The perspective I had in my head of a typical shift when I was a student and what that actually looks like is two entirely different concept. In nursing school I thought people would be appreciative, patients that slept at night, and the understanding that their health and well being was the forefront of their stay. Now reality. It’s hard to tell whose in pain and whose seeking, patients that never sleep, and most patients who feel you are mostly a waitress and housekeeping rolled into a single person. Some shifts can be a little overwhelming.
#1 Always smile… even when you want to scream
Entering a room or greeting someone with a smile makes a difference in the eyes of the patient. I have had patients in bad moods after seeing a smiling person it usually sets the tone for interactions for the rest of the shift. A confused patient will, for the most part, feel more at ease and comfortable. If you are having a crazy day whether due to a complicated patient, or a severe situation. I enter the room with a smile as a way to re-center yourself. You never want to project your frustration of the shift onto your patient.
#2 It’s okay to vent… away from your patient
When you’re having a bad day, venting helps to release built up frustration while finding a resolution with someone who might have had a similar experience. By going over the events that lead to your frustration the tension is reduced. Now with that said, two things. One, be careful who you go too, whether a co-worker, charge nurse, or newer nurse. A good co-worker that you go back and forth about scenarios go ahead. A charge nurse if the situation needs help is fine, but people who could misinterpret the situation and talk are not ideal. Brand new nurse, especially with a preceptor, please don’t intimidate a new nurse who is scared to death to start with already. Second the location. Don’t vent in a loud voice right outside the patient’s room. Keep in mind that is not professional.
#3 Prioritize and Delegate
When a crazy shift occurs, you need to prioritize and delegate. For instance, you have a patient with high blood pressure complaining of chest pain. Then you have another patient wants ice and a third patient who has a headache. The primary patient right now is the one who might be having a heart attack. Do not leave your patient. Call your charge nurse. The other two for right now can wait. Delegate. Your technician is able to get ice for patient number two and try to reach out to another nurse to give patient number 3 Tylenol for a headache. Our prioritization is based on life and death. Maslow’s hierarchy placed a large part in prioritizing patient. I had one night were two patients had a rapid, one with chest pain and the other becoming septic, my charge nurse was my best friend that night. Don’t be afraid to ask for help. The concept of “my patient” and “yours” should be something that’s dropped. On my floor we help out with each other’s patients, questions about diet and allergies are held by the primary nurse. But if that nurse is on lunch or busy everyone will pitch in and help.
#4 Take a deep breath
When dealing with a difficult patient take a deep breath. This kind of goes back to the happy thing I stated earlier. Before entering the room, I will stop and take a deep breath. Just as a way to calm me. To allow me to recenter. That moment of hesitation makes a difference. It releases some tension and allows you to enter a room in preparation for encountering the patient.
We are here for the care and well being of our patients. We cannot bring all our trouble from one room to another.