TIME TO VISIT THE PATIENT (HOW TO CARE FOR A P.A.T.I.E.N.T.)
How to care for a patient? Here are seven very practical points/ways on how to care for a P.A.T.I.E.N.T…
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Ask About the Patient’s Medical Condition
Time to Visit the Patient
Yes, please! Using the information you have about the patient’s medical condition, now it’s time to visit the patient in hospital/at home/rehab or aged care centre.
From observation and my own personal experience, patient’s like it when visitors visit them. It can get really boring sometimes when/if you’re staying in the hospital for more than one or two nights. Unless you have the whole series of your favourite TV show on your laptop. But I believe even then patients would prefer visitors first (and the TV show second). Plus, not every patient will have their laptops with them. So, ask the patient about the visiting hours and if they’re up for a visitor and go visit them.
Should I go empty-handed?
Whether or not you’d like to go empty-handed is up to you. But if you’re considering to get a gift, you can get something small like a get well soon card or balloon or bear or if you’re really rich and feeling generous you can get that big bear holding a balloon and the get well soon card sitting in the corner of the gift shop! The other option is you could always come with a bowl of homemade chicken soup. Or a bag of lollies for little Leo.
What to do when visiting the patient?
There are a number of things you can do when you’re with the patient. Go for a walk in the ward. Take a tour of the hospital. Chat in the cafeteria. Play a board game. Solve a Sudoku. Knit… At this point, your knowledge of the patient’s medical condition comes to use. For example, because you asked about the patients condition, you know that Wendy is wheelchair-bound and can’t go for a walk. So, you would wheel her around the ward instead. Or play a board game.
Next…
Include Others When Caring for a Patient
Encourage the Patient to Get Better
Normalise the Patient’s Situation
Talk to the Patient About Other Stuff
