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"In the long-term care setting, many relationships
are about being familiar, getting to know our clients'
likes and dislikes, being there for them, listening
to what they tell us and responding to their needs."
When communicating with the elderly, verbal communication
may be only part of the picture. "Clients are less
influenced by what we say than how we say it and the
way we act," says Dr. McGilton. "Our manner,
posture and tone of voice are important. Nurses in long-term
care settings have to constantly ask, 'how can we acknowledge
and respect the humanity of our clients?'"
Training can improve nurses' ability to develop appropriate
relationships. Dr. McGilton has actually measured changes
in the behaviour of nurses who have been specifically
trained to relate to clients.
The quality of long-term care also depends in part
on the unit supervisor. Because supervisors are such
an important part of the team, Dr. McGilton is developing
ways of measuring how effective they are, and whether
they are perceived by staff as being empathic and dependable.
Dr. McGilton was first attracted to this area of research
because she saw the opportunity to have a major impact
on patient care. "My work is practical - and it's
unique." she says. "It contributes to both
gerontology and administration. That is a very unusual
combination." Dr. McGilton has published a number
of papers in the areas of gerontology and long-term
care.
She is President-Elect of the Nursing Research Interest
Group of the Registered Nurses Association of Ontario
(RNAO).
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