When meeting with a new client for our first nurse visit, he explains he has a list of things he wants to discuss.
At the top of his list was his frustration in not being able to replace bits into the case where they belong. He described loss of feeling in his hands due to treatments he is undergoing, as well as a decline in his fine motor skills.
He was also unable to see the small numbers on the bits or the numbers for their corresponding slots.
He went on to describe other odds and ends he wanted to organize. I listened to his list of concerns and suggested we start with the bits.
He said, “Well, only if you have time, maybe we should start with other stuff first.” My response was, it was first on his list and important enough to make the number one spot. Let’s start there.
As I went about replacing the bits using his headlamp and magnification glasses, we had a nice chat about how he could possibly use all these bits. He explained uses them for models and other hobbies and was looking forward to passing the tools down to his grandkids.
He was so appreciative of the time I took to get the bits back in their place. We moved on to the other tasks on his list, but couldn’t stop expressing his gratitude for getting that daunting task completed.
When you show up as a nurse, it’s important to listen to all of your client’s needs and determine what is most important to them right now.
Traditional health care providers might have gone for the other things on his list, but at Navigate Wellness, our holistic approach meets people where they are by listening and taking note of their priorities.
-Monica
