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A look at professional nursing's past and present
As part of National Nurses Week, Mercy Health Center celebrates the diligent work of those in its employ.
Since Florence Nightingale, whom many consider to be the founder of modern nursing, was born on May 12, 1820, National Nurses Week, which is May 6-12, coincides with her birthday, according to information obtained from the U.S. Census Bureau, www.census.gov.
Mercy Hospital inpatient Med-surge registered nurse Darcy Sinn said from the beginning, nursing was about creating a caring and healing environment. She said that is that same environment that nurses strive for today.
"I love taking care of patients and being a part of their health care," she said.
Many people throughout the United States share Darcy's passion for the nursing profession. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, in 2005, there were 2.4 million registered nurses in the United States. The number of adults who work in the nursing field is projected to continue growing, according to the Census Bureau.
"Projected growth in the number of registered nurses between 2002 and 2012. It is expected that registered nurses will experience the largest job growth of any occupation during this time period," the Census Bureau Web site said.
Mercy Health Center registered nurse Carol Sinn, who is Darcy's mother-in-law, said being a nurse is the only career field she has ever wanted to work in. She said after graduating nursing school about 20 years ago, she began working as a psychiatric nurse. Since then, she has worked in various nursing areas. Currently, Carol acts as a patient advocate with insurance companies about the services that the patient needs to receive. Although Carol's current position takes her away from bedside care, she said she still has the chance to visit with the patients about their medical care while they are in the hospital.
Also, Carol is responsible for providing patients and family members with palliative care. She said she visits with patients and their family members and helps them get through the dying process. She said she helps meet the needs that arise during that difficult time.
Darcy and Carol both agreed that there have been many advancements in the medical field through the years. Because of advanced medical technologies, Carol said she has seen the length of time a patient must stay in the hospital decrease through the years.
One of the technological advances in the medical field that has greatly increased patient safety, both nurses said, is the new computerized medication administration process.
"It is safer now then ever," carol said. "There are many check points that make sure the right person gets the right medications at the right times. The bar has been lifted for safety," she said.
"It is a good system. It's the best I have seen," Darcy said.
Mercy Hospital nurse supervisor Rita Wolfe said Mercy Hospital is the only hospital in the surrounding area besides Mercy Hospital in Independence, Ks. that has the same type of computerized medication administration system. She explained that the computer system keeps track of everything from which nurse is giving the medications to what time the patient received the medication. As an additional safety measure, the computer will also tell the nurse what types of allergies the patient has. If the nurse scans the wrong medication, the computer will alert the nurse as to her error. This is to ensure that the patients are receiving the correct medications with the correct dosages at the correct times, Wolfe said.
Darcy said that the nurses at Mercy are given Service Standards that they live by at work and at home. She said they must treat everyone as a valuable individual. The local nurses are also asked to seek out and address the customers' needs. In addition to these things, everyone must work as a team. She said every hospital employee makes up the team. It takes everyone to deliver quality patient care.
Darcy said she enjoys working at the local hospital because Fort Scott is such a small community that it seems she is caring for her neighbors. However, she said she feels very strong about maintaining privacy and confidentiality. While patients are in the hospital, Darcy said, it is important for the nurses who are providing their care to take the time to listen to them; meet their needs; and provide comfort and healing.
"We are here to take care of them," she said.
Carol said that she enjoys being there for her patients.
"The special moments in my job are when I touch the lives of patients," she said.
She added that she has plans to continue on in the nursing field for many years.
"I would never choose another profession," she said. "I love what I am doing."