This precious time gave the patient the ability to share the story, thus allowing the nurse to show emotions and be empathetic towards the patient. Later, this small moment of time, resulted in a small return favor that showed a great appreciation for the nurse and proved the nurses theory.
Every evening, I go into work, as a Registered Nurse, expecting to have a typical night with the same type of patients. All of the patients are here for recovery from their drug addictions, so each night is similar to the night before.... Administer medication, do some brief assessments, and keep the peace for them.
Then one special patient stands out on this particular night. The one patient that experienced a life-changing event... The one that came to not only recover from the addiction they had, but to develop a whole new life.
What is so different with this patient as compared to all the others?
This patient has experienced a terrible loss. An accident that has been life changing, the loss of a young child due to a brief loss of attention. I have heard through the daily nursing report about this tragic loss, but I wanted to be available for my patient. Most other nurses just went on about their business during their shifts, but not me...
It was this one night that I told this patient "I'm not a professional, but I am here for you if you need to talk to someone or just have someone listen."
This patient was so grateful to have a nurse open up and reach out that he ended up sharing the whole story about how this brief moment had cost one young child's life... A car accident, plummeting off a 30-foot drop, leaving a young child lifeless while another young child injured. My emotions showed through my tears streaming down my face as I felt this patients pain. I only wish I could rewind time and bring life back into this child's life. The most I could do is give my words of condolences. I had wanted to give this patient a huge hug, but that crosses the patient/nurse boundary.
I did not realize how much this brief conversation of empathy had affected this patient until my next shift. Every night, when I come into work, I pull the medications for the diabetic patients since they get their medications upon awakening in the morning. This particular morning, this same patient did not come up to get the morning medications as scheduled; therefore, the medications sat there for some time.
My shift had ended and the patient came later to get the medications.
Another nurse had thought the medications were already administered and the patient was very upset and took the time to write up a grievance report and put it into the grievance box (which is under lock and key with only a slot to put the paper in). Just after slipping the paper into the slot, did a technician inform the patient that "I", the nurse was the one that had pulled the medications the night before.
It was at that time that the patient stated that the intention was not to have written the grievance on me, the nurse. Apparently, the patient did not like the other nurse, as she never took the time to "listen" to her patients (as other patients had complained to me).
This same patient then went over and picked up the grievance box, flipped it upside down, and out fell the one piece of paper that was just put in (that he had written). The patient stated, "It must've been by the grace of God that the paper fell out", per the technician. The patient proceeded to rip the paper up and go about the day.
So the important thing to learn about this whole story?
Just take a few extra moments to connect with those you are caring for... just listen to what they have to say and do not be afraid to show some emotion. Even if the payback is near to nothing, the patient is all that matters! This brought on a great feeling to know that my empathetic side makes such a huge difference in others' lives. Now, this is what "nursing" to me is all about!
The patient did recover from the addiction and did have some great resources for the depression that followed the death of the young child. The patient was very grateful for my time to listen to the story revolving the car accident. If all nurses could take just a few extra moments out of their time for each of their patients, then my theory is that patients will ultimately feel happier since they sense that their nurse is actually caring about them and not just treating their ailments. My belief is to treat the whole patient, not just their disease process.
