The other end of the stethoscope book review PDF

Preview

Summary

Essay on the book review of the other end of the stethoscope for enrichment...

Description

THE OTHER END OF THE STETHOSCOPE Author Marcus Engel

Rebecca Jane Pugh NUR 1110 3/17/2021 Ryan Andrews

The Other End of the Stethoscope did not sound like a book I would buy for myself; I am an avid reader and tackling this book felt like an assignment. I was certain that getting through this would book would be a chore. However, I read this book in two settings, in less than 12 hours! The more I read, the more I realized I was gaining invaluable insight from a patient’s perspective that I have never even considered. I have only been hospitalized during the labor and delivery of one child. In truth, I cannot fully understand what most of my patients are experiencing. From this short book though, I have gained further appreciation and respect for the nursing profession. I have set a goal to approach each patient interaction as an opportunity to not only provide care, but also to personalize that care and promote wellness beyond my assigned duties. Two Little Words “I am here,” I immediately thought of my child when I read this; how would he feel if his mother was not there for him? Becoming a parent means assuming full responsibility for a human that is not able completely provide for themselves. I realized that a patient is not so different. No one wants to be in the hospital, and they certainly do not want to be alone. It is your job to support the patient through encouragement and communication. That supportive communication can begin by verbalizing that you are there for the patient; before the patient’s family is there or before the patient is even able to let you know that he understands. Common Ground As a student nurse, I have found that establishing rapport with your patient is an effective way to get your patient and his family to trust you. I am learning to listen attentively, and not spend my time thinking of how I will answer. This is true in everyday communication, and especially true in nursing. What if we absorbed what our patient and his family is saying, instead of forming opinions? Once you learn to listen with intentionality, you will notice that the patient will trust you more. In fact, the more you learn about your patient and tell them about yourself, you may start to notice that you have common ground. Making this connection will help your patient experience less stress, better adhere to their prescribed plan of care and have better outcomes.

Embrace the Oddity If you think that every conversation a nurse has with a patient is either regarding his care or about the weather, you are quite mistaken. Nursing is holistic care; that means that we support our patients physically, emotionally and to a limited degree, psychologically. Of course, there are constraints to the nurse’s schedule; she cannot sit down with every patient at every round and have a deep discussion. However, if you do have a few extra minutes; make your interactions meaningful. Let the patient know that nothing he says will be held against him. A nurse’s job is to provide care for her patient without judgement, and that does not stop at race, gender or religion. Embrace the patient’s insecurities and ask questions that may help you understand him more intimately, which may help develop a better plan. Vital Compliments I am guilty of not communicating a patient’s vital signs to him after I obtain them. I did not even consider the importance of this seemingly insignificant step until I read it in The Other End of Stethoscope! I immediately begin to think of every encounter I have had in a clinic or hospital and it dawned on me that nearly every nurse or aide has told me, at least my blood pressure, out loud. It is not only the patient’s right to know and to be educated, but also an incentive. I will definitely be using this tip in my future patient encounters. Smile I chose this insight because it is one of my strengths. Smiling offers a mood boost to ourselves and to our patients. No one wants to be cared for by a grumpy, distracted nurse. In truth, no one wants to be around a miserable person at all; and if misery loves company, then a smile is contagious. The patient may not always smile back, he might not extend a welcoming gesture at all, especially if the nurse appears to perform a procedure that is uncomfortable. Even if the nurse is having a bad day or is stressed, she should try to smile upon each encounter. This small act of positivity and kindness may encourage the patient to return the same energy.

