Nurse patient relations

Background: The number of children with complex health care needs continues to rise and they often have prolonged hospital stays with their discharge home being delayed by a range of factors. These delays occur despite the fact that, except in extraordinary circumstances, a child's home is the most appropriate place for them to receive long-term care.

For community nurses, the first step in ensuring a carer's wellbeing is to be mindful of not adding to the person's burden themselves. To create and maintain safe and effective care for patients relies on collaboration between nurses and the families and carers, which may involve nurses delegating caring duties to a carer. But, in line with the professional code, this should only happen if the carer is competent, supervised, supported, and understands the task, its complexity and expected outcomes (Nursing and Midwifery Council, 2015).

The purpose of this study was to describe nurses' experiences of their collaboration and relationships with family members in institutional respite care for the elderly. The family has a particularly important role in respite care, which is an extension of care provided at home. However no published studies were found on this subject. The data were collected through qualitative interviews (N=22).

Family caregivers are indispensable, yet they often feel underappreciated and inadequately supported by nurses and social workers. When they visit a hospitalized loved one, they may never be asked, "How are you doing? How are you managing?" They need more help on two fronts: becoming better caregivers and avoiding becoming patients themselves.