EDITORIAL COMMENT

Last week the Editors asked for suggestions for the 52nd Edition of your Standard. Response has not been very encouraging. Surely readers are not so apathetic as to refrain from all participation.

We do try even though our efforts may not always he to your liking.

Social Therapy Review

On Tuesday and Thursday this week we had two visiting teams to the hospital for Cricket fixtures. The first were Denbigh who won their match on one of the first really glorious afternoons of the summer. The second visitors were Cranage who also won their match even with borrowed players. Neither hospital however, could muster a team to play our girls at rounders. It seems to be a general problem, getting a ladies team, but it is a great pity our girls are so often disappointed. Still, we keep practising in the hope of meeting another team.

On Wednesday evening it was the turn of the staff cricket XI to show their prowess when they beat a team from 'Vickers', the John Egerton XI, in a friendly match. However, the hard stuff begins next week when the matches for the Inter-Hospital cup begin. We wish them luck.

The 17th June is drawing, ever nearer and we are still short of athletic enthusiasts for our team. As was published previously the training sessions are held every lunchtime and on Tuesday at 7.30 p.m. and Thursday at 7.00 p.m. It all depends on you!

The patients sports are on June 15th and we have a mens display team, and a female country dancing team practising very hard every lunch time in order to give a good account of themselves on the day, a little preparatory enthusiasm is very helpful when it comes to finding entrants for the various races.

K. Appleton

101 Ways to Start a Fire,

Convector or night heater used to dry clothes. Because there is no visible source of heat, as in a radiant heater, the risk of fire is not so obvious.

Overheating occurs because the free circulation of air is impeded and unless the appliance is fitted with an automatic safety device, Mother's "HOT PANTS" may raise the building where previously they only raised eyebrows.

Cooking fat left unattended on a stove.

Paper stacked near electric fires.

Flammable light shades touching light bulbs.

Ladies, the quickest way to get a bald head: Use aerosol hair lacquer with a cigarette in your mouth or near a naked flame.

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Would The Standard care to comment on the latest 'hot rumour' circulating, i.e.,

That out of sheer hunger and frustration certain female staff are donning their husband's wellington boots and overalls in an effort to infiltrate the soup kitchen on the nearby motorway site during their meal breaks on the off chance that they might beg a crust of bread or the dregs of the soup.

Seriously, with the host of management orientated personnel at Winwick that one sees for a fleeting moment as they scurry from meeting to meeting, to meeting etc., one would think that it would be possible for a working party to be set up to take a look at this age old problem of provision of food for staff at Delph Hospital.

We at Delph are well aware of the envisaged upgrading at Delph but nevertheless felt a temporary arrangement could be sought for the resolution of this problem.

B. Footitt.

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Progress Reports on Nurses in Training 2

Last week we printed the first four parts of a guide for the completion of progress reports on nurses in training, published by the King's Fund Hospital Centre.

Part 5 of the booklet deals with the process of assessment, which is seen as a planned programme which is followed through during the whole period a trainee is allocated to an assessor's area of responsibility.

The programme should commence with a preliminary discussion between the nurse responsible for the assessment, and the newly arrived trainee, when the plan can be explained and commented upon - even altered in the light of what the trainee contributes. Here it stresses that, as no two learners progress alike, they should not be measured one against the other.

At this preliminary discussion the assessor can determine:-

a) What previous training has been undertaken
b) The learner's present stage of training
c) Details of the learner's practical experience
d) The trainee's view of particular needs and problems.

Likewise the trainee needs to know:

a) Any particular knowledge and skills he or she can expect to acquire.
b) The responsibilities which will be undertaken as a member of the nursing team.

As the assessment is continuous, the trainee needs to know the other trained staff who will be assisting the nurse in charge, and the help which can be expected from them. The trained staff will be looking for signs of professional growth and an increase in nursing skills. To do this they must

a) Know the trainee at the start of his or her experience
b) Observe the trainee's work and professional attitude
c) Test the knowledge gained by the learner
d) Give encouragement through immediate recognition of good work, and provide constructive criticism when the need arises.

The trainee should also he encouraged to practise self-examination and judge his or her own abilities. Familiarity with the type of questions the assessor will be expected to answer on the current report form will help.

b) Worried by previous experience or personal problems
c) Unawares of how to play a proper part in the assessment of his or her progress.

The assessor may have to

a) Decide on priorities when it comes to dividing attention between the patients medical and other staff, and the training of nurses.
b) Balance the patients' needs for expert nursing care with the need to train nurses.
c) Find time to develop the art of encouraging nurses in training to question and talk to senior staff about their work.

Part 8 recognises the difficulties of assessment, and hopes that the assessor, being at least aware of the limitations of the method, can perhaps by trial and error help to answer some of the queries and contribute to a more sound method. Assessment of nurses in training will always be necessary and will increase in importance. Skill in assessing will grow as assessors become more aware of themselves and of the problems of judging another person's performance.

