One of my very respectable and old friends, a BSN, MSN, and DNP, has written this personal story (special guest post) for you, the nursing professionals, to give you a massive boost in solving complex problems that involve intercultural communication - a deeply relevant area of competence for ALL nurses. I am VERY hopeful you will enjoy reading her story below.
Every wanted to run away from your ER? You're not alone!
As a senior emergency room nurse with a BSN, MSN, and DNP, I've seen my fair share of intense and challenging cases. But one experience that stands out in my mind involved a patient from a different cultural background.
It was a busy night in the ER, and I was working alongside a team of doctors and nurses to triage and treat patients as they came in. One patient, who was non-verbal and appeared to be in distress, was brought in by a translator. The patient was from a Middle Eastern country and spoke very little English.
As we worked to assess and treat the patient, it quickly became clear that there were cultural and language barriers that were making it difficult for us to communicate effectively. The translator was doing her best to help, but there were still moments of confusion and miscommunication.
One example was the patient's vital signs, the translator was relaying the information but it was not clear if the patient was in pain or just uncomfortable. Additionally, the patient's family members were present and were becoming increasingly anxious and upset as we struggled to communicate.
In that moment, I realized the importance of cultural competency and effective intercultural communication in the ER setting. I made a mental note to myself to brush up on my language skills, and to always be aware of potential cultural differences when working with patients.
To resolve the communication problem and narrow down on the diagnosis, I asked a few questions to the patient through the translator and performed a physical examination. I asked the patient about the location of the pain, the duration of the pain, and any associated symptoms such as nausea, vomiting, and fever. Based on the patient's symptoms and physical examination, I was able to narrow down the differential diagnosis to appendicitis.
I ordered a few lab tests to confirm the diagnosis. I ordered a complete blood count (CBC) to check for an elevated white blood cell count, which is a sign of infection or inflammation. I also ordered a C-reactive protein (CRP) or erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) test to check for signs of infection or inflammation. And finally, I ordered an ultrasound of the abdomen to visualize the appendix and determine if it is swollen, inflamed, or has any fluid around it, which are all signs of appendicitis.
With the help of these lab tests and imaging studies, it was determined that the patient was indeed having an acute appendicitis and needed emergency surgery. The patient and the family were relieved to know the problem and the solution. The patient underwent surgery successfully and was discharged in a few days.
This experience taught me a valuable lesson on the importance of cultural competency and effective intercultural communication in the ER setting. It also taught me the importance of being aware of the signs and symptoms of appendicitis, and the importance of ordering the necessary tests to confirm or rule out the diagnosis. It is also important to be creative and resourceful when it comes to finding ways to communicate effectively with patients and their families, and to be able to provide the best possible care.
Let me remind you of the key lessons from this story: (1)
the importance of cultural competency and effective intercultural communication
in the ER setting, (2) being aware of the signs and symptoms of appendicitis,
and (3) the importance of ordering the necessary tests to confirm or rule out
the diagnosis. When communicating with a patient/family from an entirely
different culture, it is important to be patient and use simple words and
gestures to convey your message, involve the patient's family members in the
decision-making process, and explain in detail what is happening and what you
are doing to help the patient. Additionally, it's important to be aware of
cultural customs and beliefs, and to always be open to learning and
understanding them.
Please leave your feedback down below on whether you like this story. For any assistance, you might want to give me a shout out at meokhan2/at/gmail.com
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