From the Other Side of the Bed Rails - When the Nurse Becomes the Patient

[tnbutterfly - Mary]

I looked around at the people in the waiting room, wondering... what's wrong with that lady? Does she have cancer? Poor thing. Then I thought... Gee... Maybe she's wondering the same thing about me. I wanted to reassure her that I was not really sick... just something wrong with my blood. I don't have cancer... nothing that bad... But what do I have? I have been asking myself this for several weeks... since the day that I realized that something wasn't quite right. Then when my blood tests came back abnormal and my primary care physician referred me to a hematologist.... who just happens to be an oncologist... that just seemed very strange. Hey... I am the one who helps other people deal with this kind of information. But now it's me.

The nurse who took me back to the room was very nice. In fact, everyone was very nice. Very soft spoken and reassuring. Again, I wanted to tell them... I'm not sick... not really. Not like the other patients. But still, I wondered...  what will they find out is wrong with me? Oh... it's probably nothing. Nothing really bad... or at least I hope and pray. Prayer... been doing a whole lot of that lately. Oh I always pray.... but it's usually for other people.

Then came the questions. Oh I hope I remember to tell him everything. What was that he just said? Hmmm... I'm having trouble remembering the order in which things happened. I hope I don't sound like an idiot. I am a nurse and should know this stuff. Oh yeah... I remember reading about that when I was googling things trying to figure out what is wrong with me. Good thing I brought my notebook with my list of questions. Now why did he ask that? Does he think I have that? Oh my. He wants to order what test? Why? When will I get the results...

Then I was ushered to the lab. Again... the lab tech was very nice and reassuring. But when I saw all of the vials that she was going to fill with my blood... I did get a little queasy. The tourniquet felt tight... I turned my head. Ouch..... it did pinch a bit. How long is this going to take? Sure... I'm fine. I would sure be embarrassed if I fainted. I have to go where to get what other test? Why? Where exactly do I go? When? OK. Come back in 3 weeks? Seems like a long time to wait. OK. Sure that date is fine. Wonder what I'll find out then?

This is not the first time I have been on the receiving end of medical care... on the other side of the bed rails, so to speak. Each time, I learn something new... something I can use to make me a better nurse... treating others as I would wish to be treated. Today, I realized how much a reassuring and caring voice means to a patient who may be afraid of what they might hear or what they might experience. It might seem like a small thing when we as nurses take a few more minutes to offer compassionate caring... to meet the emotional needs of the patient... but to the patient, it helps alleviate some of the worries and fears, thereby lowering the stress level. While we can't always offer a solution or reason why things are happening, we can always take the time to show genuine compassion.

To read more articles, go to my AN blog: Body, Mind, and Soul, Be the Nurse You Would Want as a Patient, From the Other Side of the Bed Rails - When the Nurse Becomes the Patient

[pitapita]

I think anytime a nurse is suddenly put into the role of patient, it helps them to empathize more with those they work with on a day-to-day basis. A little empathy does wonders both for the patient's psyche and the nurse's level of patience!

- Pita

[tnbutterfly - Mary, BSN]

I agree....empathy is a characteristic a nurse needs to possess. And what better way to learn it than to be in a patient's shoes, or rather a patient's bed just once.

[umcRN, BSN, RN]

I am a 24 year old ICU nurse of almost three years. I was recently hospitalized for a brain tumor & crainiotomy to remove it. It was an enlightening experience for me to be the patient, especially for major surgery and an ICU stay. For the most part though nurses didn't treat me any differently, they still explained, comforted and were present for me. The only people who seemed to take my being a nurse for their advantage were the anesthesiologists. They explained things to me in "our" terms prior to surgery but since I seemed relatively calm they didn't give me any sedation prior to going to the OR, in fact I was being strapped down to the table before being given anything either! And no reassuring words or soothing voices from anyone as I was put under, just a mask placed over my face which I can remember fighting a little because I started feeling claustrophobic and unable to breathe, and I remember the anesthesiologist holding it on my face not even looking at me but communicating over me with someone at the foot of my bed. Ugh. That would have to be my only bad experience of my time there. The nurses and other doctors were wonderful and though I only had a 2 day stay after surgery I made sure to go back with a thank you card and goodies for all the nurses.

