MooseMom- There is a culture, that lies within the dialysis environment, quite different from anything I have seen in any work-environment that I have experienced in thirty years of mostlly healthcare. Part of the problem is that there is a lack of role models in many of the facilities -- the other problem is the basic, as you say, 'compassion'. My father often said that if staff don't care they should not be working in healthcare -- Providers do NOT train and educate staff in areas such as 'what the patient is experiencing both mentally and physically..." Further, they do not provide training/education in areas e.g. patients are a real part of the team. By this I mean that patients are fully included to the point that they are, if they want, provided the same information that staff receive - this way patients, and their loved ones (if allowed in the unit) can prevent mistakes from happening. There is this type of culture that encourages a quite dysfunctional working environment -- the need to be liked by your peers results in staff overlooking wrongdoings, etc. I remember, when my father started dialysis, I asked a technician, now an RN, what would happen if this staff observed someone not dong what they should (related to infection prevention) .. we were told, in so many words, that it would basically overlooked as that is how things are done. I watched caring staff pick up bad habits when they precepted with another tech..
opinions of Roberta Mikles
www.qualitiysafepatientcare.com
I Hate Dialysis Message Board
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