Dr. Lecturer Nuriye Pekcan, Deputy Head of the Department of Nursing at Üsküdar University Faculty of Health Sciences, drew attention to the indispensable role of nursing in modern healthcare services on the occasion of May 12-18 Nurses' Week.
What are the fundamental roles of nursing?
Noting the rapid developments in healthcare services from past to present, Dr. Lecturer Nuriye Pekcan stated, “Nursing is one of the cornerstones of modern healthcare services, carrying multi-dimensional responsibilities. According to the definition by the International Council of Nurses (ICN), a nurse is 'one who helps protect and promote the health of individuals, families, and communities, participates in healing and rehabilitation in case of illness, and contributes to the development and implementation of the healthcare team's therapeutic and educational plans.' Their fundamental roles include; the role of caregiver, therapeutic role, education and counseling role, patient advocacy role, research and development role, managerial role, and intervention role in crises and disasters.”
The nurse's role in the treatment process
Stating that patients' treatment process begins with the initial admission and evaluation phase, and the data obtained forms the basis for the treatment application and follow-up phase, Dr. Lecturer Nuriye Pekcan continued as follows:
“At this stage, not only the administration of treatment but also monitoring the response to treatment and potential side effects is important. As a healthcare professional who spends 24 hours with the patient and their family, the nurse is the first to notice the patient's emotional reactions such as anxiety, fear, and pain. Through this communication, the patient feels safe, and their adherence to treatment increases. It is also the nurse who must be prepared for sudden deteriorations in the patient's condition, provide first aid, and ensure necessary coordination, and in such situations, the ability to make quick decisions and implement them can be life-saving. Education on the effect of treatment, home care before discharge, medication use, lifestyle changes for a healthy life, and follow-up appointments is another important stage of the treatment process.”
They provide not only physical but also psychosocial support
Stating that humans should be addressed not only with their physical but also psychological and social dimensions, Dr. Lecturer Nuriye Pekcan said, “Therefore, the roles undertaken by nurses, addressing individuals in all their dimensions, are key to holistic recovery. The roles nurses undertake, especially in terms of psychosocial support, include the responsibility to maintain and support the patient's mental and emotional well-being beyond their physical health. To fulfill this responsibility, they must possess skills in providing emotional support, effective communication and listening with the patient and family, demonstrating cultural and social sensitivity, offering psychological first aid in moments of spiritual support and crisis, guiding patients with long-term chronic illnesses, building trust, and referring to social support resources when needed.”
The nursing profession faces many challenges
Stating that the nursing profession faces many challenges today, Dr. Lecturer Nuriye Pekcan listed these challenges as follows:
“Heavy workload and staff shortages; the high number of patients per nurse leads to nurses experiencing rapid physical and psychological burnout and wear and tear.
Low wages and economic inadequacy; nurses have insufficient salaries and personal rights compared to their labor.
Lack of professional prestige and negative societal perception; despite being one of the oldest professions with its own professional law, there are still segments of society who perceive nursing as 'doctor's assistant.'
Lack of managerial and institutional support; nurses' inability to participate in decision-making processes leads to the limitation of professional autonomy.
Differences in education and lack of standardization; variations in standards among educational institutions can create inequality in knowledge and skill levels after graduation.”
Burnout prevention support programs for healthcare professionals should be implemented
Stating that there could be different solutions to these problems, Dr. Lecturer Nuriye Pekcan listed the proposed solutions as follows:
“Increasing staff numbers and balancing the workload; nurse employment should be increased, and workload in hospitals should be distributed fairly.
Improving wage policies: Nurse salaries, on-call fees, and social rights should be revised in both public and private sectors to increase job satisfaction.
Public awareness campaigns: The prestige of the profession should be enhanced through projects emphasizing the academic, scientific, and professional aspects of nursing.
Psychological support and counseling services: Burnout prevention support programs for healthcare professionals should be implemented.
Developing professional autonomy: Nurses' participation in management processes should be increased, and their decision-making authority should be strengthened.
Standardization in education and continuous development: Quality standards should be ensured among nursing schools, and continuous professional development after graduation should be encouraged.”
Physician-nurse collaboration…
Noting that the collaborative work of nurses and physicians is indispensable for providing quality, safe, and effective patient care in modern healthcare services, Dr. Lecturer Nuriye Pekcan concluded by saying, “This collaboration should be built upon a balanced system where roles are clearly defined, based on mutual respect and communication. The balance between these two complementary professional groups directly determines the quality of healthcare services.”
