March 2024
Vaughn
Thompson
,
RN, BSN
Adult Psychiatry
McKay-Dee Hospital
Ogden
,
UT
United States
What set Vaughn apart was his attitude toward me.
I have been admitted to the hospital several times. You tend to meet a few different types of caregivers. Some are somewhat indifferent to your issues but do help. Others are more empathetic, and you get the feeling that they understand what you are going through and how you feel. What set Vaughn apart was his attitude toward me. He was asking about one of my healthy coping mechanisms. I thought he just wanted a generic answer. I said "movies". He didn't want a short answer, he was asking like a regular person or an equal. Not a patient. We ended up discussing different movies and the parts that were exciting and memorable. There were other things similar. But I don't think that he knows what a difference that kind of attitude makes. I am fine with being treated like a patient, but being treated like an equal or made to feel like an equal made all the difference in the world. I was there because I was in a dark place. In just a few moments of conversation, I realized the perspective that I couldn't find on my own. I will continue to try to focus on that in the future. I hope one day I can do something similar to help someone else in that situation.