Embracing the What if Moment
Today, there are people all across the country entering a healthcare facility; some revisiting due to a recurring issue and others for the very first time. However they arrive, rest assured, it was not mapped out on their calendar to become a patient. None of us ever want to speculate about the possibility of a negative interruption in our daily lives, but reality reminds us of such a possibility, unexpected interruptions, that I call,’ the what if moment’.
In healthcare, that is exactly what is taken place today, potential patients and families arriving with a great sense of urgency , experiencing a What if Moment. When those moments arrive, it will impact multiple areas of their lives. Not just physical discomfort, but in some cases mental, emotional, or financial. The expression of the impact is often displayed through Anger, Fear, or Quilt. As healthcare providers we must not be reactive to the expression in the sense that we become judgmental, bias, and sometimes overly sensitive. Taking such a position can jeopardize the best of who we are. Instead, alone with great patient care, we must provide support, and Empathy. It is your greatest opportunity to be your best. Embrace the moment and WOW them with compassion.
Each of us will experience a what if moment, a bump in the road; your moment may not include hospitalization. It could be a financial bump, a relational bump, it could be worries about your children, stress, doubt, etc. when you are going through that moment you may not be your usual pleasant self. Maybe your moment causes you to be a bit irritable, maybe short-tempered, and overly sensitive and even forgetful. It would be wrong of me to judge you in that moment, and treat you differently. Now let’s think about the patient and their families. Their what if moment may cause them to wonder if they will live or die? If I live what will be my quality of life? Did I bring this on myself? Why is this happening to me, it’s unfair? The what if moment will impact their outward expression, just as yours does.
Don’t judge the moment, Respect the moment, and give them everything they need to help them through it.
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