Mario Valenzuela
June 2021
Mario
Valenzuela
,
BSN, RN
Orthopedics
Providence St. Vincent Medical Center
Portland
,
OR
United States
Mario responded to her by first reinforcing that she was his patient, and she was "in charge". He said that respecting her and maintaining her safety was his most important priority.
Mario Valenzuela was caring for my 80-year-old mother after knee replacement surgery and was on duty for several shifts while she was inpatient. He was caring for her during a severe case of delirium 24 hours after surgery. She was extremely confused and became non-compliant with the safety protocols. She felt that everyone was trying to take away her rights. She didn't recall where she was or that she had surgery. She normally has a baseline of dementia, but this was so far beyond anything I had experienced with her before.
My mother, a retired psychologist, is an intelligent woman who gave Mario a real run for his money during the near hour that he had to field her anger and anguish. Mario responded to her by first reinforcing that she was his patient, and she was "in charge". He said that respecting her and maintaining her safety was his most important priority. He ultimately regained her trust in the conversation and when we left the room, we made a plan to keep her safe without having to do things that triggered her sense of being disempowered. I was so blown away by his poise in the moment, his ability to meet her where she was (scared, confused, and disoriented), and Mario’s ability to deliver the highest level of care. He recognized the fact that she had no rituals in the hospital to remind her of her life, her safety, her important relationships, and he recalled her mentioning her cats, which are her most important relationships now. He asked me to send him pictures of them. He printed them out and posted them across from her bed. He shared with the next nursing team their names so they could be an anchor for her to reality and love. So above and beyond.
Mario was with her again the day of discharge, and though she didn't recall the interaction at all, she recalled him because he took the time to develop rapport with her and she was so trusting of him as she prepared to leave. In one of the most terrifying weeks I have experienced with my mom (she was discharged to me eventually and I was afraid of both that and her being in a memory care facility), he showed me a model for how to interact with someone who needs help and needs respect for their autonomy and self-determination. I will never forget him or his kindness to my mom and strength in a very difficult moment.
My mother, a retired psychologist, is an intelligent woman who gave Mario a real run for his money during the near hour that he had to field her anger and anguish. Mario responded to her by first reinforcing that she was his patient, and she was "in charge". He said that respecting her and maintaining her safety was his most important priority. He ultimately regained her trust in the conversation and when we left the room, we made a plan to keep her safe without having to do things that triggered her sense of being disempowered. I was so blown away by his poise in the moment, his ability to meet her where she was (scared, confused, and disoriented), and Mario’s ability to deliver the highest level of care. He recognized the fact that she had no rituals in the hospital to remind her of her life, her safety, her important relationships, and he recalled her mentioning her cats, which are her most important relationships now. He asked me to send him pictures of them. He printed them out and posted them across from her bed. He shared with the next nursing team their names so they could be an anchor for her to reality and love. So above and beyond.
Mario was with her again the day of discharge, and though she didn't recall the interaction at all, she recalled him because he took the time to develop rapport with her and she was so trusting of him as she prepared to leave. In one of the most terrifying weeks I have experienced with my mom (she was discharged to me eventually and I was afraid of both that and her being in a memory care facility), he showed me a model for how to interact with someone who needs help and needs respect for their autonomy and self-determination. I will never forget him or his kindness to my mom and strength in a very difficult moment.