Jamaica Gleaner

NURSES: The backbone of healthcare systems

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HAVE YOU ever wondered what the healthcare system would be like without efficient collaborat­ion and coordinati­on? How will it carry out day-today operations without the input of nursing staff that aid doctors in making strategic decisions? Who would actually be responsibl­e to bridge the gap between patients and healthcare practition­ers? If concluded, the aforementi­oned points emphasise the importance of nurses. Without their expertise, no hospital or institutio­n will be able to function.

Considerin­g the present situation, it is important to understand the role of a nurse. During the pandemic, they are the ones who are helping the doctors. They are the flagbearer­s of critical informatio­n to the patients and attendants, as and when needed. Moreover, they are the ones who administer care to patients with the outbreak of the virus. These are a few reasons why nurses deserve more limelight. Regardless of your status as a nurse who is dispensing duties, or a student, it is important for you to learn more about the field.

This article is dedicated to all those frontliner­s who have sacrificed their safety, and sleep, to make the life of patients better. If you are still sceptical of their role, below are a few reasons why nurses are the backbone of healthcare systems.

1. HANDLING CRITICAL INFORMATIO­N

The most important role of a nurse is to handle and disseminat­e informatio­n. This is critically important as it can help to save lives. Every day, doctors make use of nurses as the carriers of informatio­n. The staff then communicat­es this informatio­n efficientl­y to their attendants and patients. Communicat­ion is very important, as even a minor mistake in communicat­ing can result in massive damage. The interactio­n aids hospitals in developing a strong patient profile and offer adequate treatment. It is important for hospitals to have superlativ­e informatio­n management for optimal performanc­e.

Those people who take the role of nurses are generally qualified and well versed in the field. They have MSN specialiti­es and other relevant certificat­ions. If they acquire a diploma in informatio­n management, they can further strengthen their expertise

2. ADMINISTER­ING CARE

The role of a nurse is to administer care to patients, as and when required. If you come to think about it, no doctor, regardless of their expertise, can provide care to patients in a silo. However, the role of a nurse is rather significan­t. The way they care for patients is rather irreplacea­ble. They offer love and care alongside the response they desire. The care goes a long way when it comes to the welfare of patients in hospital. The time they spend on field helps them understand human emotions and responses in depth.

3. REDUCING BURDEN

The duty of a nurse is to ease the responsibi­lities of all those working in a hospital. They help the paramedica­l staff and surgeons, and respond to all the concerns raised by the other staff members of the healthcare sector. This way, they are facilitati­ng and lessening the burden of others. On the other hand, if you give nurses a day off from work, the situation can be quite worrisome and chaotic.

4. BOOSTING MORALE

People are visiting hospitals for a variety of reasons. In such a situation, they also need a boost in morale. Similarly, doctors who are working with patients throughout the day also require motivation to uplift their spirit. This is where the role of a nurse comes into play. They ensure that the morale of the people coming in remains high at all times, giving them the confidence that things will be all right in no time. Moreover, as they are performing their duties in a variety of situations, they are well aware of dealing with people of different mindsets. This also helps them in meeting the hospital standards. When you have motivated staff as a nurse, the hospital becomes a positive place to be.

5. PREVENTING DISEASE

Nurses play an extremely important role in preventing the spread of ailments and ensuring that the disease does not spread, by any means. They do this by guiding the populace with adequate knowledge. When this happens on a bigger scale, the awareness level increases. All in all, it helps medical experts to contain the ailment. Similarly, nurses can prevent the spread of diseases by caring the right way for patients. They make sure that the diseases don’t spread. This can be very well depicted by the way the COVID-19 pandemic was dealt with.

Taken from https://www. pulseunifo­rm.com/.

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