Back to Basics

Some nurses recently said to me that nursing has changed so much and we do so much more, that we might as well be doctors. The two nurses who said this to me were both nurse anesthetists. They then went on to say that there a so many unskilled jobs that anyone could do, and that nurses should not have to do. In particular, they were referring to jobs such as showering/bed sponging, feeding, and dressing wounds. I found this rather sad. It seems that the fundamentals of nursing are being forgotten.

Confused? Well I'm referring to the days when RN's took care of the whole patient. Meeting hygiene needs, dressing wounds, and feeding patients eg stroke patients are not for the unskilled.

To me this feels wrong? It's these tasks which keep us in touch with the patient. For example, when we wash a patient we assess so much. When we log roll them onto their side we check their pressure areas, feel their skin under our hands: Are they hot, dry, cold and clammy. When we move them do they cough, does their chest rattle. When we feed a stroke victim we assess their ability to swallow. This is rather important as aspirating food into the lungs is never good. When we dress a wound, we observe each day its progress, it's shape, size, colour, odor, discharge. Is it pale red or angry red? There is so much that an experienced nurse automatically assesses when they look after the basic needs of a patient and it is not for the unskilled.

I realize that we do so much more, in some cases diagnose, treat/prescribe, or maybe we're nurse anaesthetists, but I feel that the absolute basics should always be a part of nursing. I am happy to delegate some basic jobs, but it should never be delegated because we feel it is a simple unskilled job for the unskilled health worker.