About Us
All nurses know that their mantra is “Caring Is the Essence of Nursing.” But are we truly seeing high-quality caring for our patients these days? Are we, perhaps, underestimating the power of a touch, a smile, a kind word, a listening ear, a personal name, an honest compliment, or the smallest act of caring, all of which have the potential to turn a life around? Do you hear family members complaining about the care that a family member has received from a nurse?
Sure, a nurse may have many patients to care for, but a smile, a touch, a compliment does not take much time away from a busy schedule. Can any of your patients truly say “I have been touched by a nurse.” Have nurses been so diverted by the roles of researcher, teacher, nurse practitioner, clinical specialist, theorist, or other professional requirements that essential nursing has been crowded out? What nurses need is a reinvigoration in the spirit of caring for our patients. We need to get back on the right track.
In light of this need, a group of us has formed an “Association of Nurses Working For Our Patients,” which was created in response to patients lacking a voice in the restructuring of the health care provided to victims of the Katrina hurricane in New Orleans, Louisiana and to the thought that people affected by future disasters anywhere in the world might suffer these same consequences.
The Association of Nurses Working for Our Patients has expanded its goals to work toward the improvement of health standards and availability of healthcare services for all people, and to assist healthcare practitioners in providing caring and quality patient care. Health education is a major focus in enabling patients to improve their health. It is the intent of Association of Nurses Working for Our Patients to involve nurses everywhere in working for patients by protecting their human rights, giving voice to the voiceless, and reinvigorating the caring element of nursing care.
Betty Fomby-White, PhD, RN
President
Association of Nurses Working for Our Patients
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