on my last Clinical placement I have the comment that I spend too much time "doing my own thing" I refused to sign that I agreed. I wrote two sides of A4 on how I belive that by actually talking to my patients I hope to gain more insight than simply reading the notes alone.

I was a Care Assistant in a Nursing home, then a Auxiliary in a ED, and it seems the days of being caring are over, after all apparently I am training to be a "Staff Nurse" not a "carer, psychologist, friend, volunteer or anyone who should have actual 'hands on contact apart from nursing interventions' "

Makes me mad

Good on the dentist. You hear too many stories of Medical professionals not giving a sh1t that its great when you actually hear somethign like this.

I am a rushed off my feet RN in a busy Same Day Surgery recovery room at one of the biggest and oldest hospitals in Boston. I get comments back from patients all the time that everyone here is so nice, and they feel so well cared for despite seeing how busy everyone is, especially compared to some regional/local hospital where they were last. I talk with my patients and their families and do my best to make sure they have choices and the best care I can provide, in whatever limited time I have. It is less a matter of how long, than that when you do have a minute, you give them that full minute. And I have some say in my practice, I say when they can go, it's my judgement in conversation with them that determines when they leave. Some just want to go home, so I expedite if it is safe. Some want to stay overnight, so I let them sleep an extra hour before talking them around to going home. I make them laugh, and my fellow nurses help me as I help them.
It is not impossible, it is the best way to keep us medical types from burning out. I don't know why my experience is so different, but it doesn't have to be so bad. I had much the same when I was in a large hospital in Salt Lake City.

I agree with you Reynolds. I, too, keep thinking how sad it is to notice good care because it is so exceptional. I am an Occupational Therapist and a couple of years ago I had a locum from abroad in my department who hit the nail on the head..she said in her experience of UK hospitals, she was astonished at the lack of any sign of altruism in some branches of healthcare. I'm nowhere near retirement age but I feel like I am when my values seem to be so much at odds with younger 'professionals'. Money, overtime and control over the less fortunate seem to have overtaken caring and commitment to patients' comfort and well being in so many places. Of course, good ones exist, but they do burnout quickly against a sea of careless attitudes.

Sad - but True.
I Left Orthopods because I got so hacked off with the lack of time to actually do any serious patient care. There was too much paperwork and not enough time to spend with the patients.
Now I work in a Drug Dependancy Unit - still lots of paperwork, but far more time to spend with the patients - and most of them appreciate it.
Just been to the dentist myself today - the pain is something else entirely.

Was he an NHS Dentist and was he taking new patients? If so post his address and we'll all be round there. Its only a 6 hour drive from Anytown to your bit of the world.

[sarcasm] The NHS do dentistry now? [/sarcasm]