Wednesday, November 26, 2008

Terms of Endearment

Calling older patients "dearie" or "love" is set to be ruled out as offensive by new guidelines from the Nursing and Midwifery Council

Congratulations to the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) for outlawing the human touch, in pursuit of its alignment with the nonsense brigade.

Whilst not yet qualifying as an “older person”, I am incensed that a disciplinary body has compromised the notion of individualised care, a concept that is an integral part of the practice of a registered nurse.

If I were in hospital, in pain, distressed, lonely or confused, I can think of nothing more comforting than a nurse holding my hand and saying “it’s OK love, everything will be alright sweetheart”.

But now a nurse might lose their job for showing that essential humanity and compassion.

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