Carline Benoit
January 2025
Carline
Benoit
,
RN
PACU
Boston Medical Center
Boston
,
MA
United States

 

 

 

I do not speak a word of Haitian Creole, but I “heard” the entire conversation, and the kindness and caring Carline showed this woman.
The other day at the end of our shift, I picked up the phone and took a call to urgently bring a woman up from the ER with a ruptured ectopic pregnancy. I just took the information and decided to take it myself. I called, got the report, and sent transport. It was coming close to the end of my shift. 

I had to pass this patient along. The woman was Haitian-speaking only. I asked Carline if she could take this patient because it must be scary to have this happening and having to do all the Preop explanation over the interpreter phone. Carline happily took this patient. 5 minutes later I took a call saying that this patient refused surgery, so she was canceled. Carline and I were casually discussing why she would do that. Carline said I am certain she just didn't understand the seriousness of the situation. I forgot to cancel transport, and this patient showed up. Because she was an ER patient, we could not send her back. I proceeded to watch Carline drag over a computer, sit down at patient level, open up Google, and proceeded to explain what was going on with her. She showed her pictures and diagrams and calmly, and very kindly explained what was happening. 

The woman stated she did not refuse surgery; she just did not understand what they were saying. The patient told Carline that she would have the surgery. I do not speak a word of Haitian Creole, but I “heard” the entire conversation, and the kindness and caring Carline showed this woman. Carline messaged the surgeon, and she returned. 
Why am I saying this? 

First of all, I truly believe Carline saved this woman’s life. Second, it was so special to witness this level of patience and kindness in the middle of the chaos of trying to figure out what we were going to do with this patient. Lastly, I want to shine a light on just how IMPORTANT it is we have practitioners of the cultures of the people we care for. As kind and caring as any of us are, we will NEVER understand how scary it is to be in a situation where we do not speak the language, do not understand the culture, and be in a life-or-death situation without understanding. I will remember this for the rest of my life. It is a reminder of just how important our job is to make certain patients truly understand the situation that they are in.