For my blog I watched an episode of Grey’s Anatomy, in this episode many different storylines intervened but in one Owen talks to a young boy and tells him that the foster family he could go into may be very good for him, he speaks to him in a therapeutic way that makes the child feel better. Although in Grey’s Anatomy the surgeons are the ones usually talking to the patients, it is still interesting to see how people still crave reassurance from parts of the medical team. The child was visibly upset and the communication between him and Owen truly improved his day.
Another interaction that I thought was great was when a baby was being prepped for a facial reconstruction, the parents were obviously very nervous. The two doctors told the mother that it was perfectly natural to feel that way and said a few words that made them feel safe and secure in their child’s care.
An interaction that I thought was totally out of line was when a man came in from an ambulance impaled by two metal bars from a construction accident. He was being wheeled in when someone said, “I hope his name is Bob, you know, like Shishka-Bob”. When the other doctor giggled the patient responded, “My name is Leon”. Granted they had no idea that he was conscious, but I can imagine that in that moment of fear and agony, the last thing that the patient wanted to hear was a joke.
I think that the way these people interacted with their patients were actually some
good examples of what could happen in a real hospital setting. As practitioners it’s important to remember that we don’t always know how lucid a patient actually is or what they can hear when we might be in the hallways.