So I recently got one of “those” patients. You know the kind of patient I’m talking about. She was in the fetal position upon arrival from EMS, and I wasn’t surprised one bit. I had been apprised of the situation via report from the transferring facility so I knew what to expect. She was moaning and groaning in pain, and cursing a blue streak of multiple expletives as we transferred her to the awaiting bed. Her drug toxicology screen had lit up like a Christmas tree, but as was par for the course, she had told the ER she didn’t abuse drugs. I had seen it so many times before, and I approached her bed cautiously.
She glared up at me through squinted, distrustful eyes, and I wondered if that was the same look she gave the nurse who had called me report. She had spoken of kicking, screaming, and refusal of care. Now it would fall on me to try and insert a nasogastric tube in a combative patient. Lucky.
There are so many different types of patients you encounter in the field of nursing, and there are so many different skill sets a nurse can provide. Each nurse has that one thing they absolutely love about the field, and then we all have those things we absolutely hate. As I gazed upon my new patient guarding her rigid and distended belly I knew I would get to do my favorite skill of bedside nursing. And no, it wouldn’t be shoving a large tube into this woman’s stomach.
As I approached her bed I made eye contact, and in a low, sympathetic tone I began to speak with her. I started by explaining every anticipated move I would make, and I spoke sincere apologies and empathy for the pain she was enduring. I encouraged her, I attempted my very best to calm her fears, and I didn’t allow things like my observations of the apparent meth scars on her body to cloud my ability to treat her like any other patient under my care.
After asking her permission I began to pray with her as I attached monitoring equipment, and this seemed to settle her nerves even more. I used a gentle touch, but most importantly I used genuine affection. She responded to that.
Over the years as a bedside nurse I have found my favorite skill to be interpersonal. I love the feeling of starting an IV successfully, and there’s definitely a rush of pride when you save a life. But I believe my favorite part of nursing is communicating worth to those who feel worthless, offering love to those who need it most, and giving dignity to every single person I encounter.
Some of my greatest moments in nursing I have not even realized until afterwards. It’s the months later when I receive a call from a former addict who had landed as an overdose in my hospital bed, when they say, “you made me want to be clean for me. No one ever spoke to me like you did. You made me feel like I mattered in this world.”
It’s when I hear by word of mouth in the community that a former patient is telling people, “I’ve always felt like garbage, but this nurse up there, Brie, she treated me like a queen.”
I suppose you never know the impact your kind words can have on another. Sometimes they may have no positive impact whatsoever that you can see, but I keep at it just in case. I try to remember that each patient who lands in my bed is someone’s son or daughter, mother or father, husband or wife. I try to shine the light of my faith in their dark circumstances, and show the characteristics of Christ. I’m quite certain I fall terribly short of this on many a busy day, but I try.
On this particular day I started with a cussing, kicking “drug addict,” but I ended my shift with a kind, well-spoken, troubled woman. She lay still while I inserted a tube into her nose and down into her stomach, she politely asked for pain medication, and she profusely thanked me when it was time for me to go home. I knew as I left that I had in no way solved even half of her problems, but I had made her feel important and special while she was under my care. Something about that just makes me step a little lighter when I walk out of the hospital and head for home. That’s why it’s my favorite part of nursing. It doesn’t feel like a job. It just feels like the right thing to do.
Brooke says
? that’s what I miss the most about nursing. I loved showing empathy and concern for everyone. I miss that “purpose” I felt as knowing God was guiding me to show His love. Great post. I’ve had many other chances to reach out since becoming disabled, but nothing cures the ache of not nursing.
Marewartin says
Same here. Nursing was my calling–that’s all I ever wanted to do. The rush I felt when an upset, grumpy, hurting person chuckled or even just grinned was better than anything else I’ve ever felt. Connecting with someone in the middle of the worst time in their life was a God-given skill, I believe. A calling. Being unable to do that hurts now just like it did 20 years ago when I became disabled.
Angie says
True! So true! Great writing!
brieann.rn@gmail.com says
Thank you!
Dave says
I haven’t been in a hospital too much (thank God) but the kind sympathetic voices of staff stuck with me plus it made it easier to ask them for help! Unfortunately there are some who by reason of don’t care or they have personal problems affecting their day and attitude that causes them to be less than kind but the higher percentage of the caring has been the rule of thumb! Thank you for being there as a caring and loving nurse Brie! I’m sure this patient you spoke of and others will remember the kind nurse who helped them overcome the terrible state they were in!
brieann.rn@gmail.com says
Thank you!
Barbara says
Thank you. People do not understand what nursing is, the work constraints that have limited our true caring skills have ended nursing as it should be. Glad that even the basic contact with other humans can be shown to be rewarding.
brieann.rn@gmail.com says
Yes. The same day I performed an evaluation with my manager. When asked what skill I wished I could perform more I said, “interpersonal.”
Holli says
What a blessing you are! Certainly you were called to this profession!!
brieann.rn@gmail.com says
Thank you.
Mariya says
Good to read !!! God bless you !!!
brieann.rn@gmail.com says
Thank you. God bless you too.