Reflections from Marcus Engel’s Experience in “I’m here: Compassionate Communication in Patient Care”
Chapter 9
Gene Deune walks into the room where Marcus and his parents are to explain the process of the treatment procedure. The parents are eager to hear how the operation will be conducted, but Marcus does not feel like listening to whatever they are talking about (Engel 42). Marcus did not like the fact that the medical practitioners were not introducing themselves using their titles. However, his parents do not seem to be bothered by the incidence.
It is not pleasant for people to discuss some scary medical procedures that will be done to you especially if you are already in pain. Marcus was already feeling helpless because he felt that he was in a terrible situation (Engel 43). He was on narcotics and had several stitches that made him feel weak. If he listened to the description that Gene was giving, it would have worsened his situation because he would have started thinking about how horrible the operation would be. Avoiding Deune’s description helped him to remain calm.
After reading chapter nine, I understood how patients feel when either a doctor or a nurse gives a description of the treatment procedure that they will go through. Letting patients listen to such descriptions may scare them and may lead to emotional torture. As a nurse practitioner, I learnt to ensure that the patient remains calm. In case the patient will undergo an operation, I will not scare them by telling them what will be done to their bodies. I will also ensure that I introduce myself to each patient when I want to talk to them so that they may not have any doubts about who I am.
Chapter 24
Marcus felt that the doctor did not respect his time. He had to wait for more than thirty minutes only for the doctor to come to attend to him in three minutes (Engel 93). He explains how much he felt pain in his body, yet the procedure was done slowly. He also noted that there were patients who had more severe pain and injuries than him. However, he rejoiced since he was about to be released. At such a moment when you have persevered through the pain and the procedures, all you want is to leave the hospital environment just to feel free. When the doctor and secretary kept Marcus in the waiting room for more than thirty minutes, it could have led to emotional torture since he was growing impatient (Engel 92). Worse still, is that he had no idea what was going on and what time the doctor would attend to him. Preparing him psychologically would have helped to maintain patience and calmness throughout the entire period.
Through the experiences that Marcus went through, I learnt that physicians and nurses should respect a patient’s time. Failing to keep time may worsen a patient’s health since they will start feeling restless. Patients need to be informed how long it may take to serve them to avoid inconvenience. Before they are attended to, patients should be kept waiting in a comfortable place where they also understand what is going on. If the doctor comes late due to any unexpected circumstance, it is important to apologize and to let them understand. During my practice, I will ensure that patients are served as soon as possible to avoid unnecessary delays.
Chapter 20
The family members try the best they can to help Marcus feel confident about his health. His mother asks him what she can do for him. Such efforts are meant to draw attention away from his body conditions. At this point, Marcus seems not interested in anyone; he just wants peace of mind (Engel 71). When people talk to him, he feels bothered and irritated.
It is normal for someone to feel in low spirits at one point of their lives, particularly if you experiencing pain. During such moments, people want to show the patient how much they care about them by talking to them, giving them a message of hope and carrying out small tasks for them. Such kind actions are always meant for good intentions but they could end up hurting the patient since they start feeling helpless. The patient may also lose trust in everyone; thus, it is important to ensure that they are always confident about themselves.
I have learnt that creating confidence and trust with the patient’s family is important to medical practitioners. It also makes the patient feel good about their situation. Once the family develops a good relationship with family members, the patient also feels confident since family members do not panic. In my nursing practice, I learnt that it is important to conduct a small counseling session for the patient’s family explaining to them how they should handle a situation. This helps to avoid conflict between the patient and the parents or any close person who may be engaged in a conversation that may hurt the feelings of the patient.
Work Cited
Engel, Marcus. I’m Here, Compassionate Communication in Patient Care. Orlando, FL: Phillips Press. 2010. Print.
