In response to the My Turn (1/9), my deepest sympathy to John Rodgers. As a retired RN BS of a 50 year nursing career, I am dismayed by the lack of empathy in healthcare. I understand there is a staff shortage but it is evident even when staffing is adequate. The corporate business model is incongruent with giving empathetic, quality patient care. Physicians should not be required to make healthcare decisions based on time restraints and criteria dictated to them by non medical CEOs. Patient care is not a cookie cutter experience. Discharge decisions must be in accordance with the physician’s medical knowledge and the medical status of a specific patient and not by corporate or other criteria. The final patient discharge decision is the physician’s.

Empathetic care from the nursing staff includes not only having a strong clinical and scientific background but also from learning the art of nursing. Not only is it necessary to know the anatomical location of the vein for venipuncture but it also requires the art of touch to avoid the complication of a phlebitis. Expecting patients to undergo painful office procedures without administering lidocaine and waiting the 1-2 minutes for it to become effective is indicative of a lack of empathy. Nursing students need to develop the art of nursing. I disagree with the fundamentals of nursing being taught using a plastic mannequin. The art of nursing is acquired through hands on care with patients for at least one year of bedside/clinical nursing.

Paula Czech Lesmerises

Concord