SHORTSTORIES

3 THINGS TO NEVER TELL A PATIENT When I was in nursing school, the three main things we were told to never tell a patient:

“Everything will be all right.” This is false reassurance. How do you know everything will turn out all right? Lying to patients causes them to mistrust you and whatever you represent to them (the hospital, the doctor’s office, etc.)

Saying “It’s not going to hurt” when it is going to hurt. Again, lying to patients results in mistrust and it’s especially true with children, who carry the emotional scars of severe illness and hospitalization for the rest of their lives.

“I know how you feel.” No, as a nurse you have no idea how the patient/family feels. By jumping in and saying you understand, you’ve cut them off from actually talking about how they feel and getting some real reassurance rather than false reassurances. +

Shortstories

A LIFE-GIVING FUNERAL When I was eleven years old, my friend Denny drowned while swimming alone at a local lake. He was alone because I had persuaded a mutual friend who was supposed to go with him to instead come visit me at my house. I was grounded from leaving the house, but I could have a friend come over.

At that young age, Denny’s was the first funeral I remember attending, and I walked into the funeral home alone. I was terrified and overcome with remorse and shame. Not quite knowing what to do, I slipped in the back and sat in the first chair I saw with no one near it.

Almost immediately, Denny’s mother came over and sat next to me. She said, “This is not your fault. You did not kill Denny. Tragic accidents happen all the time, sweetheart. Don’t carry this through your life. If you do, that will be another tragic accident. When you leave today, leave any guilt you might feel right here so that we can bury it too.

Then she hugged me while I cried. I did exactly as she said, and I have never forgotten her kindness and grace. +