Clinical Experience Frustrations: A Little Love And Patience Goes A Long Way

As a student nurse, it is easy to get frustrated at times and believe all I am doing in clinicals is “CNA” work. Not that there is anything wrong with that, but I'm here to learn more than a bed bath? Yes. And today I did.

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Clinical Experience Frustrations: A Little Love And Patience Goes A Long Way

It was January 27th and I was just beginning my second semester of nursing school. I had been assigned two very "easy" self-care patients and found myself aimlessly roaming the halls as my professor approached me. "Would you mind going and helping K with her bed bath? She could really use more hands in there"

Ugh, another bed bath. Another bottom wiping, backbreaking bed bath. Isn't it time for IV's, shots, and med passes now?

So reluctantly I went into the room. When I opened the door, I expected to see a patient like the others, finishing her breakfast and awaiting her bath. Instead, I saw a motionless, flaccid body in a bed, breathing through an opened mouth entirely filled with scabs and dried blood. She truly was a hospice patient. It was unlike anything I had ever seen, even with my experience as a CNA in long term care facility. The woman was gaunt, toothless, and wouldn't respond to any verbal stimuli.

After a moment of awe and anxiety, we began our bath. My fellow student and I wet our washcloths and did our best to remove the crust from this poor woman's eyes. She let out little moans but did not speak. Her body was tight and she grimaced as we washed her face and began to wash her body down. And then something abruptly changed. As we finally removed the crust from her eyes, they popped WIDE open and I saw the woman staring right at me. I smiled at her and she smiled back.

I couldn't believe it. This same, lifeless woman who just moments ago wouldn't respond to her name is now awake and aware of her surroundings. All this came just from a silly little bath?

My fellow student and I continued washing the patient, and as we combed her hair she let out a little "ow" and jokingly, with a smile on her face and a little chuckle, shook her fist at my colleague. Was she really playing with us? This same woman who moments ago was unresponsive? We asked her to turn on her right side. Immediately her left arm came over and she was helping us roll her over. She understood everything we asked her to do.

Of my moments as a CNA and a nursing student, this is the type where I am left walking on air and more confident than ever in my decision to become an RN. No matter how hard, bad, or boring your day is, the smallest gesture of warmth and kindness can change a patient's entire day and make them truly believe that they are still cared for in this world. All this woman needed was a little attention and love to bring back her spark in her most dismal moments of life.

It is easy to forget that even as a nurse our duty to our patients is simple. Make them comfortable and help them feel better. Whether that is giving medication, an IV, or a simple bed bath, the outcome is the same. It is hard to think that I cannot change the previous care that this woman received (which was obviously lacking based on her condition), but it is enlightening to know that because of my presence today, she is now just a little more comfortable and obviously happier.

For the rest of the day, I kept overhearing staff members say, "Have you seen the patient in 222 today? I have never seen her smile!"

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Lori215

About Lori215, RN

I am an ASN, RN. My specialty is in the ICU and neuro ICU.

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Specializes in ninja nursing.

Good for you. Don't ever lose your desire to help people. Remember, sometimes it's the little things that can make a gigantic difference in a patient's day.

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I remember many moment like this, especially when I rubbed their feet and back. One clinical day my instructor mentioned that I was "slow" at passing meds. It was a new computer system that I was not familiar with. So the next day I went to my Nurse and asked if I can watch her pass meds to my patient. She said "sure" and that she would come get me when she was ready. In the mean time I was just finishing up bathing one of my patients when the CNA came in and started the a.m. care on my other patient. My Nurse came and told me she was ready for med pass. I was not in the med room 60 seconds when my instructor came and told me to relieve the CNA. I would do anything for my patients but I was written up for not being a team player. I relieved the CNA and she went to sit in the break room and had a coffee.

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Specializes in LTC, CPR instructor, First aid instructor..

I too remember these moments when I was a nurses aide. The sad, lonely looks on those poor peoples' faces inspired me to ask the head nurse for permission to create some activities for them so they would have some interaction. It was then that the Cracker Barrel Club was created for the men, and the women worked on crafts. I also created a poetic part in the resident newspaper called "The Gay Nineties Review" about two residents each month. They liked it a lot, and it made me happy that they had smiles on their faces, and could look forward to their activities.

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Specializes in psych/dementia.

Lots of these type of memories. Sometimes it just takes the smallest of acts to make all the different to a patient.

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Specializes in ICU/ Surgery/ Nursing Education.

You did good, always remember that bed baths and the menial tasks we complete as nurse are also therapeutic. A caring voice and human contact can sooth the soul and provide dignity to our patients.

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Specializes in Childbirth Educator, Birth Doula.

I try to regard every care as an opportunity to heal. It's not the medications, the interventions that make people better. It's how they are treated and the caring attention they receive. It's feeling valued. If I don't value my time with them, how can I be a good healer, or ever an outstanding nurse?

..Not to mention a bed bath is the perfect way to do a head-to-toe assessment!

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What a wonderful experience! Another student with less compassion could have easily turned it into something else, but your kindness and caring attitude made all the difference.

I'm starting this gig late in the game. I'm in my fifties and just started working as a CNA in Assisted Living while I sort out my education plans. A few of my co-workers have complained that I'm spoiling some of our residents and I'm "making it hard on the other CNAs because they might not have time to do the same". That logic baffles me. Yes, some days are busier than others but there are plenty of opportunities to take a few minutes to brighten a resident's day.

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Thank you for writing that VERY inspirational story. It was certainly hard to read at first, but well worth how it left me----with a strong sense of "what it's all about" you know? I'm a newly licensed RN and this is the absolute reason that I pursued the profession.

Having spent some lengthy time in a hospital bed when I was much younger and understanding how rotten & helpless one can feel it's a huge comfort to know there's this kind of love in the world.....

Thank You! Thank you!

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Snorkledorf: So nice to read your comment about "Pt in room 222". I, too am entering late in the game. Just graduated at age 50 and it's reasons such as given in this story to why I did it. It just occurred to me that this is exactly what it's all about---making the most of ourselves while we're here ;O)

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Specializes in Gastrointestinal Nursing.

Hey "From Florida" loved your article! I actually just moved from Fl just last May. I now live in Tn and love it. I think your article can reach not just students, but all nurses no matter what level and how long they have worked. I have to remind myself that my patients need eye contact, touch, a smile. When I do that, they respond. Remembering to put ourselves in in their place helps us to think of them as humans with human basic needs

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Brenda Johnson:

Yes! Couldn't agree more. Putting yourself in the patient's predicament truly helps remind us of the importance of our care and what it means to their recovery/experience. I also like to think of the person as a close family member and ask myself "what would I do for them"....

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