Response to the NYT Op-Ed Contribution, March 15, 2112, by Theresa Brown, Oncology Nurse. The article is entitled, “Hospitals Aren’t Hotels.”
Article link: http://www.nytimes.com/2012/0/15/opinion/hospitals-must-first-hurt-to-heal.html
In this article, Nurse Brown made the observation that questions about “Patient Satisfaction” fail to reflect the true nature of hospital care, which tends to be (by its nature) “invasive, painful and even dehumanizing.” She goes on to say that “sometimes we cannot give them the kind of help they need” and ends with, “In order to heal, we must first hurt.”
From my patient comfort perspective, nurses may participate in painful procedures, but the WAY IN WHICH THE PRIOR EXPLANATIONS AND THAT PROCEDURE ARE DONE can make all the difference in the world. In other words, the expert nurse does both: he or she may deliver a painful chemotherapy, but while doing so holds the patient’s hand, explains what is happening, sometimes distracts, and always offers comfort and soothing words in order to give the patient a life line. The patient’s needs are acute and pervasive during such procedures, and the best nurses address all of them, including physical pain, immobility, anxiety, terror, depression, dread, hopelessness, or loneliness. I would hope that NO nurse would become hardened to a patient’s distress, but rather engages the full arsenal of comforting nursing strategies to help patients transcend pain and suffering. For it is these important nursing functions that are the only things that can give our patients hope and courage in the face of extreme stress.
Article link: http://www.nytimes.com/2012/0/15/opinion/hospitals-must-first-hurt-to-heal.html
In this article, Nurse Brown made the observation that questions about “Patient Satisfaction” fail to reflect the true nature of hospital care, which tends to be (by its nature) “invasive, painful and even dehumanizing.” She goes on to say that “sometimes we cannot give them the kind of help they need” and ends with, “In order to heal, we must first hurt.”
From my patient comfort perspective, nurses may participate in painful procedures, but the WAY IN WHICH THE PRIOR EXPLANATIONS AND THAT PROCEDURE ARE DONE can make all the difference in the world. In other words, the expert nurse does both: he or she may deliver a painful chemotherapy, but while doing so holds the patient’s hand, explains what is happening, sometimes distracts, and always offers comfort and soothing words in order to give the patient a life line. The patient’s needs are acute and pervasive during such procedures, and the best nurses address all of them, including physical pain, immobility, anxiety, terror, depression, dread, hopelessness, or loneliness. I would hope that NO nurse would become hardened to a patient’s distress, but rather engages the full arsenal of comforting nursing strategies to help patients transcend pain and suffering. For it is these important nursing functions that are the only things that can give our patients hope and courage in the face of extreme stress.
- By Kathy Kolcaba
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I just saw the link to your blog on the Planned Parenthood site. Besides being a lifelong PP advocate, I have also been faced with a very rare neurological disorder for the last 10 years. I have seen the best, the worst and everything in between that our medical community has to offer. Some of my most painful and scariest medical procedures have been made 100% WORSE or 100% BETTER by the nurse or doctor's attitude. I have been the victim of gross humiliation by unfeeling, uncaring medical professionals. I'm a very strong person and I'll even admit, I have left hospitals, doctor's offices and testing facilities, in a heap of tears. But just this past month, my Pain Managment physician came into the office I was in, took one look at me and put his hand on my shoulder. He said "You look so worn out and upset! Please tell me what's wrong." I gave him a thumbnail sketch of increased pain and it's ensuing loss of independence over the past few months. He looked at me with such kindness and said "NEVER let it go this long again. Call me. You have a painful disease and being a martyr about it isn't going to score you any points." I broke down in tears over this simple comment of compassion and understanding. I hadn't slept more than 2 hours at a time in 3 months and had lost almost 20 pounds. I felt like I was losing my battle. With one simple change of my prescription, I was in less pain in 24 hours and after 3 days, was back to at least food shopping and bathing myself. Those simple things that people who are well take for granted mean EVERYTHING to those of us who are ill. I'm not old, but not young (49) and it KILLS me that I have to ask people for assistance ANYTHING I can do by myself brings me great comfort because it brings me independence and a sense of self esteem. To me, comfort is control of extreme pain and the ability to not have to depend on others just to wash my hair or help me dress!!
ReplyDelete"Thank you so much for this wonderful post, Anonymous. I am sorry I am just now seeing it. But you illustrate so poignantly that comforting actions are soooo important, and that a good pain management specialist is really a comfort management specialist. His kind words complemented his small change in your medication and gave you hope again. Blessings to you, this holiday season. Dr. K"
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