I have actually been blogging recently about my experiences, mainly to keep friends and family in the loop. I have a new found interest in spreading awareness about brain tumors, especially because I work in a peds cardiac ICU and have had no experience with anyone with a brain tumor until now.

[GaleSRN, BSN, RN]

I was hospitalized this summer, sepsis, and almost died. The experience I had as a patient was one I will NEVER forget. In the first hospital I was unable to relax and be the patient. I had to be on my guard all the time. The nursing staff there knew nothing about nursing process and I had to be aware of changes in my condition the entire time. I will not go into detail but it was the worse experience of a lifetime.

Fortunately my insurance changed and I was able to transfer to Stanford Medical Center. It is a magnet hospital. From the moment I met my first RN in the ER I felt the difference. The respect, caring, dignity, attention to detail was incredible. I no longer had to be my own nurse. I lived to tell my story.

[LVN fresno]

The timing of this posting is so appropriate for me. I was transfered from hospital last night to acute rehab. I have been dealing with Primary Progressive MS for past 4 years . I worked as LVN for 33 years prior to that. Being a patient and having the nurses be so reassuring and kind has made more of a difference than they will ever understand untill they are on the other side of the rail. Which I pray they never will be.

[DoeRN]

I was a patient too due to having emergency surgery. I tell you what it made me look at things completely different.

When a patient is sleeping it doesn't mean they're not in pain... This happened to me. I had a dilaudid PCA and it wasn't helping that much so I slept through it. Toradol helped tremendously to the point that I told my doctor to dc the PCA because I didn't need it.

Oh and please ask your patients about constipation.... My goodness I won't go into details but MOM was my bff during this time. No one asked me about constipation and I had to ask myself. Anytime I have a patient that's on a lot of narcotics I automatically ask them about stool softners/laxatives when I'm assessing their pain. Can't tell you how many patients have thanked me for this. It's something a lot of people don't talk about but can be a big problem especially after having major surgery.

[NursesRmofun, ASN, RN]

Just realized this is an old thread...but hope all is well, PatientTnButterfly

[tnbutterfly - Mary, BSN]

Just realized this is an old thread...but hope all is well, PatientTnButterfly

Thanks for your concern. I am fine.

[BeenThere2012, ASN, RN]

I realize this is an old post, but it caught my attention, so I hope others are still reading..

I have been a nurse many years and a patient several times. Each and every time I was a patient, I learned something VERY important to add or take away from my practice. First, I will ditto all who have said the caring and compassion given makes a world of difference. Not just in the moment, but it also influences the healing over the long run. A patient who feels cared about and has needs attended to will be calmer and heal much better than one who is uncomfortable or fearful. I'll just make a short list from here...

Please don't burst into the room of a sleeping patient and abruptly switch on the light. In general, try to wake a patient gently before you plow in to start a procedure.

When a patient is squirming around in their bed and unable to communicate (sedated, intubated, etc...), make sure they aren't lying on a needle cap or have an itchy rash on their back.

Just because a patient is sedated, doesn't mean their pain is under control.

I once had a nurse lean over gently and whisper in my ear that everything is going to be all right. I can't tell you what that meant to me and how beautiful that was. It is the small things sometimes that make the world of difference. Bless all nurses who are kind and gentle.

[tnbutterfly - Mary, BSN]

I realize this is an old post, but it caught my attention, so I hope others are still reading..

I have been a nurse many years and a patient several times. Each and every time I was a patient, I learned something VERY important to add or take away from my practice. First, I will ditto all who have said the caring and compassion given makes a world of difference. Not just in the moment, but it also influences the healing over the long run. A patient who feels cared about and has needs attended to will be calmer and heal much better than one who is uncomfortable or fearful. I'll just make a short list from here...

Please don't burst into the room of a sleeping patient and abruptly switch on the light. In general, try to wake a patient gently before you plow in to start a procedure.

When a patient is squirming around in their bed and unable to communicate (sedated, intubated, etc...), make sure they aren't lying on a needle cap or have an itchy rash on their back.

Just because a patient is sedated, doesn't mean their pain is under control.

I once had a nurse lean over gently and whisper in my ear that everything is going to be all right. I can't tell you what that meant to me and how beautiful that was. It is the small things sometimes that make the world of difference. Bless all nurses who are kind and gentle.

Thank you for these great suggestions. It's sometimes the small things we do with a compassionate heart that can have the greatest impact.