How do you "bond" with your patients?

[winter_green]

How do you "bond" with your patients?

[suanna]

"bond" is kind of a charged term. I try to make a personal connection with my patients, I try to acknowledge them as a individual, not a diagnosis. I have a head start-thier intake form and data base. Where do they live, do they have a spouse, children, is thier career listed. I never spring this info on them- that's unfair and diminishes trust. I just ask safe questions that let them introduce themselves to me: "have you always lived ****?, any children,grandchildren...?" Patients are bombarded with MEDICAL,MEDICAL,MEDICAL...SICK,SICK,SICK. Letting them know you see them as a person, not a disease, can go a long way to establish trust. Often I offer a little info about myself to help facilitate an open dialogue and two way communication. I don't want to become my patient's new best friend, but I want them to trust me, and my care. I applaud your willingless to "bond" with your patients. A good rule of thumb is a friendly ear is rare commodity.

[kmountain212]

Thats a terrible attitude... and you must be one of those terrible nurses they talk about huh....

[kool-aide, RN]

I don't think it makes you a bad nurse and or caregiver to distance yourself from patients and not become too attached, but I think it can be a little cold. I don't claim to become BFFs or emotionally involve myself with every patient, far from it, but there are some "repeat offenders" whom I have bonded with.

I do try to make some little jokes with my patients, listen to their stories if time permits, and not act rushed when caring for them. I think these are the best ways to "bond" with patients on a professional level, although, I'm not sure if "bond" would be the word I'd use.

[kool-aide, RN]

Thats a terrible attitude... and you must be one of those terrible nurses they talk about huh....

I'm trying to decide if that was sarcasm or not... lol (Just kidding, of course.) hehe

[martymoose, BSN, RN]

Maybe "bond " is a bit strong- I like to think of it as building "rapport" . I like to find a common ground, or at least let the person talk about something on their mind- be the listener. I do notice though if we have some things in common, it makes talking that much easier- I never say" oh I know what you are talking about" but I can say, " I see where you are coming from" and that kinda puts the ball in their court. I actually had a very difficult patient the other day- 1st thing she said to me was "I'm letting you know I am a B$^" I told her we would get along fabulously- she started laughing- it broke the ice. She had been thru the grinder and back, so I understood her being defensive, and lett me tell you- she talked up a storm :-).

Think of it as therapeutic communication.But that doesnt mean I follow her after my shift either. I might say hi if they are on the floor still, but I leave it at that.

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

It seems like the word "bond" has a much wider interpretation than I first realised, also the term "friend." Perhaps we should agree on something else, such as a relationship more personal than that we'd form with the cashier at the food store without becoming BFF's?

[vickybabymama]

First thing I do with a patient is smile big and introduce myself. That seems to make them a little bit more at ease. It's a small gesture, but a genuine one (most of the time), and it goes a long way.

[No Stars In My Eyes]

Bonding,connecting,establishing a rappport with the patient as an individual being,being friendly without going overboard ; I think we are essentially all in agreement even if the semantics are different

[MrWarmHearted]

I agree - "developing rapport" is more accurate than "bonding" (like friends). For me, it depends on the situation - in the ER, we get just about everything plus their visitors.

(unless it's a code/emergency), I always start with a warm smile, eye contact and introduction ("mr/ms ___, is that how you would like me to address you?).

(this may sound weird) but I try to view each patient and visitor/s as family - so I treat them with the utmost respect and tenderly. There are of course situations where I have to be firm (i.e. psych/drunk patient acting obnoxiously to me or other staff/patients). But again, I would be firm with certain family/children when appropriate - but simultaneously treat them with respect (if that makes sense)

I always strive to find common ground and/or joke around with them when appropriate. I also talk with their visitors or offer them a drink -time permiting (and assuming the patient is NOT NPO).

[snoopy29]

I see and triage on average about 100 patients per shift and have probably five minutes to take an initial history and do enough to ensure that all immediate clinical needs are met - analgesia, xray, bloods etc.

I believe that I need to make my patient feel sufficiently at ease that I can quickly and easily take a history and allay any fears they have. How I do that depends on the patient - a child I will make laugh, an elderly patient I will go in to the waiting room to collect. Communicating with patients so that you ensure they understand you and just as importantly you understand them is something you learn over time and there is no one stock answer that fits all.

Like a number of other posts I don't bond with my patients - Its true that some patients touch your heart for whatever reason you will never ever forget them but for the most part I see, assess and treat with a smile and compassion and then move on and that is why I am still nursing 26years later.

[anzean_rn]

I bond with my patients by sneaking them a little extra sweetease during a heel stick or by singing them nursery rhymes while I rock them to sleep...they LOVE me for it! :)

[NickB]

Since half of my pt's are less than 2 days old, I bond with a lot of them. :)