Gain your pt's trust

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Specializes in Med-Surg.

Hi everyone,

I have posted a couple times about this, but i just started in the Abbotsford Maternity Unit in BC, Canada. I am just finishing my first year.

I have always been a people person and found that conversations flow easily with people, however... for some reason this clinical rotation in the Maternity Unit is not going so well. The Postpartum mom's seem to not want me around and seem to never want to ask me questions or even have any confidence in me. I come across as very confident and that i know what i am doing. However they never feel comfortable asking me questions.. or asking for help... etc,. and then when the RN comes in the questions just burst out of their mouths about breastfeeding.. and about baby... just things that i could have answered.

Im just asking for some advice on how i can make my pt trust me, and feel comfortable with me around... I usually go in and say "Hi my name is sarah, im a student nurse and ill be looking after you and your baby today... hows everything going in here.. blah blah... do you have any questions .. blah blah" I dont know, i just want to know what i am doing wrong! I know i look young (only 19) which doesnt probably help.

any advice?

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First impressions can mean everything. How do you enter the room? Do you enter slowly and cautiously, looking around, and shyly introduce yourself? Or do you walk right in, look your patient straight in the eyes and very confidently say "Hello! My name is. . ." If the patients perceive you as being nervous and unsure of yourself, they will tend to treat you as such.

If they still don't respond well, let them know via demonstration that you really know what you're doing. Show them you've got your skills and all your info down COLD. Good luck!

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Specializes in Med-Surg.

See when my shift starts they are usually sleeping, so yes i go in cautiously... i knock on the door and go in. But i guess in the midst of me trying to be respectful it comes off as timid? I dont know... i have NEVER had trouble getting a pts trust before... then again ive only done residential care with the elderly lol. so this is new definetly. I need to get this down pat though because i go into Peds right after this rotation... which could possibly be worse with overprotective parents.

i guess tomorrow ill just own whatever im doing. act like i know exactly what i am doing, and act like i have been doing it forever.

I think the student nurse badge doesnt help lol :)

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