In eighteen short days, I will be having my first public speaking engagement. I have been chosen to give a presentation on "Compassionate Care of the Elderly" at the annual OCHA (Ohio Health Care Association) Convention.
Its title? "Your Granny's Nurse", of course.
I was chosen out of approximately 2000 applicants to be one of about 300 speakers at the conference, and I consider it an amazing opportunity, and a great honor. I have spoken publicly for decades, but only in the context of my job. This will be my first solo effort, in that it is not affiliated with any corporation. It is me, just me, and only me. I am in hopes that it will open new avenues for me as a speaker,an author, and a nurse. It was my "Your Granny's Nurse" pieces that got me noticed by OHCA.
I will be focusing on techniques for instilling a sense of compassion in the employees of long term care facilities, something that I feel is lacking. Employees in Nursing homes, and hospitals, and other health care organizations have changed in the last few decades. There is more ethnic diversity, many of which do not have a strong concept of empathy for their charges.
This is not the employees fault. Many are now immigrants from other countries, specifically war torn areas, where empathy is viewed as a weakness. My opinion is, that we as employers must find a way to instill a sense of caring in those who otherwise merely are caring for 'bodies".
Schools are at fault also. For decades, they have taught caregivers to "not get involved" with the patients they care for. I disagree, particularly where long term care is concerned.
It is my philosophy that if a caregiver truly cares about their charges, the patient will ultimately recieve better care.
Would you rather go to a doctor who remembers YOU, or a doctor who has to read your chart before remembering only your ailments?
Would you want a nurse caring for your ailing Grandmother who merely sees her as "The Alzheimer's in room 22A"? No, you want a caregiver who knows that while Grandma can't remember what she had for breakfast, she can tell you in minute detail how she made the best cherry pie in the county. In other words, she sees her as a person, not a diagnosis.
Do you want a nursing assistant to feed your dependent loved one her breakfast while chatting it up with her coworkers, or someone who talks to her as she is feeding her? Whether Grandma actually understands is moot, it is the connection of human kindness that counts.
Too many extended care facilities focus the lion's share of their budgets on the short term rehabilitation patients. Of course they do, thats where the big money is. In and out, rake in the dough, and be done with them.
They do not seem to realize, that by increasing the "care factor", they will reap tenfold the revenue in repeat business. When a patient received compassionate care, as well as good clinical care, families will send not only Grandma to them, but Aunt Susie after her hip surgery, and cousin Nell, who doesn't remember things anymore.
Healthcare facilities spend thousands, even millions per year on marketing strategies to entice patients to their facilities, but it is word of mouth that reaps the most rewards.
While I have numerous techniques for instilling compassion and empathy in others, I am always on the lookout for new and more innovative ones. .
That is the purpose of this article, to implore my dear, wise Gather friends and colleagues to share their ideas on how to teach compassion to someone. Any ideas?
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Comments: 10
You are so right. Those who get into caregiving because it pays above minimum wage need to be trained to provide care with compassion, or they do not belong in the field. It takes a special person to care for others well, and one purpose of my talk will be how to weed out those who do not give a hoot about their patients.
Congratulations on this honor. You deserve it.
You really do not need our input, but I am happy to be there as support for what you do. You have more than just a nursing degree, you have the talent for knowing what kind of care people really need. I admire you so much for that.
But as you asked for ideas, I will offer one that I think applies to many lines of work: Treat those who work for you in a caring and compassionate way, and they will in turn treat the patient/customer/client in that same way.
Beaurocracy and big business are the enemy of quality care. This is a case in which the trickle down effect really does work. Treat your employees well and they will be more productive and treat others well.
Congratulations on being selected to speak. I'm sure you will do a phenomenal job.
Thank you for your support and for the ideas. I already have a role reversal exercise in my little bag of tricks, and it really works. When I was teaching, I routinely blindfolded trainees, and fed them a pureed lunch, and tied them to chairs, with a soft restraint(with their permission, of course) and encouraged them to drink all the pop they could handle...then ask to go to the bathroom, and other such "games".
I agree that treating employees with care is key. Most corporations do not, however many faith based places do. My job is to encourage the "for-profits" to employ the attitude of the "non-profits".
I wish the aides made more also. They, the "grunts" are the backbone of any nursing facility, and it definitely shows when they are treated with respect and the dignity we want them to show others.
Renda,
Thank you for your lovely words of support. WHile I have spoken to numerous groups, this is a whole new ballgame, and I would be lying if I said I wasn't a little nervous. Yep, the exercises work well. I am also including some inspirational writings, such as the "Look Closer See Me" poem, and one I've recently came across titled "the Wooden Bowl". When I read the "Look Closer" one to classes, I can gage by the sniffles who will be a "Keeper".
Keep your fingers crossed for me. WHile you're at it, cross your eyes, toes, anything you can think of!