How Well Do We Know the Patients We "Know Best"?

Abstract

T Is not uncommon to hear nurses say that more studies should be done in the hospital-after all, it is in the hospital, not the classroom, where nursing is practiced. And since hospital routines seem to reflect the assumption that all patients must want the same things, it is not surprising that nurses are becoming concerned with the question, How well do we really know the patients whom we think we know best? Both general impressions and previous observation indicate that it is not easy for the nurse to look at hospital practices and personnel from the viewpoint of the patient. Yet it is the patient's viewpoint which is reflected in his confidence in personnel, his readiness to learn about his condition, and his satisfaction with the quality of care. Thus it is extremely important to be able to determine the ability of the nurse to recognize both the similarities and differences of attitudes displayed by her patients. The present article describes how a study grew out of questions raised by the comments of patients and nurses and how it was decided to go about answering these questions. A later article will present the findings of the study.