By Jeff Trotman
Nurses in Region Ten were urged to pay closer attention to the critical area of documentation of patient care, during an awards ceremony hosted by the Health Ministry and the Linden Hospital Complex (LHC) to honour 20 nurses for conscientious service in their vocation.
The award ceremony, which was held on Wednesday, is part of the long-term goal of improving the quality of care offered at the LHC by encouraging nurses to be their best; reward staff for consistent quality improvement thereby leading to patient satisfaction and in the process boosting the self esteem of individual health care workers. An assessment was done over a stipulated period based on nine parameters: punctuality and attendance, dress code, health and safety, nursing skills and capacity, preparation for skills, interpersonal relationships, communication skills, documentation and efficacy of care.
Nurses from the Mackenzie, the Upper Demerara and the Kwakwani hospitals from three clinical areas were assessed without their knowledge resulting in Sharon La Fargue being selected the most outstanding nurse at the Mackenzie Hospital for 2013. Natasha Pile and Joycelyn Beaton of the Upper Demerara Hospital (UDH) and the Kwakwani Hospital respectively, were also chosen for their outstanding work. The Casualty Ward of the UDH was adjudged the most outstanding clinical area within the LHC for 2013 while the Operating Theatre of the Mackenzie Hospital was recognised for the most outstanding clinical area as well as for team work and working beyond the call of duty.
Documentation
At the ceremony, held at the Mackenzie Hospital conference room, the gathering heard that documentation was one of the biggest areas of assessment that needs to be urgently improved in order to effect proper patient care. In this regard, Dr Farouk Riasat, CEO of the Linden Hospital Complex said that supervisors need to ensure that their charges behave professionally.
It was found that when documentation was done by nurses, this information is passed on to their colleagues, who rely on the information for the continuity of patient care therefore good record keeping is essential for better communication, continuity, consistency and efficiency and reinforcing professionalism within the nursing field.
Dr Riasat recalled an occasion when a doctor made a written request for antibiotics for a patient during the morning hours and at 4.30pm that afternoon found that the instruction was not carried out and the patient did not receive the medication. The CEO cited a second incident when he “cut a patient in the maternity ward” and when he moved to stitch the cut there was no suture in the delivery room and the nurses then had to run to the operating theatre to get the relevant supplies for him.
“Now, this is not good at all,” he said. “We have to be prepared at all times. If the operating theatre has these things, they are available. The supervisor has to make sure they get them – there is no excuse.”
Morale boost
Meanwhile, the ministry and the LHC held a similar awards ceremony for operating theatre nurses earlier in the week. While he played no role in selecting the awardees, Dr Riasat said he agreed with the choices as he visits the wards frequently and had seen the quality of work produced by the selected workers. In congratulating the honourees, especially those receiving appreciation awards, he said the work provided by all the nurses and ancillary staff at the LHC is greatly appreciated and he encouraged them to continue to provide the best quality care possible.
Dr Riasat said that the exercise provided a good boost in morale among the staff and the LHC Management Board is working to make the environment comfortable for the workers. He also said that it would take another two years for the LHC to operate at the optimum level of efficiency, productivity and care.
Dr Riasat also said that while health care workers may never get the salary they desire, they cannot afford to be selfish, due to the nature of their jobs. Further, he said, “the joy comes after the patient gets up and walks strongly.” According to him, several patients are admitted to the hospital, ‘at death’s door’ but many leave the institution strong and health, “That is the kind of thing we do; that is our job.”
