A chara, - Dr Bill Tormey (November 4th) suggests that the "academic pursuits" of nurses have replaced practical nurse training and that this has resulted in nurses' dissatisfaction with their caring and humane role.
These comments are without foundation and show little knowledge or understanding of current nursing practice or nurse education.
"The warm humanity of the caring nurse" to which Dr Tormey refers can be preserved only through academic education and clinical placements that are closely monitored and supervised. Student nurses today receive an education which is aimed at helping them to care more effectively as nurses, not as doctors' handmaidens or clinical technicians.
Assuming Dr Tormey spent a minimum of six years in university studying medicine, why has he a problem with nurses spending a minimum of three to four years studying nursing in the same environment? What could be so wrong with an educated nurse? - Is mise, Toni Ui Chiardha,
Nurse Tutor, An Spideal, Co. na Gaillimhe.