A man came to deliver air mattresses today. For patients in beds 87 and 88; Mr. Ng and Mr. Amad. He was a Chinese man, probably in his early 30’s, who conversed in simple English with the staff nurse who just took over the afternoon shift; and in Mandarin with me.
The man had his own way of communicating with us. First he got everybody to turn Mr. Ng to one side, so he could slide a new mattress under the patient. Then the air mattress was placed above that newly placed mattress. Next, all he got the staff nurse to do was hold on to the new mattresses with Mr. Ng on top; while he forcefully pulled out the old, normal one underneath with my help which I did not know he wanted. This was our first time doing it according to his instructions because usually we just added the air mattress above the normal mattress instead of changing it to a thinner one. In the end we moved on to the next bed, with a better idea of what to do already. Mr. Amad was a lucky man.
Anyway this was an event that took place today which left a lasting impression as it was a shocking enough experience. Looking at the helpless patients in discomfort, or worse still, pain, hurts my heart because I too, felt helpless as I did not know what was going on. Let alone relieve their discomfort.
It really did not went too well today for both patients whose families ordered for the air mattresses. It was an unpleasant experience; they may have fears in future whenever they are transfered from bed, having sheets changed, mattress changed, etc. I hope what happened today does not leave such impacts on Mr. Ng and Mr. Amad.
Looking at this event, I think that the man failed to communicate to the staff and I clear instructions, causing us to fail to help him as well as the patients as best as we could have. The man knew exactly what to do, but did not explain how. What he could have done was speak to us clearly and tell us how he needed our assistance, step by step; rather than just giving instructions along the way. Before I forget, he should also have known this was an orthopedic ward. At least find out what was wrong with the patients before all the shaking and shifting.
From this experience I understood the importance of effective communication. Without it, even efforts to do patients good might in turn harm them. Taking the air mattresses today for example: something to prevent pressure sores, but we could have knocked the patients or scratched their skin in the process of changing mattresses if careless. Thus from now on I will pay extra attention to communicating information as clearly as I can, and make sure I get help if the opposite party does not understand what I try to convey. Besides, I will also take extra efforts to be an active listener on the other side of the fence.
Which brings me to my next point, I experience some problems with understanding what are being said over the passing of reports. The staff nurses use many abbreviations which I sometimes find difficulties catching up with. I confess my fault in not clarifying or requesting for explanation to what they have said. They always appeared in a hurry to get things done, perhaps they are just experienced, and used to passing reports speaking in ways that are not “slow” enough for me. Sorry for most of the times I did not dare ask for explanations and meanings of unfamiliar abbreviations.
Communication is of great importance in everything we do. Therefore I hope to communicate better.
With this, I wish to conclude my reflective writing for the day.
The man had his own way of communicating with us. First he got everybody to turn Mr. Ng to one side, so he could slide a new mattress under the patient. Then the air mattress was placed above that newly placed mattress. Next, all he got the staff nurse to do was hold on to the new mattresses with Mr. Ng on top; while he forcefully pulled out the old, normal one underneath with my help which I did not know he wanted. This was our first time doing it according to his instructions because usually we just added the air mattress above the normal mattress instead of changing it to a thinner one. In the end we moved on to the next bed, with a better idea of what to do already. Mr. Amad was a lucky man.
Anyway this was an event that took place today which left a lasting impression as it was a shocking enough experience. Looking at the helpless patients in discomfort, or worse still, pain, hurts my heart because I too, felt helpless as I did not know what was going on. Let alone relieve their discomfort.
It really did not went too well today for both patients whose families ordered for the air mattresses. It was an unpleasant experience; they may have fears in future whenever they are transfered from bed, having sheets changed, mattress changed, etc. I hope what happened today does not leave such impacts on Mr. Ng and Mr. Amad.
Looking at this event, I think that the man failed to communicate to the staff and I clear instructions, causing us to fail to help him as well as the patients as best as we could have. The man knew exactly what to do, but did not explain how. What he could have done was speak to us clearly and tell us how he needed our assistance, step by step; rather than just giving instructions along the way. Before I forget, he should also have known this was an orthopedic ward. At least find out what was wrong with the patients before all the shaking and shifting.
From this experience I understood the importance of effective communication. Without it, even efforts to do patients good might in turn harm them. Taking the air mattresses today for example: something to prevent pressure sores, but we could have knocked the patients or scratched their skin in the process of changing mattresses if careless. Thus from now on I will pay extra attention to communicating information as clearly as I can, and make sure I get help if the opposite party does not understand what I try to convey. Besides, I will also take extra efforts to be an active listener on the other side of the fence.
Which brings me to my next point, I experience some problems with understanding what are being said over the passing of reports. The staff nurses use many abbreviations which I sometimes find difficulties catching up with. I confess my fault in not clarifying or requesting for explanation to what they have said. They always appeared in a hurry to get things done, perhaps they are just experienced, and used to passing reports speaking in ways that are not “slow” enough for me. Sorry for most of the times I did not dare ask for explanations and meanings of unfamiliar abbreviations.
Communication is of great importance in everything we do. Therefore I hope to communicate better.
With this, I wish to conclude my reflective writing for the day.
(putting the mirror and pen away)
No comments:
Post a Comment