The next couple of weeks bring on a holiday season filled with meaningful holidays that are especially tough on patients who are hospitalized, in nursing homes, or home bound.
Nurses expect to work some of the holidays that are special for them, and they know how hard that is. But they also know they are taking care of people who are also as saddened by not being home for the holidays and are too sick to have any choice in the decision.
As a nurse working the holidays this year, you have a chance to make a real and lasting impact in the lives of your patients in many ways. Of course, giving excellent medical care is expected, but being aware of the sadness patients might feel is equally important.
Depending on where you are working and the physical condition of your patients, you can extend some holiday cheer to patients and their families.
Patients who have families nearby can help brighten the holidays as well. Spending time with a family member who is hospitalized over the holiday is so important to their recovery.
If family is around, encourage them to come in on the holiday if they are at all able. Discuss how many visitors are permitted and how long they can stay. Let families know that even a quick visit can significantly lift a patient’s spirits. “If family are close then of course spending time with a loved one on the holiday is the best outcome,” she says. “Bringing in decorations, food (if permitted), and other touches are great suggestions.”
And nurses can also extend some holiday touches as well. Adding cheer, wearing festive scrubs, or just talking with patients about favorite holiday traditions can help ease the pain of being hospitalized over the holidays.
For patients, the human connection of just having someone else empathize with you and not ignore feelings of missing family keenly is often so soothing. But for nurses, the connection is equally heartening. Knowing you are helping make someone’s holiday brighter is especially gratifying.
You never know what you might learn about your patients, either. You could learn some great recipes from a dedicated cook or variations of traditional holiday songs you’ve never heard. Patients could inspire laughing fits as they tell tales of family holidays gone wrong or tears with singularly perfect holiday memories.
And if the holiday holds religious significance, be sure to ask patients about their preferences. “The nursing staff will also do whatever they can to make the day special for patients,”. “For instance, if attending a religious service is important, the nursing staff will reach out to the hospital Chaplin to assist.”
Ad blocker detected: Our website is made possible by displaying online advertisements to our visitors. Please consider supporting us by disabling your ad blocker on our website.
How to Help Your Patients Over the Holidays
For non healthcare worker who wish to express opinion on nursing and hospital issues.
- Sister Nadi
- Reactions:
- Posts: 97
- Joined: Fri May 18, 2012 9:14 am
- Years of practice: 19
- Contact:
How to Help Your Patients Over the Holidays
Unread post by Sister Nadi »
Action is the foundamental key to all success
-
- Similar Topics
- Replies
- Views
- Last post
-
-
How can we make the best of our time for ourselves and our patients?
Replies: 2by Kunle Emmanuel » Wed Dec 22, 2021 4:40 pm » in Nurse to Nurse Discussion - 2 Replies
- 1111 Views
-
Last post by seohammad90
Tue May 10, 2022 11:25 am
-
-
-
What are the top 3 most common questions patients ask you
Replies: 13by Queenet » Tue Sep 21, 2021 4:27 pm » in Nurse to Nurse Discussion - 13 Replies
- 2938 Views
-
Last post by ASDF123
Sun Apr 03, 2022 10:13 am
-
-
-
Is it ever ok for nurses to accept gifts from patients and their families?
Replies: 6by NurseTogether1 » Mon Apr 25, 2022 11:09 am » in Nurse to Nurse Discussion - 6 Replies
- 1816 Views
-
Last post by dina121
Sun Nov 13, 2022 10:38 am
-
-
-
NANN STATEMENT ON ALLEGED DISCHARGE OF PATIENTS AND REMOVAL OF OXYGEN ON A 2 DAY OLD BABY
by Kunle Emmanuel » Fri May 21, 2021 7:26 am » in Nurse to Nurse Discussion - 0 Replies
- 2212 Views
-
Last post by Kunle Emmanuel
Fri May 21, 2021 7:26 am
-
Return to “Public Discussion Forum”
Jump to
- Announcements, Feedback & Support
- ↳ Welcome Message To All Visitors
- ↳ Announcement & Tutorial
- ↳ Forum Rules - Read Before Posting
- Nursing News
- ↳ Nursing Related News & Articles
- ↳ Nurse to Nurse Discussion
- ↳ General Health News
- ↳ Male Nurses
- ↳ Retired Nurses
- Jobs in Nursing and Healthcare
- ↳ Nursing Job & Recruitment
- MCPDP for Nurses & Midwives
- ↳ MCPDP for Nurses & Midwives
- ↳ Continuous Education
- Nursing Education
- ↳ Student Nurses Discussion and News
- ↳ Nursing Inspirations, Jokes, and Quotes
- Public Health Adviser
- ↳ Public Health Education
- ↳ Maternal & Child Health Education
- ↳ Sexual Health Education
- ↳ Public Discussion Forum
- Clinical Nursing Discussion
- ↳ Clinical Nursing Blog
- ↳ Specialty Nursing Discussion Forum
- ↳ Free Nursing e-Book
- ↳ MEDICAL EDUCATIONAL VIDEOS HD
- Nursing Digital Skill Empowerment Program
- ↳ Nursing Digital Skill Program
- Workplace Safety Forum
- ↳ Safety Health Enviroment SHE Topics
- Marketing Online
- ↳ Marketing Medical Products
Who is online
Users browsing this forum: No registered users and 267 guests