Debt of gratitude owed by State to nurses on Covid frontline
Tuesday May 12, 2020Enhanced community supports must become reality post Covid-19
12th May 2020: On International Nurses Day, NHI has heralded the pivotal role fulfilled by nurses in nursing homes on the frontline during Covid-19. The organisation called for health authorities to strengthen support of the role post Covid-19. Tadhg Daly, NHI CEO states: “Across Ireland, we’ve over 500 nursing homes providing absolutely essential care to 30,000 people, with the clinical role fulfilled by our nurses integral to care in the community. Nurses, along with their colleagues, have displayed tremendous commitment and resilience under extremely strenuous circumstances to continue providing specialist care to our most vulnerable during this health pandemic. Care of the older person is complex and thus requires a specific knowledgebase and clinical expertise which is provided by nurses working with older people in nursing homes. It is based on the science and art of a person-centred gerontological model of care. The State owes a great debt of gratitude to our nurses and their colleagues in nursing home care.
“Gerontological nursing is a unique nursing speciality requiring particular expertise. Nursing home residents present with complex healthcare needs and nurses operating in these specialist gerontological settings are required to apply clinical judgment and undertake diagnostic decisions to identify the best approach to meet the clinical and healthcare needs of older people. These specialist nurses bring expertise and unparalleled knowledge to their discipline. Expertise in gerontological nursing care extends beyond management of health conditions to promote person-centred care.
“Post Covid-19, there is a requirement to enhance the supports provided by allied health services to support nurses and their colleagues in meeting the complex healthcare needs of nursing home residents. Nurses are frustrated in their day-to-day support of nursing home residents by delays arising in accessing allied health services that are essential to support residents medical and care needs. There is requirement to look at the support structures in place to support older people and those supporting their healthcare needs post Covid-19.”
ENDS
NHI CEO Tadhg Daly is available for further comment. Contact Michael McGlynn, NHI Communications & Research Executive, at 087 9082970.