[frogdog]

Originally Posted by Vivi

I also did not like at first the nursing diagnosis "Disturbed energy field". It sounded vague, pretentious, confusing, and like an attempt at being intellectual.

I changed my first perception of this because I realize the importance of our thoughts on our body, and that everything is a field of energy. If you read "You can Heal Your Life" by Louise Hay, "The Power Of Your Subconscious Mind" by Joseph Murphy, or read/hear some presentations by Deepak Choprah, and Wayne Dyer, you may also come to view this differently. These are easy books to read.

I am currently taking a biofeedback class, which shows the relationship of our mind with our body. I believe that energy field includes our thoughts and our mind.

It is not because we cannot see the energy field that it is not there. I agree that it is obvious that if a patient's energy field was not disturbed in the first place, that s/he would not be in a hospital, and therefore this diagnosis does not provide specific information for a particular patient. I think that Martha Rogers' intention was probably to pave the way to expand Western medicine's views to a more holistic approach.

I trust that everything happens for a reason, even when we're not wise enough to see it. Oprah Winfrey



If you want your life to be more rewarding, you have to change the way you think. Oprah Winfrey

I knew I was in the right profession when I saw the diagnosis "disturbed energy field." It's Reiki!! How cool is that that an actual certified respectable profession would recognize Reiki?!

It also cracked me up, though, to think of doing reiki on a patient (especially since I'm not trained to do it). But I do pet my patients' heads when they are anxious or vomiting or dying. (When I'm sick, I like my head petted, and so far every patient whom I've petted has calmed down and showed me gratefulness for such a small act.)

[RN4NICU]

Originally Posted by frogdog

I knew I was in the right profession when I saw the diagnosis "disturbed energy field." It's Reiki!! How cool is that that an actual certified respectable profession would recognize Reiki?!

It also cracked me up, though, to think of doing reiki on a patient (especially since I'm not trained to do it). But I do pet my patients' heads when they are anxious or vomiting or dying. (When I'm sick, I like my head petted, and so far every patient whom I've petted has calmed down and showed me gratefulness for such a small act.)

Really???

See if it was me, and someone petted my head when I was not feeling well, I would not like it one bit and would probably ban the offending person from my room. It sure wouldn't calm me down. If anything it would make things worse. Everyone is different.

[LPNer]

Originally Posted by RN4NICU

Really???

See if it was me, and someone petted my head when I was not feeling well, I would not like it one bit and would probably ban the offending person from my room. It sure wouldn't calm me down. If anything it would make things worse. Everyone is different.

My husband can pet my head when I am tired or not feeling well, it helps me relax. But somebody else? Don't even TOUCH me beyond what you absolutely have to. Can't stand to have my energy field invaded.
However, I am comfortable holding a pts hand, or patting their arm for their comfort. Now figure that one out!? I am a willing an avid toucher, but turn it around? I must be a psycho. LOL (No, I don't think I am psycho, just noting how different everything is for everyone.)

[frogdog]

Originally Posted by LPNer

My husband can pet my head when I am tired or not feeling well, it helps me relax. But somebody else? Don't even TOUCH me beyond what you absolutely have to. Can't stand to have my energy field invaded.
However, I am comfortable holding a pts hand, or patting their arm for their comfort. Now figure that one out!? I am a willing an avid toucher, but turn it around? I must be a psycho. LOL (No, I don't think I am psycho, just noting how different everything is for everyone.)

I don't think you're psycho. You sound compassionate. And, probably if you were hospitalized your husband would be there to support you.

Please understand, I don't go around petting everyone's head; but when I have (as example) a 90-year-old person who hasn't had family visit since admission and he is in pain or is dying, well it seems to work well. That's just one example. I have never had a patient tell me to stop and have had patients say to me "thanks" or "that feels good." And, when I'm not sure about touching someone, I ask. But, usually, if I'm my instincts are questioning it, then I don't even bother to ask, I just don't do it.

[LPNer]

Originally Posted by frogdog

I don't think you're psycho. You sound compassionate. And, probably if you were hospitalized your husband would be there to support you.

Please understand, I don't go around petting everyone's head; but when I have (as example) a 90-year-old person who hasn't had family visit since admission and he is in pain or is dying, well it seems to work well. That's just one example. I have never had a patient tell me to stop and have had patients say to me "thanks" or "that feels good." And, when I'm not sure about touching someone, I ask. But, usually, if I'm my instincts are questioning it, then I don't even bother to ask, I just don't do it.

I had a post op lsat night that required a lot of hand holding and arm rubbing. Her son was there all night to help, but when she got really anxious, it took the nurse, me, to calm her down.
I felt so bad for her, she had had a C3-6 laminectomy. I know this hurts, a LOT, but I really think the anxiety was adding to the lack of pain control. By morning I had given her more ativan (2mg X 3) than I've seen anybody get in a long time and had her Morphine PCA up to 1-6-2. Almost every hour she had twice as many attempts as injections. It was a rough night for her and I was glad she was so easily consolled with hand holding and arm rubbing, too bad with 5 pts I wasan't able to spend more time at her bedside, we may have been able to skip one of the doses of Ativan or maybe not taken her basal to 2mg/hr.
Oh well, you do what you can and just have to trust it will work out.

[inspir8tion]

Re: Noncompliance. We learned that this label should be used with caution. That it is associated with the intent to comply, but situational factors make it difficult to do so. For instance, they want to comply, but they don't have any insurance so cannot get meds, or they're homeless so cannot comply with a diet plan because they eat whatever they can get out of garbage cans, etc. Noncompliance should NEVER be used for a client that is unable to follow instructions (e.g. cognitive disability) or for someone who makes an informed decision to refuse or not follow the medical treatment. (Info is from "Fundamentals of Nursing" by Kozier, et al.).

[ortess1971]

This is the first time someone at least attempted to explain what "disturbed energy field" was. I partly agree with the person who said it could be legitimate because it could refer to psychological issues but why did they have to make it sound so 1960's and hippylike? It still makes me smirk everytime I see it.