One size does not fit all!

When did it ever become the popular notion that one size fits all? Almost everyone at some point or another has been in an uncomfortable situation. Choosing between one’s conscience or belief can make the job very stressful.

In the clinical setting, best practices dictate certain steps called core measures be followed to the letter with almost no regard for the situation’s factors. From purely an outcome basis, best practices appear to win. But where does that leave the practitioner — or the patient for that matter — in the decision-making process? This does not leave a lot for the workforce toiling on the front line to work with.

One Size

Karen, a 15-year staff nurse at The Central Hospital, is asked to follow protocol and administer a drug to her patient against her better judgment. Because Karen was trained to use critical thinking skills along with her years of experience, she chose not to give the drug and was reprimanded. This is only one of many examples nurses and other health professionals face every day. These situations create a work environment full of stress and anxiety.

Speaking of stress, it is the single biggest cause of the maladies our workforce suffers from. With good intention, employers offer wellness programs to offset the effects of a stressful environment. Stressed employees could be counterproductive unless employers address this issue with education and incentive programs.

This could be successfully achieved as employers recognize that one size does not fit all.