Understanding
a pivotal role
Trustee
Annie Hastings spent a day 'on the road' with a Dorothy House
Nurse Specialist. This is her account of the experience ...
I
SPENT a fascinating day with the Nurse Specialist who
covers the Melksham and Corsham areas.
We visited four patients
through the day. One was in hospital, with plans to go home, and
our visit was to check that arrangements were progressing, and
to discuss his medication and nutrition with the hospital nurses.
Nurse Specialists have a key role in liaising with and advising
other health professionals about medication.
Another patient was
described as probably 'being near the ceiling with anxiety', and
she certainly showed those symptoms when we arrived. By the time
we left, the Nurse Specialist had not only brought her smoothly
down to earth, but had covered all aspects of her condition and
care, and suggested a respite stay in the Unit - but making sure
it represented the patient's positive choice.
A third patient was
nearing the end of his life, and had a bed booked at the Unit,
to come in later that day for medical assessment. This visit was
to ensure that everything was in place, and to clarify with him
just what he wanted to happen, which was to return home to die.
The fourth patient
had started attending Day Care, and was coping with severe illness
in a close family member, in addition to her own.
Through all these visits,
I saw the nurse using many different skills and approaches, masterfully
assessing the 'here and now', but underpinning all with a keen
nursing role and the ability to work out the patients' symptoms
and pain levels. She took almost no notes, so could have unbroken
discussions. She would write up her visits later that day or even
the next morning - a considerable feat of observation and memory.
We had lunch with a
couple of District Nurses in a GP surgery, which happens regularly
and gave an opportunity to share work with colleagues.
By the end of the day
I really understood the pivotal role of the Nurse Specialists
and their links with the In-patient Unit and Day Care. I was delighted
to have had this opportunity and was extremely impressed with
their work as part of the hospice care offered by Dorothy House.