How do you "bond" with your patients?

[winter_green]

How do you "bond" with your patients?

[Kyrshamarks, BSN, RN]

I do not "bond" with my patients. I do not need to bond with them or even like them to deliver the care they need. It is strictly a professional connection and it really should not be more than that.

[matilda123]

Wow. I hope to never be one of your patients,Kyrshamarks.

Winter green,when I meet a patient, I stand near them and make eye contact as I talk to them. I give my patient my full attention as we talk. I try to learn something about them that I can relate to. When you are truly concerned and caring, your patient will feel it and resond to it. : )

[StayingOnThePath]

Simply put, the exact moment that a patient knows who you are (the Nurse in charge of care, unless you're in a different career), should be enough of a "bond" to make.

If you really wanted to bond with patients, try having their symptoms and talking about it with them. That's as close as a bond as you should make. Don't make it personal.

[TorsadesDePointesRN]

I tell them funny stories, ask them how they are feeling, talk to them about their medical condition and in conversations look for teachable moments to educate them. I also try to stay a few steps ahead by making sure they have all the meds ordered they will probably need (pain meds for a chest painer, zofran for a patient feeling nauseous, etc.) and I explain my reasons for holding or giving whatever prn meds so the patient is aware of the care they are receiving.

In my mind, bonding means caring and a good nurse of course bonds with his/her patients because a good nurse genuinely cares about them.

[dthfytr, ADN, LPN, RN, EMT-B, EMT-I]

In the ER a good history is important. If they've done something dumb, I laugh with them. If it's clearly not critical, I ask the spouse if they want us to try to "save them" or if they have clean underwear on so I can report back to their mother. If it's a situation where humor isn't appropriate, one look tells me what they're feeling. Then I reflect that back to them.

In one case a businessman from out of town was having a small heart attack, his first. Leaning forward to stare at the monitor, white knuckles on the side rails, I said "really scared, huh?" He said yes. I told him (truthfully) that he was doing OK, and that if there were anything to worry about I would let him know. With that he let go of the rails, elaxed and leaned back in bed. His monitor rhythm immediately improved enough to catch the doctors attention(!) and we were friends.

Some people want to keep it strictly professional, which is their choice I guess. I think it's their loss.

As for me, "no man is an island." If I didn't become friends with my patients, I wouldn't have heard what it was like to live around the corner from the Wright Brothers bike shop (from an elderly patient who still held a grudge because every time her bike needed repair "they were off in the Carolinas playing with their gliders" and "we thought they were crazy!"

[Hushi05]

I ask if they're having a boy or girl. I ask about their babies' names. I ask if they have other children at home. I ask if they are ready for the baby. I ask what they are watching on t.v. I ask if they are expecting visitors. I get them treats (when permissible). I ask if there is anything I can do for them. I smile. I'm respectful. I'm warm.

[Tender HH RN]

In the home health industry especially, I've learned that "bonding" is key. There are certainly those patients who refuse to even speak but once you get a patient to trust you it helps the patient-caregiver relationship. It opens up communication and then pushes the patient to really listen to you.

I have found that taking time to learn more about the patient, outside of their diagnosis, can be helpful. It puts them at ease and shows them you sincerely care about their well being. Also, I agree eye contact and smiling always helps. This is of course different for all healthcare professionals but this has worked for us.

[ErinS, BSN, RN]

A study one of my professor's conducted followed a nurse who had an incredible success rate in occupational health changes. The people interviewed who had counseling on how to make changes to prevent workplace injury said the same thing over and over, and it was also observed. The nurse was not chatty, or even particularly friendly. But she turned off her phone, made the clients turn off theirs, and focused solely on the clients. Her average meeting was 15 minutes, and yet her clients reported her to be very caring.

So I guess my point is that spending just a few minutes of dedicated time with your patients at the start of each shift. This has worked like a charm, and is a system-wide requirement of the healthcare system I work in.

[ImThatGuy, BSN, RN]

I don't want to bond, form any attachment, or have any lasting memories of patients.

[Elvish, BSN, DNP, RN, NP]

I don't bond with everyone. Everybody is not going to get along with everybody else, and I get that. I do try to be friendly - smile, make eye contact, crack a joke if it's appropriate, and let them know on my first trip in the room that they're stuck with me for the next 12 hours. If appropriate, I ooh and aah over their baby. Everything else, I just kind of roll with the dynamics of the room.

[No Stars In My Eyes]

There's a difference between bonding and becoming friends. I can bond without getting tangled up in the patients personal life and business. I do know that when there's a blank-faced nurse who seems to not want to hear or respond to a patient , ie shows NO personality, it makes my stomach feel shriveled up for the patient. That said, there are some situations where total attention to the task is critical, and I can see how the idea of trying to bond under certain circumstances wouldn't be appropriate.