As I was making my morning rounds, I noted a patient who was screaming and severely agitated. The patient came from a skilled facility and had a history of MR. When I made my rounds later that afternoon the patient had worn herself out and was sleeping, but her blood pressure was sky high due to her severe agitation. The patient had been repeating the above behavior since being admitted to the hospital.
Another day when I made rounds, I noted the patient to be calm, smiling and interacting with the staff. I spoke with the charge nurse, Sheila, and asked how they had calmed her down. Sheila stated she decided to bring the patient some grooming items from her home to make the patient feel better. Sheila spent time with the patient, applied lotions, combed and brushed the patient's hair and gave the patient a hair style. I could not believe the difference in the patient's behavior, all due to a little TLC.
As nurses, I think we forget how scary the hospital can be, especially with the mentally challenged or elderly when they are taken out of their usual environment. Sheila recognized this and used nursing interventions we are all taught. I think we can all take a lesson from Sheila. We need to understand being a nurse is not just about treating an illness by hanging IV fluids passing out medications and performing dressing changes. It is about showing the patient and their family that we truly care. It is amazing what a little care and compassion can achieve.