tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2302677117804599190.post8541580847962933898..comments2024-01-31T13:16:16.882-05:00Comments on 2009: If Not, Why Not?2009http://www.blogger.com/profile/07452702718404792832noreply@blogger.comBlogger2125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2302677117804599190.post-66305317335314858612013-03-20T12:30:58.081-04:002013-03-20T12:30:58.081-04:00hi dan. thanks for writing (and reading!), and for...hi dan. thanks for writing (and reading!), and for your encouraging comments. you're right, of course, that in an underfunded system with inadequate staff to patient ratios, the chances for the full range of supportive kinds of communication i discuss are diminished, to say the least. on the other hand, even small adjustments can make large differences. i remember a patient who was always asking staff, "What do I do? What am I supposed to do NOW?" most times, the staff just told her. but one day this one very forthright nurse said, "You seem like a capable person. I'm sure you can work it out." the patient's mouth literally dropped open in shock, but after some dithering and grumbling, she did in fact hit on a course of action. even if it hadn't gone that way, that day, she received a vote of confidence in her own abilities. all these years later, i still remember it. still, it's hard to bring those kinds of fine discriminations (right time? right person? right approach?) to bear when you're just rushing from task to demanding task. i don't know what the answer is, but i know that large-scale change will only come when mental health care is considered on an equal footing with all other kinds of health care by both the health care system and the public--as it most certainly isn't now. in the meantime, though, i think all of us can try to modify our language use and make a difference in our own circles. every day i catch myself making missteps that unwittingly perpetuate powerlessness and negativity, then correct them (maybe with the same person, maybe another) in a more positive direction. a work-in-progress, these continual veerings off track and course corrections. an art and a science...and i applaud anyone's who's trying to practice it mindfully, as you obviously are. kudos to you! i'm sure your efforts are making a huge difference. all best, mike.2009https://www.blogger.com/profile/07452702718404792832noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2302677117804599190.post-40097341573392494462013-03-18T15:53:40.449-04:002013-03-18T15:53:40.449-04:00Hi Mike,
My name is Dan Murphy and I am the Presi...Hi Mike, <br />My name is Dan Murphy and I am the President of the Union of Psychiatric Nurses of British Columbia. I am also a Psychiatric Nurse. Your article really spoke to me about your philosophy of grounding human interactions in supportive mutuality. Though we are taught as psychiatric nurses to listen and respect the lived experience of those we work with and support them in finding what course of action/treatment they believe is in their best interest all to often the systems we work within does not afford us the time to follow this way of caring. It is wrong and as I sat and read your articles I found myself reflecting on the continuous stream of stories from psychiatric nurses that tell of their situations where they are forced to work in nurse to patient ratios that leave them with little time to build this mutual respect without feeling like another patient is being left behind or neglected. Beyond my union frustrations I just want to say you are so right and I respect that when you found the one person who empowered you to learn and teach to best ellevate yourself to the most healthy and productive you can be at any given moment you were willing share and teach others about what works. I agree 100%. Cheers Mike.dan murphynoreply@blogger.com