Authors

  1. Groll, Marlene RN
  2. Newton, Sharon PhD, RN
  3. Clark, Lee A. BS, RN

Article Content

Keeping the faith

As a parish nurse, I was happy to read "Nursing in the Faith Community" (Professional Growth, January 2011). After many years of hospital nursing and a knee replacement, I took a 3-day intensive course offered by a university and began to work part-time as a parish nurse, as we're known in my Lutheran denomination. We have a district parish nurse network that lets us get together with other parish nurses to study and share ideas.

  
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I work mostly with older adults but also serve anyone who needs my services. I loved my years of hospital nursing and have found my experience helpful in teaching, working with families, and helping them make decisions regarding advance directives. I listen and am able to pray with them and, especially with home visits, do a short devotion with them.

 

-MARLENE GROLL, RN

 

Melrose Park, Ill.

 

Nip gossip in the bud

I'm responding to "Confidentiality: Silly Story or Garden-Variety Gossip?" (Ethical Problems, February 2011).* This involved a nurse who told her patient an amusing (she thought) story about her surgeon, frightening the patient and angering the physician.

 

When I was in college in the 1960s, Rotary International's Four-Way Test was posted in every room. I'd recommend it to anyone.

 

Before speaking, ask yourself the following questions:

 

"1. Is it the truth?

 

2. Is it fair to all concerned?

 

3. Will it build goodwill and better friendships?

 

4. Will it be beneficial to all concerned?"1

 

-SHARON NEWTON, PhD, RN

 

Fort Davis, Tex.

 
 

1. Rotary International. The Four-Way Test. http://www.rotary.org/en/aboutus/rotaryinternational/guidingprinciples/Pages/rid. [Context Link]

No place for placebos

 

In "Placebos: No Place in Pain Management"* (Controlling Pain, January 2011), the authors report that some healthcare providers still use placebos such as 0.9% sodium chloride injections to manage patients' pain. As the authors stress, placebos should be used only in approved clinical trials with full disclosure; they're not acceptable for managing pain.

 

Administering a placebo in place of pain medication violates the nursing code of ethics. By working with the patient, nurses and healthcare providers can keep the patient as comfortable as possible.

 

-LEE A. CLARK, BS, RN

 

Plymouth, Mass.

 

* Individual subscribers can access articles free online at http://www.nursing2011.com, where everyone can access Lippincott's 2011 Career Directory. [Context Link]