Nurses Care, but Do They Take the Time

By Rebecca Ramos April 19, 2016

In this day in age life is very rushed and it can be difficult to stop and smell the flowers.
Between completing work, taking care of families, cleaning the house, running errands, and
some of lifes expected turns who has the time to take a load off? Now imagine nurses who have
the same responsibilities; however, they may work more than eight hours, care for multiple
patients, follow doctors orders, some patients may not cooperate, and so on. It seems like a
pretty busy schedule, doesnt it? It is understandable now why nurses are always seen running
around, but like most busy individuals they can always find some free time. How that time is
spent is vital to their patients.
For years society has seen nurses as individuals who heal and provide hope, but patient
oppression is an issue that is on the rise in the nursing field. From multiple trips to hospitals and
clinics it is very prominent that many patients discussing in waiting rooms feel that health care
providers only want money. Some individuals feel that health care providers do not care for a
patients wellbeing anymore. For example, Although nurses were more likely to be viewed as
equals and therefore approachable in the eyes of patients, patients found that nurses were often
so occupied with their tasks that they dared not disturb them (Locsin & Purnell, 2009, p. 452). It
is disappointing to comprehend that patients feel similar to disturbances to nurses. These
unspoken words can affect a patients health, especially because individuals may feel that nurses
are too busy to be concerned about them.
University Medical Center (UMC) in El Paso, Texas is a county hospital and it welcomes
many patients through its doors daily. When asked about how nurses were perceived, Becky
Ramos, a former employee stated Nurses rush and do not have enough time to develop a
relationship with the patient (Personal communication, April 2, 2016). In all reality the patients

know themselves better than any nurse can; by

taking time to relate and understand the patients,
doors can open for nurses. In addition, nurses deal
with multiple multicultural individuals; of course
nurses can be taught the surface of various
cultures and languages, but spending time
with the patient informs the nurses on
traditions, religious thoughts, and more
cultural influences. Personal communication
with the patient is vital, but families can also
provide vital information of a patients life.
Some patients may tell their family members
that they are hurting, but when the nurse walks in they make a 180 turn. As said before some
patients do not want to be burdens so they do not speak a word.

The nursing profession is time consuming and at times difficult, but nurses knew what
they signed up for. It is a nurses duty to care for the lives that are placed in their hands. For
many individuals, time is not on their side.
Nurses on the other hand can have time on
their side.

Nurses need to make time to spend with their

patients; it does not have to be 30 minutes, but

30

seconds or a minute will do. A quick physical

assessment, or how do you feel? can make a

difference. Those who are slow and steady or fast do not always get the job done right. If nurses
and patients work as a team then things will get done in a timely matter and efficiently. It is
better to take the time to form a relationship with a patient, than wonder if there was anything
more you could have done to help.

References
Locsin, R. C., & Purnell, M. J. (2009). A contemporary nursing process: The (un)bearable weight
of knowing in nursing. New York, NY: Springer Publishing Company, LLC.