Strong, responsible nursing helps ensure the safety of elderly patients in medical centers, according to a study cited by medwireNews.
Attentiveness, anticipating care, serving responsively and interacting personally when patients over the age of 65 are hospitalized helps the patients feel safer, according to the study undertaken by Indiana University researchers. Twenty patients were interviewed for the study during the second half of 2011.
"The knowledge gained about conditions under which feeling safe operates for older adults in acute care will improve healthcare quality by informing nursing practice and thereby enhancing the efficiency and effectiveness of healthcare," according to Sue Lasiter and Joanne Duffy from the Indianapolis campus of Indiana University.
People who hold nursing jobs also can make the older patients feel safer when advocating or intervening on their behalf. Patients at urban and rural hospitals responded similarly to what made their hospital stays more pleasant, according to the study.
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, nurses help patients and their families with the coordination of care while also providing advice and emotional support.