We like to think of ourselves as good listeners, but it’s important to take a closer look at our listening skills. Listening is a key component of assessment. We need to discover the patient’s history, their chief complaints, and their observations and reports about their symptoms. There are a number of types of listening, and …
A couple of years ago, our organization was going through a Medicare audit and I was tasked with coordinating the effort to copy charts, write supporting letters, and get everything sent on deadline. It was stressful to say the least, and I was getting frustrated feeling that some of the managers were not taking this …
When I was a new hospice nurse, I attended a care planning meeting at a Long Term Care Facility. The facility staff reported that they wanted to increase our patient’s anti-anxiety medication because she was being disruptive. She would flail her arms, hum and vocalize loudly, and was resistant to personal care. I felt myself …
The step-by-step process for teaching compassion, and putting compassion at the center of care, is called C.A.R.E. The acronym stands for Connection, Assess, Respond (instead of react), and Evaluate and End. We will be applying each of the steps to ourselves, our staff, and our patients and their families. This is crucial for the method …
Imagine if… we knew what matters to our patients so we could develop plans of care that they will actually comply with and will work for them. When they know that we listen to them, treat them with respect and dignity, and care about their limitations and support need, we will build the trust and …
Imagine if… You could learn tools to help you develop resilience and self-compassion that work. When that happens, you’ll see a “ripple effect” and your staff will become an extension of your good work. Yes, a bubble bath is nice, but nothing beats know that you and your staff are the best you can be …