Falling apart

I'm a qualified nurse as well as being an artist. Although my art funds me to an extent I still work as a nurse, until the time comes that I no longer have to. I enjoy intensive care nursing. It's a dynamic and rewarding occupation. It can also, as you may expect, be a very sad and emotionally draining experience. I work with some very dedicated people who go well out of their way to ensure patient safety, and support for relatives. This is however one of the problems. Due to the type of people the medical professions attract, it is easy for the government to manipulate them.

Doctors, nurses and many other individuals in the multi speciality team provide a lot of tasks out of good will. Staying late after work, taking on extended roles and working under great stress is not unusual for them. While all this care is going on, the government are busy devising ways in which they can make cut backs, and prey upon the good will that the clinicians provide. Producing figures to impress the public is what the government is good at. This of course is all deceit. The public who are told this  'rubbish'  by the government are the very people who are going to suffer in a health care system which is slowly dying.

If the health care personnel, which I am part of, withdrew the good will on which the NHS depends it would fall apart overnight. In the meantime the workload increases, resources become less, staff become fatigued and demotivated and most of all patient safety is put at risk. Of course the government counter this by producing more and more paperwork which dissociates them from any blame. This paperwork isn't filled in by them of course, it is filled in by the medical team  (Dr's, nurses et al) who could be dedicating time to patient care.

All of this means that priorities have to be devised, as they always have been. However in the current climate it means that good basic care such as hygiene needs, psychological support, relatives updates etc are simply not able to be met. This is NOT because the nursing and medical personnel don't want to do it, it is because they can't. I am sure that if you asked most nurses if they feel any guilt, after working a shift, due to basic care needs that have not been  met, it will be approaching 100%.

I plan to leave nursing soon. I am fortunate enough to have an alternative source of income which is gradually increasing. Many of my friends and colleagues however will stay, some because they want to but most because they have to. They are a dedicated body of people who do a job which is like no other. Saving lives daily as a matter of course under great pressure. Due to this I ask only one thing. When you see a Dr, Nurse or other related health professional, think about the good will they bring to their job to look after your loved ones. They entered their respective careers because they put people first, not money or paperwork. Don't have a go at a nurse because you have had to wait longer than you expected, write a letter or email to your MP, because they are the ones responsible for your valuable and unique health service deteriorating.

Decisions

Due to some recent progressions in my art career, I decided to start my blog again. Experiences in New York have changed my world, and my finances, and I hope to soon give up my primary career as that of a nurse, which I can genuinely say I shall miss, especially the wonderful friends I have made. My website continues although needs updating, I would appreciate your time if you can afford a look. Thank you very much :D

www.andypips.com