Need Positive "Cheerleader" Phrases for 1st job

[in2ICU]

Just got my first med job as a PCT in PICRU while I have a 1 year wait 'till nursing school.

I was told that I need to have a very positive attitude and be a cheerleader for the patients to let them know they're improving or going to get better, etc.

Would everyone please share his/her best cheerleading phrases with me? (or any other phrases that come to mind with regard to my role as a PCT).... I don't want to have to say the same thing all the time!

I look forward to your replies! Thanks.

[in2ICU]

Just to clarify, PICRU is not Peds. It stands for Post Intensive Care Rehab/Recovery Unit.

It's a place where people go who are not sick enough to stay in ICU, but are too sick for the floor. Some need rehab, others are waiting for transplants, there's all sorts of variety. The nurses working there told me what good experience it will be since there are so many different types of cases.

[JBudd, MSN]

You can also use lead in questions with a little humor, like "so what do you do when you aren't in here checking up on my nursing care?", or "I know you just came in for our fantastic hospital food, but when you can't get it what (or where) do you like to eat?". I've told tourists, "yeah, no city tour is complete until you get to check out the ER as well, where are you from?". Sometimes its "that's an interesting name, what's the history of it, or where did it come from?". I had one Native American man relax enough with this kind of questioning that he told me the history behind his name and we talked about our grandfathers, mine a homesteader and his a warrior who showed his grandson (my patient) the bluffs they used to hide behind before attacking. Being genuinely interested in people gives you leads in, when you've established a spirit of trust.

I tell people never to give up hope, just that what you're hoping for sometimes changes, and that's okay.:redbeathe

[PICNICRN, BSN, RN]

Thanks for sharing your story about when you were 10, I'm sure that really affected you.

I agree with the above posts..... stay positive but never tell them that they will "be ok" because they might not be. I try to focus on all of the positives- "great job on the IS... your getting the ball higher and higher, you sat in the chair today... thats great, no fever today... thats a good sign..........ect, ect. Just praise everything that is going well, no matter how "insignificant" it may seem to them. I think most pepole are happy to know that someone cares about them and takes interest in their progress.

[rockytopRN2b]

Some of the best, most unforgettable experiences I've ever had with pts and families have been mainly the result of just listening and letting them know they have been heard. I had one elderly pt who was post-CVA and unable to speak. I was wrapping up a shift one night and had a few minutes to kill so I checked on her before leaving. Her husband started talking to me about his wife and her condition, and the next thing you know, was sharing their life with me--how they had been happily married for 50 years, and what a wonderful wife and mother she was...how he had taught her to fish and she became a better fisherman than him...of all the things they had been through together. You could absolutely see the love shining in his eyes. And when I looked back at her, she was lying there looking at him, smiling with tears running down her face. It was unforgettably beautiful.

Before they left, the husband thanked me for taking care of wife and everything I had done for them, but really, I felt like I should be thanking them for allowing me to witness something so beautiful and faith inspiring. All I did was listen.

It's those moments I absolutely know I'm meant to be a nurse. :)

[in2ICU]

Thanks for sharing your story about when you were 10, I'm sure that really affected you.

I agree with the above posts..... stay positive but never tell them that they will "be ok" because they might not be. I try to focus on all of the positives- "great job on the IS... your getting the ball higher and higher, you sat in the chair today... thats great, no fever today... thats a good sign..........ect, ect. Just praise everything that is going well, no matter how "insignificant" it may seem to them. I think most pepole are happy to know that someone cares about them and takes interest in their progress.

PicnicRn - I really like the idea of focusing on those little positives. What a great tip. I'm guessing that even if something doesn't seem too significant to the pt at the time, if you make the effort to mention it they may see it differently.

I know from personal experience that some of the smallest, seemingly insignificant comments/compliments I have rec'd are the ones that stick with me the most! Just the fact that someone noticed (or was interested) meant everything.

