It was an unusual day today at work. I rushed onto the ward running late,a result of childrens' lost shoes, lost travel cards and traffic. It was the 4th of July and I should have been drinking ice tea by a pool and preparing to watch fireworks but I live and work in London and its predicted to be the hottest day of the year. Lucky for me that nursing doesn't leave time for too much self pity.
It was also unusual that the ward was particularly quiet. So quiet that nursing my patients meant there was time for talking and listening. One patient has been restricted to his bed for 10 days in an intense environment where he is woken hourly with one procedure or another. It is no wonder he is becoming a bit confused and anxious to leave his bed. As I encouraged him to stay in bed once again I asked him where he wanted to go. "I want to watch Wimbledon." he replied. We talked awhile about Wimbledon and tennis. I have an idea I told him and I went to get a spare rental TV left by another patient. I set it up and by noon he was watching Wimbledon courtesy of the TV rental man who delayed payment. As people passed they would stop and chat to him about the tennis and players. He watched and stayed in bed. Nursing today mean't more than taking blood pressures and passing pills. Nursing meant listening and sharing Wimbledon.
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
No comments:
Post a Comment