Insulted‚ beaten-up and in some cases raped by the very people they have to serve and care for. These are common dangers faced by nurses at public health facilities-at the hands of nasty patients.
A 26-year-old nurse who has worked at one of the township clinics in Tshwane for two years said the “horrible” treatment meted out on nurses by patients‚ particularly at township clinics on weekend nights‚ was unbearable.
“An intoxicated patient would stagger in with stab wounds‚ accompanied by similarly drunk companions‚ and start demanding immediate attention. When you try to explain that there are more urgent cases‚ you get slapped‚ or even worse‚ stabbed. Working night shifts on weekends at a township clinics is every nurses’ nightmare‚” she said.
The attitude of patients towards nurses featured prominently on Tuesday when nurses from Tshwane region gathered in Akasia to celebrate International Nurses Day‚ held annually on May 12 to acknowledge the contribution of nurses to society. The day also marks the birthday of Florence Nightingale‚ who is considered the founder of modern nursing.
The nobility of the profession has been marred by complaints of bad attitude by nurses towards patients but registered professional nurse at Kalafong hospital in Atteridgeville‚ Silindile Madlophe lamented that the “community do not like us...before people used to stand up and give the nurse a seat in a bus but now we are blamed for everything”.
Eaulanda Mabusela‚ a qualified nurse and Tshwane MMC for health and social development‚ said attacks on nurses were common at Kgabo clinic in Mabopane‚ where a nurse was also raped‚ and at Soshanguve Block BB clinic.
“It is sad the way the public treat our nurses...I was so disturbed by these attacks because they were not happening for the first time. This has to stop...just close your eyes and imagine a world without a nurse‚” she said.
Mabusela added that the attacks troubled her so much that she wanted to close the Soshanguve clinic at night but did not go through with it as it would deny people who behave health care
‘Weekends at a township clinics every nurses' nightmare’
Insulted‚ beaten-up and in some cases raped by the very people they have to serve and care for. These are common dangers faced by nurses at public health facilities-at the hands of nasty patients.
A 26-year-old nurse who has worked at one of the township clinics in Tshwane for two years said the “horrible” treatment meted out on nurses by patients‚ particularly at township clinics on weekend nights‚ was unbearable.
“An intoxicated patient would stagger in with stab wounds‚ accompanied by similarly drunk companions‚ and start demanding immediate attention. When you try to explain that there are more urgent cases‚ you get slapped‚ or even worse‚ stabbed. Working night shifts on weekends at a township clinics is every nurses’ nightmare‚” she said.
The attitude of patients towards nurses featured prominently on Tuesday when nurses from Tshwane region gathered in Akasia to celebrate International Nurses Day‚ held annually on May 12 to acknowledge the contribution of nurses to society. The day also marks the birthday of Florence Nightingale‚ who is considered the founder of modern nursing.
The nobility of the profession has been marred by complaints of bad attitude by nurses towards patients but registered professional nurse at Kalafong hospital in Atteridgeville‚ Silindile Madlophe lamented that the “community do not like us...before people used to stand up and give the nurse a seat in a bus but now we are blamed for everything”.
Eaulanda Mabusela‚ a qualified nurse and Tshwane MMC for health and social development‚ said attacks on nurses were common at Kgabo clinic in Mabopane‚ where a nurse was also raped‚ and at Soshanguve Block BB clinic.
“It is sad the way the public treat our nurses...I was so disturbed by these attacks because they were not happening for the first time. This has to stop...just close your eyes and imagine a world without a nurse‚” she said.
Mabusela added that the attacks troubled her so much that she wanted to close the Soshanguve clinic at night but did not go through with it as it would deny people who behave health care
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