[in2ICU]

Some of the best, most unforgettable experiences I've ever had with pts and families have been mainly the result of just listening and letting them know they have been heard. I had one elderly pt who was post-CVA and unable to speak. I was wrapping up a shift one night and had a few minutes to kill so I checked on her before leaving. Her husband started talking to me about his wife and her condition, and the next thing you know, was sharing their life with me--how they had been happily married for 50 years, and what a wonderful wife and mother she was...how he had taught her to fish and she became a better fisherman than him...of all the things they had been through together. You could absolutely see the love shining in his eyes. And when I looked back at her, she was lying there looking at him, smiling with tears running down her face. It was unforgettably beautiful.

Before they left, the husband thanked me for taking care of wife and everything I had done for them, but really, I felt like I should be thanking them for allowing me to witness something so beautiful and faith inspiring. All I did was listen.

It's those moments I absolutely know I'm meant to be a nurse. :)

This was a tough one to read. I just lost my mom to lung cancer 3 weeks ago and I was with her every day for the 10 months leading up to her death. Just like your story, I saw something very similar between my mom & dad (married just short of 50 yrs). HARD, HARD, HARD

Does anyone get teary-eyed in front of patients? How do you handle that?

[marachne]

This was a tough one to read. I just lost my mom to lung cancer 3 weeks ago and I was with her every day for the 10 months leading up to her death. Just like your story, I saw something very similar between my mom & dad (married just short of 50 yrs). HARD, HARD, HARD

Does anyone get teary-eyed in front of patients? How do you handle that?

Sorry to hear about your loss -- but to make something positive out of that, it gives you that extra empathy, not only with people who are ill and/or dying, but what it feels like for the family members, especially those who are providing a lot of care. Remember that empathy when working with not only your pts but their families.

I work in palliative & hospice, so there are a lot of sad times. I am also someone who has been known to cry at commercials. So yeah, my eyes well up with tears regularly when I'm working w/patients and families. Not when performing tasks, but when talking about hard stuff, or sharing memories. I don't go into full tears, and certainly don't bawl, but I think it's not only ok, it is often appreciated when we show that we are human and their sadness has touched our life.

This link http://www.pallimed.org/2008/04/crying-doctors-how-to-be-good.html may be helpful

[Agnus]

I guess in general I should've summed it up as needing words of encouragement.

For instance, when a pt makes a negative comment about their situation - how do you respond to that?

Background:

When I was about 10 years old a very close family friend who was like a second grandpa to me was diagnosed with esophageal cancer. My parents took me to his home for us to visit. He was in a hospital bed and connected to all sorts of equipment.

I, being a polite kid, then asked "how are you doing, Mr. Smith?" and he sarcastically replied "how do you think I'm doing?" This was a tone he had never used toward me before and that memory has never left me. I felt so awkward and have since become mostly silent in those situations because I just don't know what to say.

So that's why I'm asking this in such a point-blank manner.

You were 10 yrs old. Give that kid permission to be a well meaning kid. The adult was in anguish so was not being an adult toward the kid. Forgive his rude reaction. It was not a personal attack on the kid it was a wounded angry person striking out. The kid was in the way when the the shot was fired.

Today, I ask that question every day of my patients. I really want to know. If a patient responds to me the way you describe I tell them I am asking because I really want to know from their perspective. Then I shut up and listen.

[casi, ASN, RN]

I hate saying that everything will be okay or someone will get better, because I really don't know.

I like to look at what patient's have done. If I come in the next night and the patient is doing a lot better I acknowledge it. Pointing out to a patient that they getting stronger, or able to more of something they couldn't in the past means a lot. It seems that when they are in the hospital they aren't able to see the little changes as well as we are.

Sick people are frustrated, cranky, upset, scared and that's okay. It's helps to let the patient know that.

One of my biggest phrases with patients is "You don't have to apologize to me. I understand you're sick and _______" A lot of people will try to appologize for those times they snap at you a little, or for incontience, or behaviors caused by a reaction to medications.

For the most part just try to be there for patients. If they have a lot of cards or pictures of family ask them about it. It's a great way to open up conversation!