The Heartbeat of the Health System, Nurses or Doctors?
How would a hospital work without nurses or doctors? People who are hospitalized have to deal with many different people, varying from administrative staff and laboratory personnel to radiology technicians, among others. Although nurses and doctors are the main characters because both of them are healthcare professionals who perform activities to improve the health and the quality of life of people, nurses are valued in a special form. Even though doctors receive more recognition as professionals, nurses carry most of the responsibility while caring for the health of a patient in the hospital setting.
It is known that the more time people spend together, the closer the relationship is between them. Due to the nurses' role, their activities require them to spend a considerable amount of time with each one of their patients. This process leads nurses to develop a closer relationship with each patient which enables a special bond. Nurses get to know every person in a more intimate way. But it is not only a close relationship that is developed between patient and nurse, nurses can identify emergencies or threats to the patient's life, needs, fears, or even personal problems and this allows nurses to act in an efficient and immediate way when needed. On the other hand, doctors are required to make only a couple of short visits to their patients per day or even less. They are not assigned to a certain area for long periods of time, so it is more complicated for them to grow a close relationship with their patients.
Becoming a doctor is hard. Medical students have to spend ten to twelve years in medical school in order to obtain a degree, plus two or three more years to earn a specialty. Different from this, nurses do not have to go to nursing school for so many years. They usually spend about five to seven years studying. In addition, they spend one to two years to pursue a specialization. Nowadays, nurses have become more educated and prepared in a professional way. What used to be an occupation merely related to assisting a doctor and a patient, now is a more complex profession where nurses can act within their scope of practice in an independent way.
Nurses and doctors perform different activities in relation to the patient. Nurses' activities require them to intervene in most of the processes a patient goes through during hospitalization. From the admission to the discharge, nurses are responsible for recording and tracking diagnostic studies, interventions, procedures, surgeries, rehabilitation processes and monitor that these are performed according to the hospital protocols and doctors’ orders. Nurses must always be prepared and one step ahead of everyone to prevent complications and ensure the wellbeing of the patient. On the other hand, doctors are more likely to intervene in the diagnostic process, surgical procedures, and prescription of treatment.
Nurses’ and doctors’ roles in the hospital vary widely, but both are dedicated to the recovery of the patient. However, nurses share more time with the patient which creates a different and special bond. The nurse-patient relationship is more close and constant while a patient stays in the hospital, and therefore the nurse is considered more important and necessary for patient care.