Confidence, There’s Nothing Like it! Nothing evokes fear in the patient quite like noticing that your health care team is unsure how to perform their duties. First impressions are a critical mechanism in conveying to your patient that you are confident in yourself and your nursing practice. No matter how challenging the task, remember your skills and be proud of your accomplishments. A confident nurse will help the patient feel less stressed in the event of a challenging procedure. If you do not have confidence in yourself, the patient will not like have confidence in his nurse, either. The patient may have less faith in his care if he notices that the nurse doubts her capabilities. That’s What I’m Here for! I chose this insight because it seems like a gateway to one of the most detrimental statements in the health care field today, “That’s not my job.” This is absolutely false. The nurse’s job is comprehensive patient care. That means that when your patient vomits or defecates all over themselves, the bed or you, the response should never be “I’ll get so-and-so to come help clean you up.” In this event, if your patient starts to apologize, reassure them that it is nothing to be ashamed of and you are happy to help. It is the nurse’s responsibility to help the patient retain as much dignity as possible. Of course, it is gross, but a nurse knows that when she signs up. Do not make your patient feel less of himself and do not act disgusted. Touch If a stranger came up to you on the street and touched you, what would you do? Of course, this is not a great example of the touch between a nurse and patient but consider the importance of consent in this situation. A patient has already consented and submitted himself to the care of an entire team, but does that not feel like forfeiting all control? It is out of respect that the nurse should let the patient know she is about to touch him. So far, I have verbalized my intentions in each encounter and in doing so, let the patient know I am about to touch him. Watch Dog The patient in this book is a teenage boy; is it normal for a teenage boy to have a stuffed animal? Perhaps in “normal,” circumstances it seems strange, but under “normal,” circumstances a teenage boy is not

lying in a hospital bed, permanently disabled. I have not yet had experience with a patient that has a preferred stuffed animal or blanket, but I know that when I do, I will never tease them or make jokes. If an inanimate object brings peace, calm and security to your patient, then it is important to them. Do not belittle the patient’s possessions or the things that they hold dear. Birds of a Feather The nurse should establish rapport with the patient’s family members, if they are present. This is absolutely crucial in making your patient feel loved and appreciated. I have noticed in my few patient encounters that when a patient has family members present, he is much more engaged in his plan of care and wants to achieve his health goals. The nurse can nurture that love and support by complimenting the patient’s family and friends. For example, let the patient know that you can tell he is well cared for at home by his wife, children, etc. This may help the patient realize that he is husband to supportive and loving partner, or father to children that have been taught to respect and cherish him. Summary I As previously stated, I chose this insight because smiling and kindness are one of my strengths. I believe, as a fundamentals student, that what I lack in experience, I make up for in communication. The nurse has choice to smile and be kind during every patient encounter. When you smile, introduce yourself and explain your role in the patient’s care, he may return the gesture and now both of you feel pleasant about the encounter. Offering your name is an act of trust that encourages trust in return and addressing a patient by his preferred name is a way of offering respect. This brief introduction sets the foundation for the nurse-patient relationship and shows genuine warmth, kindness, and compassion (Schub, Balderrama, Pravikoff, 2017). This will encourage clear, complete and trusting communication between the nurse and the patient. Summary II As early as 1860, Florence Nightingale identified comfort as a primary goal or nursing care. Comfort measures are often associated with end-of-life care; but I believe any patient that is staying in the hospital for an extended time should be encouraged to have objects, clothes, blankets, whatever makes them feel more secure,

with them. Of course, a nurse is responsible for the physical care of a patient; however, providing comfort measures moves from a physical to a more holistic perspective and are a part of support care (Oliveira, 2013). The author describes his stuffed dog with a watch around his neck as “Watch Dog.” This stuffed dog brought him peace and comfort to such an extent, that he could not fall back asleep without knowing that “Watch Dog,” was in the bed with him. The need to identify and provide comfort measures is a simple yet effective intervention that will improve your patient’s experience and promote healing.

References

Oliveira, I. (2013). Comfort Measures: A Concept Analysis. Research and Theory for Nursing Practice, 27(2), 95–114. https://doi.org/10.1891/1541-6577.27.2.95

Schub T, Balderrama D, Pravikoff D (May 12, 2017). Communication: Establishing a Nurse-Patient Relationship. http://web.a.ebscohost.com/nup/detail/detail?vid=0&sid=cc204df6-c228-4b6f-808db89f8a60d157%40sdc-v-sessmgr01&bdata=JnNpdGU9bnVwLWxpdmUmc2NvcGU9c2l0ZQ%3d %3d&preview=false#AN=T705248&db=nup...