1. Nurses should have more involvement and influence on health care services. B9802006 劉仲淇

2. Nurses’ influence Do you think that nurses have their influence in the health care system? And how?

3. A New Survey... “ A new survey finds that an overwhelming majority of opinion leaders say nurses should have more influence.” “But these opinion leaders…see significant barriers that prevent nurses from fully participating as leaders in health and health care.”

4. A real nurse? Henderson (1991, p.21) said, “The unique function of the nurse is to assist the individual, sick or well, in the performance of those activities contributing to health or its recovery…”

5. A real nurse? “The nurse is, and should be legally an independent practitioner who is able to make independent judgments as long as he, or she, is not diagnosing, prescribing treatment for disease, or making a prognosis.”

6. A real nurse? “Wade (1999) suggests that nurses should be concerned about doing the right thing for the patent at the right time, while engaging in collective enterprise with other health care professionals.”

7. A real nurse? Combining these 2 statements, we can see that nurses, who are independent practitioners and participate in the multi- disciplinary team, should assist the patient in the process of treatment.

8. But most often… There is a general perception that nurses are just obediently supporting medical practitioners, subservient as the doctor’s handmaiden, with little independent professional and academic knowledge (Howard, 2001).  supportive, passive and subordinate…

9. From Time (Mar. 14, 1988), “…the medical community has depended on nurses as a source of cheap but versatile labor…” “…nurses aren’t content to be the housewives of the hospital anymore…”

10. From the above… We can see that the role of a nurse does not change much in the past 20 years. They are perceived as a housewives, handmaiden…and do not seem to have much impact and influence on the health care services.

11. After all… Nurses are often the first to spot trouble, make sense of a patient’s confusing symptoms or suggest a needed change in treatment. Opinion leaders view nurses as one of the most trusted sources of health information.

12. After all… Nurses have very frequent contact with patients and family. They have a pivotal role in advocating for patients where they need further assistance in making decisions. Nurses are accustomed to working in teams and in community settings. This is important for the modern fragmental machine-based health care system.

13. What to do… Increase in funds to expand and upgrade the nurse workforce Health policies that recognize the skill and capabilities of nurses – E.g. nurse midwives would increase their reimbursement rate from the current 65% to 100% of the reimbursement that a physician would receive for performing the service

14. What to do… Convey correct images to nursing students and admit boys into the department of nursing so as to change the role of being a handmaiden or housewives Make use of the power of media – Media has a great impact on the general perception of the population

15. Can you think of any other possible ways that can enhance the influence of nurses?

16. Thank you for your attention!