When there is JOY in Nursing
Every time I interview a nurse in one of my nursing home neglect and abuse cases, I find myself sympathizing with the position in which they find themselves.
Nurses know that their facilities are short staffed and they also know that their patients are not receiving needed care. Many of them are ashamed at working in such an environment and have lost the spark that once made their work enjoyable.
The essence of caregiving has always been supportive and nurturing. Even though nursing is hard work, and many times thankless, nurses continue to provide care because of the heartfelt joy that caregiving provides them.
However, what takes the joy out of nursing home caregiving is the knowledge that the nursing staff is not receiving the support they need from management to properly care for their patients.
In many respects, nurses as well as patients are the victims of corporate indifference and greed.
When nursing home owners limit the number of nursing staff at their facilities, the remaining nurses must struggle, and many times fail, to provide adequate care.
When patients suffer so do their nurses.
