“Hi, my name is Sonya Kedzior and I am…” was all I needed to say before I saw the grin develop on the patient’s face who I was visiting that afternoon. An instant gratification grew upon me as I recognized the invitation to continue my introduction and soon enough, I was offered a chair to sit down and stay. The moment before I stepped into my patient’s room I had a rough idea of what topics I could address based on the knowledge and hmm wisdom I have of some sort. What is wisdom? Perhaps it’s the capacity of having experience and understanding of a subject and the knowledge to make rightful and sound decisions. But how does my wisdom come into context when I am meeting with a patient whose situation I may not be able to understand or even relate to? As I sat there and listened to the patient introduce themselves and their story, I noticed the skid marks on his arms, the scratches from his beat-up fingernails and the flailing of his body. How could I help this patient? I questioned my role. Two minutes into our conversation we are connecting on things besides what brought us to this hospital room. I lean in closer and notice the receptiveness. This patient just wanted a heart-to-heart. I did not need to offer any advice, instead all I did was prompt the patient to open up and make him realize things himself, “How did that make you feel, what would you have done differently, do you want to do it again, what’s stopping you?” The story began to flow and he began to realize the triggers of his drug abuse and the fears he had of leaving the hospital. He questioned his next steps and who he could reach out to for assistance and then he looked at me. “Thank you” was all he said. I leaned back. Who me? What did I do?
Word on the Wards allowed me to express my own words of wisdom. It was the ability for me to guide patients towards their health questions and enlighten them with an idea of a healthier version of themselves. My clinical knowledge had no place here, but my ability to adjust the way a patient perceived their medical situation was how I directed them towards new goals and ambitions. Who knows the impact I set on the patient, but I know for one, that he set a lasting impact on me.
I wrote this reflection after meeting with a drug abuse patient during one of my first visits with WOW. I hold this reflection very close to me as it reminds me of how simple actions can make lasting impressions. Whether you are a doctor, pharmacist, nurse, social worker, etc., the title doesn’t indicate how you can connect with a patient on a personal level. Taking the time to understand a patient and their circumstance, is what truly adds layers of hope and success for their future rehabilitation. That moment of human connection ensured me that I myself chose the right career pathway, as I am not only learning to help others, but I am continuously learning how to better myself.
Being involved with the WOW team was extremely rewarding, as it took me out of my regular comfort zone, and introduced me to a new hospital setting, with a diverse group of patients. I could take what I was learning from school and apply it to a patient’s case. However, I did not enter the patient’s room with the intent of lecturing them on how to improve their health. Instead, I made every effort to start off each session as a social session where I could engage with the patient and understand the things that they are concerned about with their health care treatment. From there, I could get their trust and cooperation, and discuss achievable goals and plans and that’s how I feel I made a lasting impression on my patients.