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Patient and Nurse Perspectives on CaringBenner(1984) stated "nurses should be in touch with the emotional relationships they maintain with their patients because the ability to attend to the patient's feelings not only puts the patient at ease but helps nurses make vital clinical decisions." (cited in Gray & Smith 2000 p.30). This is not what most patients see as a priority. According to the research, nurses have identified listening, touching, talking, and involving the patient in their care as the most important caring behaviour. The patients perceptions are more task oriented. Larson(1995) identified "knowing how to give shots, start I.V.s and manage the equipment" as the most important nurse caring behaviours. The research findings leave the nurse in a dilemna. Although the tasks need to be done it is how the task is approached that makes the difference. It is the respect, the true desire to help, the intentionality shown to the patient which makes the difference. I believe this is what makes a special nurse. |