In judging others, it is difficult for the assessor to know:

a) What is standard good practice
b) What is average ability
c) What measurements exist for nursing skill or professional behaviour.
d) At what stage in training each skill or professional expertise should be mastered.
e) How to achieve objectivity
f) How to avoid being over-impressed with isolated instances in a learner's period of experience.
g) How to avoid difficulties of likes and dislikes of personal traits.
h) How often contact with the learner is necessary, and how often his or her performance needs to be seen before progress - or the lack of it - can be reported.

Part 9 concludes the guide by stating:

a) All written statements should be able to show the progressive development of an individual into a professional person with increased skill in nursing.
b) The trainee should be assessed as a learner rather than a nurse.
c) When completing currently used forms, assessors should do so in such a way that they show some evidence of progress or, where this is lacking, point the way to the remedy.

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I was astounded by the naive and short sighted approach of your contributor, D. McKendrick, to Ethics and the rights of.tbe individual.

As he so rightly implies, the nurse has an all important duty, but to whom? The nurse has many duties to perform to an ever increasing number of individuals, but I was always taught, and learned for myself, that the prime duty is to the patient. Compared to this fundamental premise the nurse's duty to the multiplicity of authorities is of considerably less import.

I do not belong to the Roman Catholic Church, but I have the greatest respect for most of its beliefs and teachings. I have even greater respect and admiration for those who unflinchingly avow their beliefs and principles and who have the courage to practise then among colleagues and critics who, perhaps, think less and find their principles less binding.

Your contributor has rushed into print without due thought and consideration and will no doubt, by so doing offend many people wiser and more experienced than himself. Perhaps one day, when what we know as integration reaches its logical conclusion, McKendrick will have the opportunity of seeing the effects upon the psycho of somatic spediancy. When he does he will emerge from the experience a sadder and a wiser man, but a better nurse.

G.J.F. Briggs.

Artistic Expression

Artistic expression is as old as paleolithic man, and as young as psychedelics. It has been the medium for profound commentaries on the state of the world, and nature of man, and also for relative formulas, emotional out-pouring of lyricism or of torment.

In some cultures of the world an appreciation of plastic form permeates almost every aspect of living - influencing the shape of houses, furniture, clothes, utensils, etc. In others, including many so called "advanced" societies of today. What strikes one is the conspicuous indifference to aesthetic considerations. Whole communities live in surroundings which are either sordidly or expensively ugly. In many developed societies it has seemed as though the acceptance of industrialisation has brought with it an acceptance of an ennuoment of almost unrelieved squalor. Increasingly objects of beauty have become rarities - to be collected by the wealthy or segregated in museums.

If modern man inherits a need for aesthetic gratification, similar to that which prompted prehistoric cave artists and stone carvers then this need must often go unsatisfied.

In the years since the first world war there has been a very general re-discovery of the creative talents of many young children all over the world. We are life for its appreciation because Western Art has passed through one of its recurrent cycles in which the romantic tendency prevailed over the classic mode.

Spontaneity, creativity and full expression of feeling were sought after once again as with the works of Gericault, Delacroix, Turner etc.

The Surealists proclaimed the unconscious - the true source of all great works of art - and devised methods to tap this source directly - trance states, intoxicating drugs or dream images. Though it can be said that many successful surealist paintings (Jean Miro, Paulklee, Pablo Piccasso) have much in common with those created by children up to the age of twelve. Unfortunately after this age children lose their intuitive feelings and paint more rationally. It is also significant that in our society no one boasts of being unintelligent and yet the majority of people are willing to admit that they know nothing about the fine arts and would feel extremely foolish if asked to take up a paint brush.

So is it not possible that we stifle part of our own nature by denying full expression to the growth of our personalities by tabooing aesthetic self-expression. Certainly one frequently gets this impression when looking at paintings done by patients.

B. Naylor.

Liverpool Regional Hospital Sporting Activities

Billiard and Snooker Section

The final of the billiard competition was held at Fazakerly Hospital, Liverpool, between Winwick Hospital (a) and Newsham Hospital on Wednesday evening 17th May, 1972.

The Winwick team had a great victory in spite of the tremendous handicap of having to concede 160 points to the Newsham Hospital Team.

Frank Leyland, part time staff nurse, was the architect of Winwick's victory by defeating his opponent by 104 points and making a splendid 59 break.

Joe Massey, Tony Knight, retired cook, and myself also had good wins to our credit in games of 150 up.

Our hosts at Fazakerly Hospital made us very welcome to their club, the billiard tables were in 1st class condition, and the refreshments which were provided for us after the match left nothing to be desired, and were certainly enjoyed by all.

Mr. Dwyer, Fazakerly Hospital's Social Club Chairman, kindly presented the trophy and prizes and was thanked most sincerely by both captains of the Winwick and Newsham teams.

J. E. Wright.

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