I shudder to think about what might happen to me if I were to become ill. I’d be at the mercy of my caretakers, so I have to pray that they’d be caring, conscientious health care professionals who take pride in giving care to their patients.
Sadly, though, I fear patients no longer receive the care that was taught 30 years ago. Because taking care of the sick really is an art, it’s not something that anyone can do.
To understand how to give holistic care, the whole individual is treated because the mind, body and spirit are intricately connected. This means spending time at the bedside talking and listening to patients, getting to know them and how best to assist in their recovery. It’s not about clicking boxes in an electronic medical record. Nurses need their eyes and ears, their hands and touch, empathy and compassion, and mostly their experience to know when a patient is taking a turn for the worse or getting out of the woods.
There’s no substitute for hands-on nursing care or the intuition that comes from years of experience. Instead of focusing on the patient to assess wound healing, give discharge instructions or assist a stroke victim with bathing, brushing teeth and changing into clean clothes, the patient is neglected.
Healing is not just about giving the correct dose of medicines. It’s about the human touch and making the patient feel good — and yes, the daily bed bath is about giving that care. Today a “bed bath” means using a chemically soaked non-biodegradable wipe that isn’t economical or reusable. If patients don’t have someone to assist with personal care, then it doesn’t happen.
What exactly has nursing become?
The dignity of the sick is forgotten when a toothbrush isn’t even offered to a patient. Nursing has become an unconscionable masquerade of electronics. Nursing doesn’t happen in computers but at the bedside. And this must not be forgotten because we all become patients one way or another and our lives depend on excellent nursing care.
SUSAN GYORKY
Fairlee
A recent letter from Samuel Killay indicated that people (and there are many) who are offended by Claremont’s display of gay pride flags and symbols should “just not look at them” (“Double standards in Claremont,” June 20).
It might have saved many column inches of Forum controversy if Deb Beaupre had received similar advice concerning her spotting a Confederate flag in a field somewhere in our area (“Life Here: The Valley is beautiful, except for this symbol,” May 25).
While I realize that flag is potentially a symbol of racism and hate, especially for people of color, could there be a legitimate historical reason for its display (other than a Dukes of Hazzard reunion)?
For example, there are some Civil War re-enactors in the Upper Valley, and we know who won that war. Maybe some investigation would have been more constructive than threatening to leave town, because even in the worst-case scenario as to someone’s intent of flying that Confederate flag, there is far more love and support than hate in our community.
As far as the proposed detour of Interstate 89 northbound traffic through West Lebanon during bridge reconstruction, why route traffic off I-89 at Exit 20 when rerouting at Exit 19 would allow traffic to remain on Route 4 and avoid using a narrow and decrepit railroad overpass on Route 12A, itself in urgent need of replacement?
Speaking of crumbling bridges, maybe Congress needs to explain to voters why it is working overtime to further derail Donald Trump’s presidency through endless investigations and threats of impeachment when our nation’s infrastructure is not being addressed.
The voters elected Trump to do his job and members of Congress to do theirs. Instead, what we see is Democratic presidential hopefuls grandstanding in support of their political aspirations to the neglect of the duties for which they were elected.
Many Democrats are hoping the 2020 elections will be Trump’s undoing. I suggest they might do well to prepare for their own day of reckoning.
Voters are intelligent and they do have extremely insightful memories.
WILLIAM A. WITTIK
Hartford
There was a nice feature photograph of Vermont Army National Guard Sgt. Maj. Jeff Goodrich in the Memorial Day edition (“Norwich Remembers,” May 27). Goodrich is quite a guy, having attained the rank of sergeant major, the highest non-commissioned rank in the Army. If it weren’t behind the Boy Scout in the photo, you’d see his unusual insignia: “three up, three down,” plus a star and a wreath.
We remember Goodrich when he coached the Hanover 7-8 football team in the 1990s, and what a great role model he’s been.
Thanks for all you’ve done, Jeff.
MICHAEL WHITMAN
Lyme
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