Patience
Patience. A very simple concept but such a hard thing for us humans to grasp. I am not trying to point fingers by no means. If you know me then you know I have my very own battles with patience. I am currently (and believe I will always be) working on that. I have improved with how I react towards my own son and my husband. After all my son only reflects my behavior. But I am not referring to being patient with ones own family. I am speaking in regards to one's professional patience with others. More specifically someone being cared for.
Today while I was volunteering I was feeding a young boy and he seemed to have no interest in the food I was offering or the one feeding it to him. He wanted nothing to do with his drink either. This is a child that has special needs and unless he is fed will not eat every day. He has to be coerced into eating. He will fight anyone it seems with a spoon or drink in their hands. Today I was handed the task and warned about how he responds. Not sure what to make of the description given I sat down and started simply talking to him about taking a bite. Another caregiver came over and held down his arms while showing me how to get the food into is mouth. Now I know I am a newbie at this nurse thing and am not even officially one yet but I don't seem to have the heart to force feed anyone yet. So after the demonstration I simply waited for him to swallow and started talking him into another bite. After a couple pleases and encouragement he graciously took a bite. I praised him and praised him. Soon he had taken 10 bites and 3 drinks without force. I understand that in this busy world we have little time to wait or to be patient with a reluctant patient but every situation I have been in that was similar to this, patience has paid off. I know that I do not deal with the child day in and day out which makes a difference in the relationship with him so I can only imagine where these workers are at from exhaustion of fighting. After dealing with my son and becoming more patient with him I can see now that over time it can be hard but very rewarding. Everyone loses their patience now and then but maybe we should all take a breather when that happens and try to remember how we would want to be treated and what is going to help the situation more. I am excited to work in this wonderful field I am entering but also hope I can keep my focus on what I value and what type of nurse I aspire to be.
Thanks for listening to the rant and I hope you too are reminded to be patient with the ones you love and everyone else. We don't know what battles of their own they are fighting.
Xoxo
Today while I was volunteering I was feeding a young boy and he seemed to have no interest in the food I was offering or the one feeding it to him. He wanted nothing to do with his drink either. This is a child that has special needs and unless he is fed will not eat every day. He has to be coerced into eating. He will fight anyone it seems with a spoon or drink in their hands. Today I was handed the task and warned about how he responds. Not sure what to make of the description given I sat down and started simply talking to him about taking a bite. Another caregiver came over and held down his arms while showing me how to get the food into is mouth. Now I know I am a newbie at this nurse thing and am not even officially one yet but I don't seem to have the heart to force feed anyone yet. So after the demonstration I simply waited for him to swallow and started talking him into another bite. After a couple pleases and encouragement he graciously took a bite. I praised him and praised him. Soon he had taken 10 bites and 3 drinks without force. I understand that in this busy world we have little time to wait or to be patient with a reluctant patient but every situation I have been in that was similar to this, patience has paid off. I know that I do not deal with the child day in and day out which makes a difference in the relationship with him so I can only imagine where these workers are at from exhaustion of fighting. After dealing with my son and becoming more patient with him I can see now that over time it can be hard but very rewarding. Everyone loses their patience now and then but maybe we should all take a breather when that happens and try to remember how we would want to be treated and what is going to help the situation more. I am excited to work in this wonderful field I am entering but also hope I can keep my focus on what I value and what type of nurse I aspire to be.
Thanks for listening to the rant and I hope you too are reminded to be patient with the ones you love and everyone else. We don't know what battles of their own they are fighting.
Xoxo
I am so proud of the way you handled that. Imagine being that little boy and being force fed. I would think it would make him less likely to want to eat if that's what he associates meals with. Maybe you gave him a new experience that will pave the way for more successes. Sometimes kids use food as a means of control, because that's one of the few things that they can. Of course I don't know his situation. But props to you for choosing a better path.
ReplyDeleteGood job sis!
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