The following text may have been generated by Optical Character Recognition, with varying degrees of accuracy. Reader beware!

WHITBY FREE PRESS. WEDNF-IDTAY. OCTOBER 14,.1987, PAGE 25 GW HIER A, By BRIAN WINTER Nursing has corne a long way sin- ce Florence Nightingale's time. But the basis of nursing is still the same: "Caring for the Patient." And the nursing staff at Whitby General do this very well, says Gloria Tuck, director of nursing. Despite a multitude of pressures currently bombarding the nursing profession -computerization, financial restraints, pressures to upgrade one's education and bet- ter-educated patients who demand more sophisticated care -the nur- sing staff at Whitby General take pride in staying current and in- volved in hospital activities, says Tuck. Her job is to speak for the nursing staff, represent them in the com- munity and in other health care facilities, promote nursing and guide the practice of nursing. Nursing at Whitby General is practised using two different modes of care. One, primary nur- sing, known for increasing a nur- se's independence and job satisfac- tion, is used on the continuing care unit. each client for the duration of his/her stay, and is responsible for the care given to the client at all. times. She plans for the care, communicates with the doctor, family and other professionals, and gives care when she is on duty. Other nurses who care for her client must follow her plan. On the medical/surgical units, total patient care is practised: patients are assigned to a nurse on a shift basis. That nurse provides the majority of care for the patient during the eight-hour period. "Both methods are designed to decrease the number of care givers that any one patient has," says Tuck. "We hope the patient gets to know his own nurse, and knows who to contact when help is needed." With six and a half years as director of nursing at Whitby General, Tuck is responsible for T he nursing program about 150 full-time and part-time staff. They include administrative staff, 22 nurses in the emergency department, 11 in the operating room, 60 for the medical/surgical units and 31 in longterm care. The units are divided between three nurse managers who direct the planning and activities on their individual units as part of their role. The majority of nurses at Whitby General work two shifts in- terchangeably, so that they are not always on the same shift. The day shift is from 7:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.; evening shift from 3:30 to 11:30 p.m.; and night shift from 11:30 p.m. to 7:30 a.m. Tuck's secretary also functions as staffing clerk, and keeps the part-time nurses schedules in order. The majority of staff work days because that is when there is the most patient care activity and when most doctors visit their patients. "There are fewer staff on the evening shift and about two nurses for each area at night compared to five to seven on days," says Tuck. Evening and night hours are managed by nursing co-ordinators who also oversee the whole hospital since all other departments, except security, are not staffed after 5 p.m. A nurse has much responsibility since he/she is the one who is in contact with the patient 24 hours a day. It is the nurse who is most likely to detect an emergency and to react in life-threatening situations. If a patient experiences cardiac arrest, severe difficulties in breathing or sudden hemmorhage, it is the nurse who will identify the problem, respond immediately to provide care, and call other mem- bers of the health care team for role for nurses, whereby the nurse role for nurses,whereby the nurse works with many other professionals to co-ordinate the care of the patient," says Tuck. "The nurses are active participants on a variety of interdisciplinary committees that review a patient's care and needs. "We look at a patient as a whole person, not just a person with a heart attack." Each patient is reviewed on a weekly basis by the interdisciplinary committee, con- sisting of the chaplain, discharge planner, physiotherapist, senior nurse, physician and dietitian. Both registered nurses and registered nursing assistants work in the nursing department at Whit- by General. A registered nurse may have been trained in a three- year program in a hospital, a two- year or two-and-a-half year program in a community college, or be a graduate of a four-year university program. All nurses, however, must pass a written examination before they can be registered by the College of Nurses of Ontario, the governing body which sets standards for the profession in this province. "All nurses at Whitby General Hospital are registered with the College of Nurses," says Tuck Registered nursing assistants usually graduate from a one-year program at a community college. They must also write an exam set by the College of Nurses of Ontario before being registered. SEE PAGE 27 GLORIA TUCK assistance. "This would happen most often in the emergency and intensive care unit, but it can also happen in less critical areas," says Tuck. "The nurse has to be prepared at all times to cope with this kind of thing." The doctor handles the medical aspect of the patient's care, but the nurse must be sure about any order that is carried out. The nurse is ac- countable for his or her own action, so must be sure the correct medication is given and in the right dosage. Since nursing is based on a scien- ce as well as an art, there is a distinct role for nurses as indepen- dent practitioners. Health promotion, counselling families as well as patients and teaching patients about lifestyle and coping mechanisms are top priority with nurses at Whitby General. "There is also an interdependent Anderson CVInews...... FROM PAGE 23 ball but just missed it by a fraction of an inch. Despite the mud, rain and cold weather, our girls played extremely well. The junior boys' soccer team continued to prove their strength as they battled against Harwood last week and had to settle for a tie. All season, our boys have showed their skill and talent and pose a definite threat to all other teams in the league. With their determination, they might just "take it all" this year! We know you can do it guys - keep working! Switching now to the academic scene, those students planning on at- tending university next fall should keep their eyes and ears open as videos and seminars are being offered this week and next, during lun- chtime, and on your spares. See the bulletin board outside the main of- fice for more details. In the upcoming weeks, for Oct. 23 to be exact, commencement will take place at ACVI (post-commencement ceremonies at D.M.'s house). I, along with many others, look forward to the valedictory address to be given by Lucy Haringa who is now attending York University. I guarantee you, it will be something to remember! (Won't it, Luce?) Just before I finish up here, congratulations to "Duck's Devils," the Grade 13 homeroom volleyball champions! CALLA Sewing Machine Repairs Ali Makes Complete ture-up $29 95. Reconditioned Sowing Machines From $49.00 571-1385 Top Une Sewing Centre 400 King St.VV., Dines Plaza, Oshawa BRIAN DEEGAN DENTURE TH ERAPY CLINIC HARWOOD AVE. S. AJAX, ONTARIO 683-6074 BUYING AN ANNUITY? If you are, and you wish to secure a payout annuity from - your RRSP, cali: HERB TRAN OSHAWA 725-6564 Whitby 668-5968 TOP 5 QUOTES AVAILABLE gHLSL D. W. KIRNER & ASSOCIATES Fin1'imc-ial .Adv1isoprs .In Ret.iremient Planning Hrokers of RRSP'S GIC'S, RRIF'S, ANNUITIES & INVESTMENT FUNDS Rates fromr over I <>(> inancial institutions Pi blic Seminflars & prilvaef consultation at 'o ?Charge or O1bligation 571-0771 7- iSimcoe S. S.. Sie 303. Box 133. Oshaca.' Ont. . LI H NA A»ý 9@ftý A»ý dmlàý d»ý dlmbý Ambý AMIK mý Al&ý