Technology Reducing Communication Barriers?

In health care today there are many communication barriers, more than ever before. I believe that technology is helping reduce the number of communication barriers in heath care today. Now with the use of electronic documentation, this allows nurses to spend less time paper charting and it is much more organized and legible. We also have access to various tools, due to advances in technology that can assist those patients that are hard of hearing, have visual impairments and those with speech difficulties. With the use of these devices we as nurses can now concentrate on patient client relationships and effective communication, so that we can provide them with the best patient care available.

Stereotypes of Nurses

As we see in the media such as on T.V shows, and in commercials, nurses are portrayed as petite, sexy and ‘dumb’. I am positive this is not what Florence Nightingale had in mind for nurses. Famous for her work in the military hospitals of the Crimea, Nightingale established nursing as a respect profession for women (BBC, n.d.). I personally want to be portrayed as a confident, competent, and caring professional. Another common stereotype is that male nurses are gay. I feel that personally that this is an unfair judgment to put on male nurses. So are women construction workers assumed to be lesbians? As I am a nursing student and I feel that it is up to me to help make a positive change on the portrayal of nurses in the future.

References
BBC - History - Florence Nightingale (1820 - 1910). (n.d.). Retrieved November 20, 2008, from http://www.bbc.co.uk/history/historic_figure/nightingale_florence.shtml.
http://imagecache2.allposters.com/images/pic/LPG/51501~Nurse-Bettie-Posters.jpg
http://media-2.web.britannica.com/eb-media/06/82506-004-C127D364.jpg

Still not enough Nurses

What are all the sick and dying going to do, when all the baby boomer nurses retire? Today in Ontario we are already short nurses, now we are going to lose even more in the near future due to retirement. We will not be able to replace all of them with the newly graduated nurses of 2009. There is simply just not enough nurses to fill the all the needs we have in the health care system today. Although there is quite a bit of awareness of this issue, we need to do as much as we can to promote nursing and what benefits come with this amazing profession. Nurses are in such high demand and we need to do everything we can to get more students to think about the possibility of becoming a nurse. I cannot wait until I graduate and help those in need of nursing care in Ontario.

References

ONA (Ontario Nurses Association): Still not enough nurses [Video]. (2007, April, 02). Retrieved November 15, 2008, from http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sM3W8Jy-yi8

Why I Chose Nursing!

Since the age of 11, I have had always dreamed of becoming a nurse so that I could care for those in need. My family and friends have always told me that I would become a great nurse because I am always so supportive and caring. They all joked because I always had a first aid kit in my backpack and I was always the first one to step in and help others. Now, that I am currently in my first year of the nursing program, and it seems so surreal. Although there is so much work, it is all completely worth it because after these four very busy years the end result will be what I have always wanted to be when I grew up! I cannot wait to finish this year and to look back and reflect on how much I have changed and evolved in only one short year, I can only imagine after four years how different I will be.

Reference
http://www.addenbrookes.org.uk/resources/images/news/openday/2008/nurse.jpg

Introduction of Me

My name is Heather; I am a first year nursing student at University of Ontario Institute of Technology (UOIT), in Oshawa. These first few weeks of classes have been a little overwhelming. In the first week I needed to adjust to my new school, get to know my professors and learn how to time manage effectively and efficiently. I am now learning how to create a blog so that I can communicate with my peers, professors and other nursing students. Through blogging we can share our thoughts and opinions as well as our own nursing experiences. Feel free to share your views and personal opinions.