines are experiencing all sorts of maltreatments and abuses from other members of the health care team.

"Negligence is the rust of the soul, that corrodes through all her best resolves".  

Owen Feltham 

Negligence is the most painful if not the most derogative allegation for nurse. a word that not only affect the license of the nurse but goes deep into the personal existence of the nurse as a person. it touches the emotion, profession, values and philosophy, even the very reason for looking unto nursing as a calling. as part of the health care team we play vital roles in caring for patients. each team member should learn to respect one another in order to provide quality care. 

Negligent Nurses

Truly not all nurses have the value of duty and accountability. this may be evident in some cases where  nurses are found guilty in a court proceedings. thus a nurse must find it in his/her professional values the importance of accountability in performing daily nursing activities. every day we step into the hospital or place of work, the moment we time-in our arrival and assume the duty of the day, our license is already at stake. its like a big cash price for people just waiting for the nurse to commit mistakes then to be filed cases against. this is the reason why we MUST act to defend our hard-earned license by doing defensive nursing practice. defensive I mean doing each nursing duties thinking first of the possible consequences  and ways on trying to avoid them. doing this could save our license and our asses form malpractice cases and even being accused of negligence.

how to prevent negligence?

1. Proper Documentation: always write every thing important in the course of care for the patient this will save you from being behind bars.
2. Proper endorsement: this is the time that things relevant patient care is not communicated properly. do be careful and be attentive in receiving endorsements.
3. Practice only within the scope of the profession: depending on your country certain legislation in the practice of our profession are available. do read them and learn them well. follow your JOB DESCRIPTION .
4. Be familiar with institutional Policies and Protocol: every institution has it's adopted strategy in taking-on problems that may arise from the day- to- day activities. take time to read them, practice them while you are still in the agency. 
5. Effective Communication: lean the subtle art of communication always be assertive in saying things.