7colorsrainbow

That's precious advice from you! I appreciated it so much! Thank you :)

Actually I not remember the exact age of the patient. This situation is an example of scenario for reflective practice. Sorry

Dear Pixie, yes. You are right about this. I should ask first to protect patient's confidentiality. Thanks for your advice!

Dear ScientistSalarian, Thanks for your comment. What you said is right about patient's privacy. I will learn from this issue and be more alert about patient's confidentiality. This is also first time I encountered the situation like this. I am new grad. Well, that is my purpose of putting this situation for reflection and to seek for opinions regardless negatively or positively. What if the patient is below 21 years old, will you tell his mother if his mother wanted update about patient's condition?

Most patients in my place will ask to explain about the appointment to their caregiver. So we need to wait their caregiver to be with them before discharge them. In this situation, the patient himself did not tell nurses or doctors not to tell his family member.

Upon discharge a 23-year-old young man who came in for seizure, he requested for appointment at psychological medicine clinic because unable to sleep for few days and low mood. When I informed him about the date of appointment under psychological medicine, his mother at bedside seemed not understand, looked surprised and asked why her son need to see psychological medicine doctor but the patient expressed his anger and said never mind!As I realized the patient may not want to let his mother to know about it, so I didn't explain further to his mother for patient's confidentiality.When reflected back about the incident, I was thinking if I do the right thing to disclose the thing to his mother? Should I actually explained to patient's mother so that patient can get psychological support from his mother? What if the source of stress is actually from patient's family? Well, I guess I did the right thing for the issue. if you are in my position, what will you do?

As new grad who just stepped in the real working world, it may be tough for first few months. I am new nurse so I understand your feelings. Same like you, I felt wanted to quit after working few months. This due to collegue issue and they said I got communication problem with them. They gave lots negative feedback to my nurse educator behind my back and not gave feedback to me in person or face to face. Some of them like to remember my weakness or mistake but never bother to see my progress. At the moment I felt so incompetent due to negative feedback by the staff, I almost resigned because I felt that I can't hold it anymore. However, my sister reminded me why you want to be a nurse in first place and this totally pulled me back. I remember I want to be a nurse to care patient and their family member. I remember how satisfied I am when patients discharged well from hospital despite crazy workload in the shift. I remember I want to provide good nursing care and not to live under other's negative comments. I tried hard and my best to improve myself, my speed to do work, my communication skills, my knowledge so that I can be a better nurse. Thanks to my nurse educator and nurse manager. They heard about my problem and offered me to change to other ward. "Start it as brand new," said my nurse manager when she introduced me to colleague at new ward. So I started all over and built my confidence there. The staff are more supportive than previous ward and even I received complement from my patient for my communication. Well, I proved to those who are once never help me but complained behind my back that I can improve myself. Thus, hints for new grad nurses: 1. Determination will make you stronger in your will to become nurse. 2. Take negative feedback as challenge to improve ourselves. 3. Talk to superior if need help or assistance. 4. Practice makes perfect. 5. Team player even with those who don't like you. 6. Last resort, leave the place or request to change ward. Sometimes we need fresh environment to gain the energy and confidence back!

Agreed. Had a patient's son came over and started yelling at me, he think his mother's leg cellulitis is caused by diabetes and strongly requested referral to Endocrine. Thanks to Dr Google. Explanation given by my doctor (Her blood glucose level is normal) but he still wanted Endocrine team to see his mother or else he would file complain to our CEO. I was a preceptee late then, guess my communication skills not so good but luckily my preceptor helped me with PR issue. I learned that communication skills play important role particularly to prevent PR issue which nursing school never taught that.

May I elaborate in simple poem written by me.. :) My apology if my English is not so good.. -Empathy- When a nurse "became" a patient, Experiencing those feelings, When in great pain, there is someone who will ask you "Are you okay?" and try to get the painkiller to reduce the pain, When been left alone in the hospital,there are someones will say, "Don't worry. We can take care of you." When freaked out seeing the sharp needles, there is someone will give reassurance, "Trust me." When clueless about what should be the best treatment, someone will say. "I will find out for you." When feel very unwell, someone will always watching closely for any changes of condition and inform doctor. And this "SOMEONE" who has no blood tied relationship with you, Care for you like a family member, Advocate for you like a lawyer, A health educator, and she is not just a nurse, But an EMPHATIC nurse. As a new staff nurse, I always believe being emphatic is the key to make patient feel comfortable and can build the trust between nurse and patient. Putting myself in patient's position or in their shoes will make me think what they really need beside the treatment. Even our presence to hold their hands during painful procedure like lumbar puncture will make them feel better! Little actions by us, nurses will bring big difference in their experience as patients. =)

Patients may not remember what we say to them but definitely remember how we make them feel. Do you have experience which reflected on above statement? Let's share!

Hugs. I remember how I tried to hold my feelings when witnessed my patient's death because it refreshed my memory of my grandmother's death which I am not a nurse that time. I remember telling myself "I want to be a nurse" because I saw how nurses care for grandma in hospital and CPR by medical team which brought her alive. I always tell myself that I want to be a nurse who will care patients as my own family and I glad I there today. "Thank you, grandma"

It happened to my shift too. When I was preparing medication for another patient, patient pressed call bell just to tell me that she spilled water on her table. In fact, she is ambulating well in ward and just wanted me to clean the spilled water. However, I just maintained my professionalism, remained calm, and wiped off the water in few seconds.

Guess I had experienced that before. I am brand new nurse too. Before passed my probation, the supervisor will give me more patients under my care than other experienced nurse A. The supervisor is same race as the experienced nurse A too. Though it may sound like race "bullying", but I took it as challenge to see how I can handle the cases alone. This included the supervisor asked me to receive new admission 15 minutes before shift end. I was in night duty that time. So when handling over, the morning shift staff saw I was doing nursing initial assessment and waited me to pass report to her, she asked why not just let her receive the admission in the morning. What I answered was " I received the case for you" because I know it will be busy in morning shift and the patient need to undergo diagnostic test in the morning shift. Imagine the admission is delayed! Well, guess that it all win-win condition for patient and staff! Sometimes we need walk extra mile though some people may not appreciate it but still it give satisfaction in my job as long as choose to think positively.

It is not a job to make others happy but it depends on patients' own experience in hospital to let them feel the happiness. A smile and the warmth of caring attitude by nurse will indirectly make patients feel happy during hospitalization but again it depends on individual personality. I had a patient who told me that I am a happy nurse & she felt happy during hospitalization.. For me, if I can see others happy, I will feel happy too 😄