Vocera

Our hospital has used the Vocera communications system since this summer. It first started in acute care units, and has now extended down to my unit – the transitional care unit. The Vocera system is “a breakthrough wireless platform that provides hands-free, voice communication throughout an 802.11 b/g networked building or campus” (Vocera Communications Inc., 2008). The Vocera communications badge is a wearable device that weighs less than two ounces. By putting the badge on my collar and calling another user’s name, I can instantly talk to the user.

This afternoon a family member came to the unit and said that he had an appointment with the charge nurse. I simply called the charge nurse’s name through the badge and I was connected with the charge nurse right away. It was convenient and only cost me one minute. Without Vocera, I would check the whole unit and call her office to find her. It would cost me around five minutes. The system is able to save time and enable me to manage my work effectively. I am very excited to use it. This new technology greatly facilitates nursing.

Smile

One early morning I came to Mrs. A’s room to say goodbye to her, because she was leaving to go to a nursing home after breakfast. I smiled at her and hugged her. She told me “Mary, I love your beautiful smile. Every time when you smile at me, I feel better”. My heart was touched by her words, but I was surprised because I did not know my smile could make her feel better. If I had known it, I might have smiled at her more.
In 2008, Hardy identified the potential for patients to feel isolated as being “invisible”, but simply an acknowledgement or a smile can make a big difference. Even though we deal with many challenges in daily practice and feel tired, for the sake of giving better care to patients, let’s smile more!

Hardy, j. (2008). A comforting presence. Nursing Standard, 23(6), 61. Retrieved October 26, 2008, from ProQuest Nursing & Allied Health Source database.

Technology overcoming communication barriers in nursing

Technology really helps me solve communication barriers. I took care of a Greek lady who did not speak English at all last Friday. In the early morning, I found her lying on the floor and holding her right elbow. I tried to assess if she had fracture at her right elbow. We were unable to understand each other because of communication barriers. Fortunately, the hospital provides interpreters through telephone. I dialled the number and simply told the operator that I needed a Greek-English interpreter, and then I got help in just a few minutes. Technology is essential to communication barriers solving.

Communicating with a Cognitive Level Impaired Patient

Today I took care of Mr. L, who was 85 years-old and suffered from decreased mobility levels due to a stroke. He also had the first stage of dementia. He rested in bed in the morning. According to the care plan, I planned on assisting him to sit in a chair for lunch. I came to him at 1130 hrs and asked “Would you like to get up and sit in the chair for lunch?” The patient answered: “I just like to stay in my bed”. I said “OK” and left the room. As a dementia patient, he had very limited short term memory. I came to him again 20 minuets later and ask him “Mr. L, lunch is coming, which chair would you like to sit in? The wheelchair or the chair beside your bed?” He said “I want to sit in the wheelchair, so I can stay in the lounge room for my lunch”. With that, I helped him sit in the wheelchair and took him to the lounge room.

It is a challenge for caregivers to communicate with cognitive level impaired patients. We always need to use communication strategies. In this case I offered him alternative choices, which was either sitting in the wheel chair or the chair beside his bed, and it worked very well. This strategy is simple and effective. I hope my story gives you some ideas about giving care to dementia patients.

The Coin's Other Side- A Positive Look at Dementia