The Power of Words from a Nurse Leadership Organization
In memory of The American Association of Nurse Massage Therapists
The power of words are exemplified in the brochure and statements therein of a leadership organization of and for nurses. It is a regretful loss for nurses in the wake of the closure of The American Association of Nurse Massage Therapists (NANMT) in 2015. What an innovative endeavor by the founders back in 1987. They provided a philosophy, code of ethics and standards of practice for the Nurse Massage Therapist and for the public to relate.
A statement from the NANMT brochure carries a message of lasting importance for today’s nurses amidst changing practice and “healthcare” landscape. :
“Since 1992 NANMT has been
recognized as the official organization
representing the specialty practice of
Nurse Massage Therapy.
As such, the Association supports the
premise that the specialty services provided
by Nurse Massage Therapists should be
recognized by all State Boards of
Nursing as being within the scope of
practice of professional nursing.
Therefore, the Association supports
regulatory initiatives which promote the
recognition and integration of Nurse
Massage Therapy into the mainstream
of health care delivery. “
The power of word such as “Specialty services provided by nurses should be recognized by all State Boards of Nursing as being within the scope of practice of professional nursing. ” is pause for understanding.
Nurses, do you know your scope of practice? Are you active in influencing the professional practice of your art? Do you know the words to use when referring to your actions and services as a nurse? Do you know what you do as a nurse, beyond the privileged medically assigned tasks? Some examples may be:
- Nurses provide care. (Human care)
- Nurses advocate. (in touch with the recipients wishes, fears and values; quality of life vs quantity of time delaying the inevitable)
- Nurses promote and care for health. (not treat illness)
- Nurses recognize imbalances and alterations (not diagnose)
- Nurses presence, listening and support all facilitate a persons own innate abilities to heal.
- Nurses teach/educate.
- Nurses facilitate self care by those in their care.
- Nurses observe. (Human Response)
- Nurses provide touch. ( emotional and physical)
What else do nurses do in their professional care for people? The guiding power of words by the founder of Nurses Moving Forward may provide some insight:
“Nurses are the conduit of care that allows any profession, hospital, business, organization or technology to touch people.” ( B. Young RN, founder Nurses Moving Forward )
Nurses in a medical facility, deliver a medical treatment under the care of a licensed physician or advanced medical practitioner but what is superimposed that makes it “nursing”?
Get to know what you do as a nurse that is unique to your delivery of care.
Get to know your nurse practice act. Look for words like Health Promotion, Wellness and Education.
Those have a very different meaning from diagnose, treat and prescribe.
Thirty plus years ago, education programs for people who wanted to become nurses challenged students to consider, “Is nursing a profession?” What is your response to that? How do you know that it is so? Discuss this with your colleagues on The Vision Forum >>>
Another exemplary bullet point from the NANMT’s philosophy is:
NANMT respects all modalities that enhance the healing process.
This is different from “curing”. It is so important to understand the power of words.
This intro movie by NANMT published to YouTube on July 28, 2013 now stands as a tribute movie. The NANMT was for 2 1/2 decades the official professional organization for the Nurse Massage Therapy specialty. Their website is still active for reference and inspiration.
Explore the power of words and how they differentiate the the models of practice for nurses and doctors in The Vision Forum >>>
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