👋Hey Nurse! Do you also live for moments like this?

 

Word Count: 326 | Estimated Time: ~ 3 minutes

STORY TIME...

We are in the emergency department. A patient is being wheeled urgently to the operating room. Amid the rush of doctors moving around him, the man looks at me and says,

Patient: Kristel, merci beaucoup; vous êtes très gentille et professionnelle (Translated: Kristel, thank you so much; you are very kind and professional).

Me: You are more than welcome; I wish you the best for your health, I replied (in French).

As a healthcare worker, I live for moments like this. This specific moment was no accident. It was the result of advocacy.

When I say I live for moments like these, I am really referring to the times when advocacy efforts result in success. That morning, the patient kept complaining of pain induced by his nasogastric tube (NG). I assessed him and then asked the ER doctor if the tube could be removed. The doctor in charge assured me he was going to evaluate that possibility. Although pain meds were ordered to address the pain and discomfort, I did not ignore the man's persistent request. I knew there was a possibility that the tube was no longer needed at this point. As I was doing all this, I continuously updated him on any new response from the healthcare team. I later followed up with our ER doctor and eventually obtained approval to remove the tube. The patient was relieved, and I was happy for him.

Here are the highlights of advocacy in this story:

1. Noticing the patient's discomfort

2. Taking action to report it to the provider

2. Following up with the provider

3. Keeping the patient in the communication loop

Each of these steps, I believe, contributed to making the patient feel seen and cared for.

🙌 The big takeaway:

Advocacy is a powerful tool nurses can use for the benefit of their patient. This is a superpower that can help prevent errors, boost patient satisfaction, and improve overall hospital experience.