“The nurse asked the question as if she and I were on the same team, like a gracious hostess trying to make things smooth and easy,” so writes the very eloquent, talented and kind Liz Kislik in Hospital Highlights, Part II: Nursing (Service ABCD) .
This post of Liz’s shines the light on those who go above and beyond; the people who work hard to get you moving or keep you moving, all with an air of caring professionalism.
Being no stranger to hospitals, surgeries, nurses, doctors, technicians of all sorts, physiotherapists, occupational therapists, plus my other “team” members, I have encountered more “Korennas” than “Nurse Ratchetts”. Thankfully!
Communication is at the heart of all these interactions. It is not a one-way street. I’ve found that when I approach the situation with an open heart, it becomes a win-win situation. They do better. I do better.
I recall a time when I had to do a follow-up with the surgeon. He was behind schedule and people were lined up in the hallway; it was reminiscent of a Boxing Day sale, minus the packages. You could see the frustration in the angry tapping of feet, you could hear it in the voices and you could certainly feel it. I made a point of doing my stress techniques while waiting. I knew that imbibing in that noxious air of negativity would not make the time go faster, nor would it make for a better appointment.
When I was finally ushered into the exam room, the surgeon released a big sigh as he sat down. Then, he thanked me for being calm! What a powerful thing to witness; how I could help our communication by being calm myself.
I suspect that the professional Korenna recognized a kindred spirit in Liz; this open-hearted exchange allowed for “the best” to flourish and for healing to occur.
Do you have an example of how a positive shift in your emotions have positively changed someone else’s?
Related post: Emotional Management in the Waiting Room.
