Health Care's Dreadful Decline In Care

I gave away wellness to satisfy the greed of care whi ch came out of Holy Orders, for I believed long ago that, "Care," was the link to health care which would never fail, and how wrong I was. I retired from nursing, and I am broken, for along with other nurses it felt as if we were always going to have a great revival when we could justify low pay, ever decreases in the quality of care compared to lining pockets of investors who expected dollars and not tender care for the fine buildings and the introduction of E-medicine. We used to walk around as new hires with such hope that our love and our care would speak to investor's hearts--But with each five year period we could look back to know that we were under pressure to bankroll all by our sacrifice and would be criticized, for we were never good enough; "No," our error was that across the country and as we see today, A primary goal was to perform so well that the gifts of money went every where but to us.

Not for one minute am I suggesting that money was the reason that we expected in our hands. It was what the patients could not be told, such things as, "You and your family are so cherished to make a donation sharing that you appreciated mine or our loving care." It's true that we would go home with aching backs and bones, and you've try to help us the workers, and we feel so rewarded--But if you read to the bottom; Dear friends, you are giving to a foundation. Meanwhile they've given us one less tech to help, and we will continue to eat on the run and to forget we were supposed to have breaks. Please look at the endless building going on in health centers. I hope some of it is done in a manner to decrease hospital borne illness, for as you'd hear on TV now and again--Disease travels, and we all have known buildings labeled as places which were best torn down. MRSA is still out there folks, and no matter what we do--There are care givers of other cultures for whom all of this hand washing seems like a waste of time, and going from one patient to the other can be treacherous, because when no one is observing; What's so special about these sick people which is not always endemic in other societies. Even Americans will feel, "I've got 6 patients and one morning before visitors arrive to see this family member.

Here I wish to tell you what good human beings most nurses are, and in every situation where I worked, I met the best of people. If only women can learn to be advocates for one another and more men will follow in the care giving professions--There is still hope that a hospital stay or whatever the setting--There are always those who are seeking to give you the care which was given by the Holy Orders who wanted you to heal, who prayed for you, and who'd come by just to hold a hand. Know that nurses go through extensive training, and are willing to work 36 hours with only 8 in between to fulfill a weeks obligation. For the few less kind, let us pray for them, for they are willing to give you their hearts, and I'll never forget those who were pure angels, those who taught me to look over the money barons who wanted a dividend. Our reward was seeing our patients get well or being with them if their earthly life was done. I love you my sisters and brothers with whom I practiced over 20 years. I pray for you in this world where too often the word, "Professional," does not apply. You are the salt of the earth, and if I came near earning all that you taught me, then I humbly envision us in our white dresses resting on a green and sweet lawn where we can rejoice in the presence of the dear ones with suffering laid aside as we share the keys one day where Heaven is revealed by the love we have sown. Blessings Always,

Barbara Everett Heintz, RN, BSN

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