Monthly Archives: January 2016
Nursing…..what a wonderful, wonderful occupation! In what other career can you touch a life in so many different ways? So often we witness life and death, and everything in between, often times on a daily basis. Even the most pompous and egotistical person in the world is brought to his/her knees when they are facing illness, and it is a nurse that treats, councils, teaches, and comforts.
There is the power of medicine, the power of fluids, the power of imparted knowledge, and the power of respective treatments that serve to make the patient well, but I believe quite often (and even most often) it is the power of touch that is the catalyst to making our patients heal. The simple act of a hand on the shoulder, holding a hand, making eye contact, and even giving a backrub (even though often times we don’t have time to do this) is the subconscious spark given to the patient which says….”we care.” It is a true act of love when given with sincere intent. It is the message given to the patient, and their family, that they are not fighting their fight alone, and it is the act or emotion that says “we are in this together and I am not going to leave you.” It says, “I am responsible for you and I am taking charge.”
Quite often nurses get caught up in the tasks of the job such as giving the treatments, administering meds, bathing, repositioning, taking for a test, doing oral care, and I can go on and on. When you have multiple patients, it’s hard not to get caught up with the tasks and, low staffing numbers certainly do nothing to help improve the nurse’s situation. However, we as nurses still need to communicate that we care. Remember, we work in the most significant job where we “touch” a life during a patient’s time of need and oftentimes at their end of time, and we somehow need to impart sincere “touch” in spite of the tasks we are faced with.
What I have found to be most significant in communicating the gentle care of a nurse and the quality of care our patients expect is the simple “touch” of the pillow flip. That’s right….. flip your patient’s pillow. How often do you treat your patient and do everything right, only to have him/her lying in bed on the same hot poorly situated pillow. Think about it. What is one of the most comforting feelings you have when you are lying in bed? You’re tossing and turning trying to get settled, but things are just not right until you flip your pillow and find the “cool spot.” How satisfying is that? Try it frequently on your patient and witness the subtle satisfaction on their face. Note the subtle unspoken calm of their family members, especially if their loved one is unconscious. (Keep in mind, I am talking about more than just the every two hour prop-and-turn pillow flip). It costs you nothing, and really takes up no more of your time, but “oh” what a strong message it sends. Patients feel it, families sense it, and in their eyes you are the best thing since sliced bread. It’s all about the detail of caring.
Just a simple touch and flip to show you care. So…..remember the flip.
