For too many years now the concept that nurses are ‘angels of mercy’ working for the love of the profession has resulted in an underappreciated, underpaid and overworked nursing staff which has left the dismal working conditions in droves resulting in the current shortage of nurses. In order to deal with this crisis it is imperative that nurse behavior management is addressed on all levels.

Members of the nursing profession will continue to feel undervalued while their contribution to the healthcare of the nation goes unacknowledged at all levels. It is becoming increasingly imperative that the morale and trust of the nursing fraternity is addressed in a positive and nurturing way. Just as we as patients need to trust and rely on the commitment of the nurses looking after us when we are ill – so they, in turn, need to feel that they have a concerned body in government looking after their interests. Nurse behavior management has to receive cognizance on all levels to ensure the smooth running of the entire health system.

Society still expects that, despite severe budget cuts to the National Health Service, hospitals will continue to provide a high standard of care. This is proving impossible with overcrowding from emergency wards to in patient beds. Societal ills such as escalating drug and alcohol abuse, ever increasing incidences of obesity and the mere fact that society is demanding that we keep critically ill patients alive for much longer that was the case previously are dangerously overloading the entire system.

Another worrying issue adding to the crisis of nurse behaviour management is the problem of AIDS and the constant fear and worry for the staff of accidentally contracting the disease.

The number of patients without medical insurance is causing additional strain on already overstretched budgets putting even more of a burden on good nurse behaviour. Management needs to find creative solutions for these pressing problems before we see a total collapse in the system.

The increasing number of medical cases that are being taken to litigation is another aspect of the profession that is causing severe strain on every nurse. Behaviour management and a concerted show of confidence in our nursing professionals would go a long way to ease the fear that whatever they do, if something goes wrong the nurse will be held responsible and penalised in legal proceedings.

The upper echelons of power in the medical system should see to it that nursing is promoted positively as the highly trained profession that it is and acknowledge the fact that they are literally dealing with life and death issues each day. In order to turn around the nurse behaviour management and create a productive, confident and fulfilled nursing force these many vital issues need to be addressed immediately.