Jiangsu Province Hospital Provides Comprehensive Nursing Service

Hospitalized patients in China are usually asked to have their relatives stay with them overnight in hospital wards and provide basic care for them. Although this is a popular practice, it has caused great inconveniences for families. A hospital in East China's Jiangsu Province is trying to change this by introducing a comprehensive nursing service that so far is being well-received. Zheng Chenguang finds out more.

A gentleman surnamed Huang, who is nearly 70 years old, has been confined to a bed a month after he suffered leg and arm fractures in a car accident.

He has since been staying at the Jiangsu Province Hospital where he is well taken care of by the nurses without the need of family menbers to stay with him overnight.

"They give comprehensive care, such as helping me wash my face and body, and assisting me in the performance of my daily living activities."

The nurse also helps Huang with physical and occupational therapy as part of his recovery.

The hospital's chief nurse says the care provided by nurses there is becoming more professional and effective for the patients.

"Our nurses will guide patients in performing recovery training. With taylor-made professional services, patients in our hopspital are able to be up and about and recovered sooner."

This kind of nursing service has also received support from the central government.

At a recent national nursing conference, Deputy Health Minister, Ma Xiaowei, said the government will place more nurses in hospitals to assist patients with basic care.

"The guidelines of our nursing reform stress three aspects, that is our service should be close to the patient, close to the clinic and close to society. And we will work to further implement these guidelines."

Now more patients and their families are willing to use nurses who provide basic care services and pay their fees. In turn, the nurses are alleviating some of the inconveniences that the relatives of those hospitalized used to face when they had to care for their sick loved ones.

Zhen Chenguang, CRI news.