Celiac disease resources
I'm responding to "Caring for Hospitalized Patients with Celiac Disease" (November 2016). When this article crossed my desk, I was looking for resources that could help me respond to a distraught family member who felt staff caring for her father with celiac disease weren't taking his disease seriously. This comprehensive article couldn't have come at a more opportune moment for me! As a person with celiac disease, a volunteer with the Canadian Celiac Association, and a healthcare educator, I thank you for preparing this article. I'll be sharing it with others. Keep up the good work!
-SUSAN FINLAY, BA, BN, MSA, RN
Winnipeg, Canada
Hand hygiene lacking? Demand proof
In a recent inquiry in Ethical Problems, a nurse was accused of breaching infection control protocol because the patient's son hadn't seen her perform hand hygiene before caring for his mother ("Privacy Violation/Calling Out a Colleague in Front of Others," February 2017). I've been a nurse since 1977. Based on my experience, I suspect this nurse performed hand hygiene out of his sightline. The nurse manager's accusation of improper hand hygiene was inexcusable without evidence.
The accused nurse should have insisted that her manager show proof of her alleged mistake. Hopefully her fellow staff members supported her. If she tackled this situation head on, right away, there would be no need for a climb up the chain of command for a solution.
-MARILYN P. BROWN, LPN
Winnabow, N.C.
Therapy animals inspire
After reading the article "Animal-assisted Therapy for Inpatient Adults" (Research Corner, January 2017), I was inspired about animal-assisted therapy (AAT). I've seen its benefits-relief of pain, fatigue, and anxiety-as cited in this article, in action.
I've worked for over 20 years in two Veterans Affairs (VA) facilities that utilize AAT. At my current VA hospital, service animals are allowed in all areas, and pet therapy is also used on the medical-surgical, hospice, and psychiatric units, and in the community living centers. We use a dog in the hospice unit named Semper Fi (short for Semper Fidelis). Her unconditional love brings great joy and comfort to our veterans on the unit. Semper Fi truly lives up to her name, which in Latin means "always faithful or loyal."
AAT has made such a difference in our veterans. This is one article all nurses need to read; it will inspire them about the positive effects of AAT.
-JOHN MOATS, MS, RN, RRT-ACCS-NPS, RPFT
Salisbury, N.C