01/01/2023
My day started w/a nurse calling me to warn me about a patient’s husband, who was being aggressive & demanding his wife’s breathing treatment NOW. I went up to the patient’s room and gave the treatment (no big deal); but I could feel this guy’s scared, emotional, worried energy; he was being aggressive, talking fast, interrupting me & speaking for his wife, who has Metz Lung+Brain Cancer! He was still talking & saying what-sometimes I’m not sure I was even paying attention; anyway, the med was going to take a while & I asked if it was OK that I sit; sure they said. I looked right at the husband and said, let me ask you something: “are you scared?” He started saying something, and I said wait….I’m asking you as her husband are you scare for her? He paused and said yes and then told me he was from Jersey and he wouldn’t stop being an advocate. I said I get it and I feel your emotional anxiety, nervous energy. I just want you to know I’m here for you and her (my patient) but when I assess her, I need her to answer. I hear you though and I feel what you are saying is important too…that changed the whole vibe in the room and you could see the husband relax a little bit. My day went on, I went back a second time cuz they called for an earlier treatment again. I took my Mary’s Angel that was hooked to my badge and gave it to them (him); I told him the story of mom’s passing, the non-profit I’ve tried to get off the ground, & the warm blankets I bought for all the ICU patients last year @ MHP. I wanted them (him) to have it to feel safe, heard, and calm. I told my patient everything was going to be OK and now they have a Mary’s Angel to make them feel understood and protected. Sometimes you just have to pay a little bit more attention to certain patients and give them what they need, if it’s only for that day - we can only do today. I think mom would have been OK with that. I still have Mary’s Angels if anyone wants one, just PM me.