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Friday, May 30, 1997     Page:

Professionalism, dedication will guide caregivers through era of change
   
Much has been published lately about who will take care of hospitalized
patients. With managed care came “downsizing” and now the fear of
    “down-skilling.” Will it be a nurse or an inexperienced aide making
judgments on patient’s care?
   
When hospitalization becomes necessary, a person is apprehensive about the
questions: What treatments are needed? Will I get well? When can I go home?
The last thing a patient should have to worry about is whether a competent
caregiver is at his bedside.
   
Working at Wyoming Valley Health Care System for well over twenty years has
been an experience in evolution. Changes in the structure of the hospital, its
administration, staffing policies, and unionization of its RNs have all had
impacts, both good and bad.
   
But never has the patient been put at risk due to poor caregivers under my
watch, and I would expect the same observation from the majority of nurses at
WVHCS. Unionized or not, RNs with true concern for their patients monitor
their care and those to whom they delegate responsibilities.
   
Many felt a union was the only way to ensure this. Are more changes in
health care coming? Absolutely — and diligent observation in this area is a
must to protect every patient.
   
All caregivers have skill to offer, be they RNs, LPNs or NAs. I have
continued faith in this hospital to safeguard the high quality of all its
practitioners.
   
Gretchen Homza
   
Registered nurse
   
Wilkes-Barre