June 2017
Nathan
Kreigline
,
RN
PDP
Allegheny General Hospital
Pittsburgh
,
PA
United States
I wanted to write to tell you about a nurse that I found to be extremely capable while attending to my sister, D, during her stay at AGH.
D resides at Allegheny Valley School. She is afflicted with many conditions, including profound mental retardation. D has been at AGH quite a few times in the last few years. We have had various experiences with the staff.
Allow me to tell you that D is very oppositional. She can sense right away if a staff person is kind-hearted and treats her with respect, or is nervous and doesn't know exactly what to make of a handicapped person.
I have often thought that D's difficult behavior probably stems from her frustration over being unable to move much and unable to communicate. Then, once she is in the hospital with strange caregivers her anxiety escalates. I always wish that the hospital staff would consider this when they encounter a handicapped person with a resistance to treatment. Someone like D is not able to comprehend that the hospital staff is trying to help them, they are fearful and afraid of being hurt.
While D was in AGH this month she objected to sponge baths, vitals being taken, and pretty much anything else that needed to be done.
I try to go there at night and on weekends in order to check on her, interpret for her, and keep her company. One night I was there with D, and Nate was her night nurse. She needed a blood draw and of course, she objected. I watched as he got down low to her level and actually talked her into it.
I have never seen anything like it. He kept talking to her through it in order to distract her. He treated her with great dignity and respect. She responded to his loving and patient manner. It was an example of superior nursing.
D can be talked into things, but many times people are too quick to put the mitts on her which can be very demeaning. One thing that comforts D is to thumb through magazines, so when the mitts are put on that measure of comfort is eliminated.
Nate would be a great resource for those dealing with the handicapped population. All you would need is for him to explain his theories and practices. Nate is a gem among your nursing staff.
D resides at Allegheny Valley School. She is afflicted with many conditions, including profound mental retardation. D has been at AGH quite a few times in the last few years. We have had various experiences with the staff.
Allow me to tell you that D is very oppositional. She can sense right away if a staff person is kind-hearted and treats her with respect, or is nervous and doesn't know exactly what to make of a handicapped person.
I have often thought that D's difficult behavior probably stems from her frustration over being unable to move much and unable to communicate. Then, once she is in the hospital with strange caregivers her anxiety escalates. I always wish that the hospital staff would consider this when they encounter a handicapped person with a resistance to treatment. Someone like D is not able to comprehend that the hospital staff is trying to help them, they are fearful and afraid of being hurt.
While D was in AGH this month she objected to sponge baths, vitals being taken, and pretty much anything else that needed to be done.
I try to go there at night and on weekends in order to check on her, interpret for her, and keep her company. One night I was there with D, and Nate was her night nurse. She needed a blood draw and of course, she objected. I watched as he got down low to her level and actually talked her into it.
I have never seen anything like it. He kept talking to her through it in order to distract her. He treated her with great dignity and respect. She responded to his loving and patient manner. It was an example of superior nursing.
D can be talked into things, but many times people are too quick to put the mitts on her which can be very demeaning. One thing that comforts D is to thumb through magazines, so when the mitts are put on that measure of comfort is eliminated.
Nate would be a great resource for those dealing with the handicapped population. All you would need is for him to explain his theories and practices. Nate is a gem among your nursing staff.