Question

1. Mrs. Lowe is a 52-year-old patient being treated for lymphoma (cancer of the lymph nodes) that occurred 6 years after a lung transplant. Mrs. Lowe is discouraged about her current health status and has a lot of what she describes as muscle pain. The unit where Mrs. Lowe is receiving care has a number of very sick patients and is short staffed.

a. You enter her room to do a morning assessment and find Mrs. Lowe crying. How are you going to use caring practices to help her, knowing that your day has just begun and you have many nursing interventions to complete?

b. When you listen to Mrs. Lowe, she explains that her muscle pain is very bothersome and it was worse when she was alone. Both you and Mrs. Lowe determine that an injection for her pain would be beneficial. In what way can you show caring in the way you administer the injection to Mrs. Lowe?

c. Mrs. Lowe's day is getting better. She seems more comfortable and is crying less. You find that your day is more controlled. What else can you do for Mrs. Lowe?

2. During your next clinical practicum, select a patient to talk with for at least 15 to 20 minutes. Ask the patient to tell you about his or her illness. Review the skills of listening in this chapter and in Chapter 24 (Links to an external site.)Links to an external site.. Immediately after your discussion, reflect on the discussion with the patient and determine if you have enough information about him or her to answer the following questions:

a. What do you believe the patient was trying to tell you about his or her illness?

b. Why was it important for the patient to share his or her story?

c. What did you do that made it easy or difficult for the patient to talk with you? What did you do well? What could you have done better?

d. Would you rate yourself a good listener? How can you listen better?

Thank you

Answer 1

ANSWER 1. a. You can use touch and a quiet presence as you initially assess Mrs. Lowe. This helps you convey to the patient that you are there and are not in a hurry to leave. The gentle touching and observing during this time help you gather assessment data.

b. While maintaining eye contact, tell Mrs. Lowe about the injection, where you will give it, and how long before she feels some relief. You might also ask Mrs. Lowe where it hurts the most and discuss with her the possibility of you massaging the area. This uses three caring principles: comforting, touching, and presensing. In this scenario the client does not feel as though the nurse only came in and did the "task," but rather connected on a person-to-person level. Simply go into her room and talk with her. You are giving your time independent of a "specific nursing task" to connect, listen, and be with her.