Supercharging into the 21st Century

Nursing has always been about serving those in need. Identifying, collaborating and achieving the best in often trying circumstances. All hours, locations and all manner of human dramas. I recall one of my first placements in a busy Melbourne emergency department. It was about 3am when I heard loud cheering. The whole department was joining in to cheer on an old homeless person who was ready to leave. I guess they had got to know him. Today the human dramas are ever present but the health care system is more streamlined for fast entry and exit. There are short stay wards and the wards are encouraged to ‘pull’ their patients to the ward. Gone are the days when orderlies seemed no where to be found(?!) and nurses were doing everything from serving the meals on a plates to cleaning all the equipment and beds. ‘Nurse, quick that bed needs carbolizing.’ There were pan rooms full to overflowing for that junior nurse to attend to and we were expected to bring all the meals to the patients, do the flowers And chase down any out standing specimens to the lab. The hospital I did my nursing training in was demolished about 20 years ago, it was massively outdated. The new hospitals, nurses and health care of the 21st century are about what works in promoting health and well being. Encouraging people to be the best they can be rather than just patch up jobs. We await the future and the role nurses will play in making a difference to those in need, in whatever setting that may be.