The Power of Pictures in Therapeutic Healing
Sam was a 17-year-old who had been admitted following a major traumatic leg injury. The surgical teams were trying to save his leg.
A colleague asked me to ”pop in” on him, since he was having a hard time coping. Frankly, he was completely bummed out.
Sam and his mom were together in his room waiting to go to OR. I introduced myself as a nurse working with the pain management/spiritual care team. Conversation was stiff but polite. Sam made no eye contact with me at all.
Building relationships takes time.
Following his procedure, I made a point of stopping by to visit almost every day. Mom had warmed up to me—Sam just a bit. It was an isolating time in the hospital. Visitors were not allowed, except for a single family member for pediatric patients, and the contacts with staff were often task focused and purposeful. One afternoon, I saw mom sitting in the hallway talking on her cell phone, crying. So I waited.
When she ended her call, I asked if she’d like some company. Our conversation found its way from the hospital to the kitchen, stopping along the way as we shared family and shopping tidbits. She laughed and we connected. I […]