[An opinion from a user: a nurse's point of view]

The focus of this discussion is twofold; to provide an overview patient management in the nursing unit in relation to the Department of Examinations and to propose some strategies for assuring safe, accurate and effective laboratory tests from a nursing perspective. There are four issues identified as weaknesses in the environment of our collaboration; a lack of consistent support for anxious or frightened patients undergoing laboratory tests due to the low volume of information shared by us; a limited clinical laboratory consultation available to nurses because of unfriendly and unclear access to the Dept. of Examinations; a lack of collaboration and flexibility in responding to individual diversity in health problems; a lack of clinical laboratory coordination in scheduling laboratory tests, especially, for patients with multiple tests per day or per week. Based on those issues, five strategies are proposed. Greater involvement of medical technologists in routine laboratory works in the unit such as drawing blood and collecting specimens as needed. Clinical Laboratory tests except for urgent tests should be scheduled to minimize disturbances of life style for inpatients while waiting for the completion of all tests. An information processing system that helps nurses maintain advanced knowledge and skills is necessary to follow the state of art in the specialized area of clinical laboratory tests. It is definitely recommended that effective consultation be offered by the Dept. of Examinations. It is beneficial to patients for medical technologists to actively participate in the cooperative medicine of our hospital by sharing the patient's information with nurses in the unit. Lastly, it would be welcome to have direct communication with patients on the unit. This would facilitate mutual understanding between technologists and nurses. In conclusion, collaboration between the Department of Examinations and nurses of the unit may maximize patient benefits brought by the valuable information obtained from laboratory work through improved communication and mutual understanding.