Procuring Better Care in Long-term Care Facilities: Effecting Change within the Communication Strategies to which Nurses and Patient Families Presently Subscribe

Abstract

<p>In short, this work investigates the existing tensions between families of long-term care patients and their nurses. Insofar as these tensions directly result from poor levels of care that are currently administered in long-term care facilities, attention is drawn to how such inadequacies can be remedied through an in-depth exploration of inadequate resources, surrogate decision-making standards, the gendered nature of nursing, and the stigmatization of disability. By increasing social support and setting up non~ confrontational communication strategies, the tensions between nurses and patient families are alleviated but also suggest the possibility of extending these strategies to areas in nursing outside of long-term care.</p>