How Our Nurses Show Respect And Dedication To Their Patients
Pegasus skilled in-home nurses in Universal City and elsewhere care for individuals with a variety of medical conditions. They show respect and dedication to their patients despite their infirmities. Our career home health care nurses know a respectful attitude is part of dedicated caregiving.
The lack of respect is often easier to recognize because respect means different things to people. But essentially, respect is a reflection of how you feel about someone. People don’t feel valued when they aren’t respected.
Respect can be defined as consideration for the feelings of others. That can encompass taking into account their wishes and rights. Especially, in professional caregiving, it also means considering their culture and traditions.
Respect also includes avoiding judging others by your personal standards. Individuals have the right to do things how they think best. That may conflict with your medical training and experience.
Nevertheless, unless their action or lack of action will truly harm them, respect their wishes. As a caregiver, you must deal with feeling too protective toward patients. After all, you want the best for them.
Tips For Showing Respect
Providing the best means showing respect to individuals. One way of doing so is allowing them to retain their dignity. You can:
- Always knock when entering your patient’s room if the door is closed. If it isn’t, greet them by name before you enter.
- Avoid baby talk, even if your patient is cognitively impaired. Speak to them as an adult, even if you have to repeat things. You never know how much they understand.
- Avoid discussing their health issues with others without their permission. If they don’t mind you talking to their family members or other healthcare professionals, use their name, and include them in the conversation. Don’t talk around them as if they aren’t there.
- Give your patients as much privacy as is safe. Close doors if you’re helping them with toileting, bathing, or getting dressed.
- Whenever possible, discuss choices with your patient. Ask their opinion and listen to their concerns. Include them in decisions about their care.
Encourage family caregivers to use these same guidelines. They may unintentionally show disrespect to your patient when trying to provide good care. They’ve known the person for a long time and easily slip into disregarding their feelings.
Good Communication Is Part Of Showing Respect
Healthcare providers in clinical settings may not always communicate respectfully with patients. They try, but the demands of time are against them. Time is under your control as a home health care nurse.
You are in charge of your schedule. You have the ability to allow as much time as is necessary for each individual to discuss their concerns. If a procedure or treatment is required, you provide the non-medical explanations they need for understanding.
It isn’t helpful or respectful to withhold details from your patients. They have the right to know why specific procedures or actions are necessary. Explain what you’re doing and why you’re doing it that way.
Being Honest Is A Sign Of Respect
Another aspect of showing respect is honesty. You can be truthful about your patient’s diagnosis and prognosis. Naturally, you don’t want to destroy their hope, but they need reliable information for decision-making.
Usually, most patients will be more compliant with their care if they believe their feelings are respected. Individuals need to feel like they are in control of what they do. Encourage their questions and let them know they are part of your team in providing their care.
Dedication To Doing Everything The Best That You Can Shows Respect
You are dedicated to improving your patient’s quality of life by being the best nurse that you can be. You understand your responsibilities in providing care. You don’t make excuses or break promises to your patients.
You are patient, but you also take action when necessary. Your patient’s well-being is your priority. You advocate for them with other professionals and agencies.
You obtain the training and certifications you need to provide up-to-date care. You are hands-on, but you aren’t afraid of using technological innovations. You practice self-care and maintain a good work-life balance.
You don’t feel threatened by teaching patients how to care for themselves. You appreciate support from other members of your team. You’re able to work with individuals in less-than-ideal conditions.
You maintain a high level of integrity with both patients and colleagues. You have a positive attitude and look for the good in people and situations. And if you happen to make a mistake, you own up to it.
Above all, you respect your patient’s dignity. You recognize them as human beings, not as their medical condition. You respect their choices and decisions, even ones with which you disagree.
Pegasus is a licensed Home Care Organization and a Joint Commission Accredited Home Health Care organization. Our in-home caregivers in Universal City and our other locations honor the dignity of their patients. Our career home health care nurses are dedicated to making patients feel respected and safe.
