NR725A_Wk6_ServiceLearning

NR725A_Wk6_ServiceLearning

14^th Feb 2014 – 3.5 hrs

Today is 14^th February 2014 and it is Valentine`s Day. What stood out for me on this day is not the flowers and chocolates that I usually see in the stores, but the way on how I can give back to my community – my patients that I care about.

I went to the ICU and again, I saw patients` families waiting at the waiting area to hear news from their loved ones. Some were sobbing because of the bad news they received from ICU physicians, and some were angry because they felt that they were not given enough information on their loved ones by their physicians - but not sadness and despair that all I have witnessed today though. On some family members, I saw joy and relief on their faces knowing their loved ones are out of danger. What a way to remember and cherish on valentine`s day and everyday if only pain and suffering do not exist in the world.

As I catered patients` families` needs, I came to realize that I do not need to always assist or meet their needs. All they want is for someone to listen to their concerns and inform them why certain things cannot be done and/or their requests cannot be granted, and they will understand. On this situation, I witnessed a loved one who flew all the way from Philadelphia to Orlando, FL to see his brother who is in a critical condition. He had a chance of seeing his brother in the ICU for a few minutes and was asked to leave the room as his brother needs to be taken for an MRI of the brain, and was told by an RN to come back in thirty-sixty minutes. When he came back, visiting hours were over and wont resume until 20.00, and told him the patient just came back from the procedure and RN was in the middle of re-connecting the patient to ICU monitor, etc., I also informed the brother that he needs to come back at 20.00, but he insisted that he was not notified by the visiting hours and the RN told him to come back after 60 minutes. I did call the RN and explained what the family member had told me, but the RN said, “No, visiting hours is visiting hours, and hung up the phone”. I told the brother but he was very upset and I understood why he felt that way – he was worried of his loved one in the ICU and RN did not communicate properly to him regarding ICU policy on visiting hours. So, I did look for the RN in the ICU and she will not listen to what I said about the family. With my firm voice, I told her that she needs to get out at the family`s waiting area and talk to the family and the cause of the misunderstanding was her inability to communicate with the family members.

Truly, I felt anger on that situation why someone, especially a healthcare provider like an ICU nurse whose role is to supposed to advocate her patients and patients families could not even communicate to patient`s family. As an ICU RN myself I understand how we can get consumed with our work responsibilities and hospital policies, but I believe when in terms of meeting patients and patients families needs, there is always an exception to the rule. What I learned on the experience is, as an ICU nurse I need to be open to any work challenges and other possibilities in meeting my patients needs.