Top 5 Ways to Bring a Smile to a Patient’s Face As a nurse, you know it's your job to do what you can to make your patient feel better. Sometimes that may involve more than medical treatment, as a nurse you wear many hats so to speak. No one is suggesting you take on the role of comedian or life coach, but simple gestures and actions can make a big difference to a lonely patient. A Smile is Contagious When you smile at someone, it is a natural reaction for that person to return the smile. When a person smiles, they are essentially coaching their inner self to be in better spirits, which can lessen that feeling of loneliness. A smile is a simple gesture, but it can make a huge difference, and can make a lasting impression on your patient. Related: The Best Ways to Relieve Stress on the Job Listen Everyone needs to vent sometimes, and if there is no one to listen to your frustrations, it can create an overwhelming feeling of loneliness. Try to convey a message of compassion and concern to your patient, and not just from a medical standpoint. Ask them how they are doing, and allow them the time to actually tell you. There is validity in the “getting it off your chest” saying, people actually do need to talk, and to have someone truly listen. As a nurse, you can be that someone, especially if it don’t have regular visitors. Show That You Relate In today's busy world, families may not have time to visit loved ones that are hospitalized. Frequent hospital and medical facility visits can seem monotonous to family members of the patient, so they may not be there to support their loved ones, which results in the patient facing loneliness. Show some sympathy and understanding. Allow the patient a chance to express their fears and concerns. You may just be able to put their mind at ease, and if nothing else, you can offer comforting words, “I understand”. This puts some validity in their feelings, which will remind them they are not alone, and assure them that their concerns are being heard and addressed. Related: How to Prepare for Your First Performance Review Make Suggestions You may find that your patient lacks human contact, something everyone needs. There are volunteers, as well as paid support staffs that can help ease those feelings of loneliness. Most hospitals and medical facilities have social workers and volunteers that can work with the patient to ensure they have some meaningful relationships and contacts. This is very important if the patient lacks family and friends' involvement in their life. Suggesting a visit from the facility social worker will assure you have taken the appropriate step to address their loneliness, and inject meaning back into their lives.
Volunteers appreciate the fact that they can impact someone’s life, and help alleviate their feelings of loneliness, ultimately making them smile. Positive attitudes are contagious A smile is a great first step; however, following it up with positive energy and a great attitude can almost certainly put a smile on your patient's face. If you put forth some effort to display a positive attitude while checking the IV or doing other tasks, it will impact the patient, and allow you to make the most of your time with them. If your patient indicates they are feeling better, let them know you are glad to hear that. The patient’s level of loneliness will go down, just by knowing that you care how they are doing, and will again, put a smile on their face. Keeping these suggestions in mind as you see your patients, can determine which patient is lonely, and you should make it a goal to put a smile on their face. Related: International Nurses Association - What's Your Superpower? T-shirt Please follow us on Facebook, Linkedin, Pinterest and Twitter