Reflections of a nurses' personal experience as a loved one and a patient: The human side of healthcare

摘要

One thing is for certain: healthcare is ever evolving during these challenging times. In this current arena of electronic medical records and regulatory bodies, nursing finds itself placing increasing emphasis on numbers and percentile rankings as a gauge of its performance. Although this information is vitally important as the focus centers on patient safety and quality outcomes, perhaps in the quest for excellent report cards, there needs to be a reminder of what is at the foundation of the nursing profession: communication and caring. The experience of a nurse as a family member, patient, and healthcare provider gives us the 360-degree view of this challenge.