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Susan, a public health nurse (PHN) for several years, has been developing her skills as a family home-visiting nurse. She works with young families whom her supervisor has identified as high risk and has been slowly increasing her caseload. The population that Susan serves is composed of single, young mothers who need support with their parenting skills and identification of normal development for their children.
One of Susan's first families was a young mother named Julie with four children. Julie had her first child when she was 16 years old, and then she had two other children before moving to the community where Susan served as a PHN. Julie was not involved in a committed relationship and had no job. She became part of Susan's caseload when a Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) nurse referred her for a PHN baby visit after the birth of her fourth child.
During the baby visit, Susan established the foundation for a strong nurse-family relationship. Julie was open about many issues with Susan, including the fact that the two older children were living not with her but with each of their fathers. She told Susan that she was unable to be a “good mother” to them. She was excited about the birth of her new son. Susan explored Julie's strengths and needs with her. It was apparent that Julie could benefit from some parenting information and anticipatory guidance for the 2-year-old and newborn whom she planned to parent. Julie was interested in the program that Susan described, which entailed monthly visits until her newborn turned 3 years old or until she believed she was no longer benefiting from the program.
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SUSAN'S NOTEBOOK: COMPETENCY #8 Establishes and Maintains Caring Relationships with Communities, Systems, Individuals, and Families
Demonstrates trust, respect, empathy
Follows through with commitments
Maintains appropriate boundaries
Demonstrates tact and diplomacy
Seeks assistance when needed in managing relationships
Interacts with others in a culturally sensitive manner
Source: Henry Street Consortium, 2017
USEFUL DEFINITIONS Caring: “Means listening to ‘more than what is said’” (Schulte, 2000, p. 7); “facilitates the possibility for a client to feel hope for healing and comfort and/or develop resilience” (Warelow, Edward, & Vinek, 2008, p. 146); “creates a range of possibilities and can be the catalyst of change for the care recipient” (Warelow et al., 2008, p. 147).
Professional Relationships: “Key elements include: the need to listen well, establish trust, offer respect and advocacy, avoid power-over interactions and care of self in order to offer care for others” (Jackson, 2010, p. 181).
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Touching Lives Without Stepping on Toes
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It is probably not an exaggeration to state that most individuals who choose to become nurses have an inherent desire to care for other human beings. In some ways, caring is synonymous with nursing. As a profession, nursing is a process of assessment, planning, intervention, and evaluation ...