Please or to access all these features

Add post

Watch this thread

Save thread

Start a new thread

Flip thread

Hide thread

My feed

Active Unanswered threads

Getting started FAQ's

Unanswered threads Acronyms Talk guidelines

Hide shortcut buttons

Talk

Chat

Join the discussion and chat with other Mumsnetters about everyday life, relationships and parenting.

Flip

1 2 3

Original poster

Small actions of HCPs that make you feel better

58 replies

GladysGeorgina · 20/03/2022 23:22

For some reason today I was thinking about times I’ve felt comforted by small actions of HCPs. I’ve had a few invasive investigations recently so maybe that’s why:
Nurse bringing me a blanket and draping it round my shoulders when I was sitting next to my unconscious DH in ICU (he made a full recovery btw)
After a particularly difficult endoscopy the nurse noticed I was a bit hot and bothered and put a cool cloth on my forehead
After spinal surgery I was feeling quite overwhelmed. One of the student nurses brought a little table onto the ward and sat and did his paperwork. I found his quiet presence very reassuring.

Anyone else care to share little actions that have made a difference? Many thanks to all the hardworking HCPs out there.

OP posts:

ohfourfoxache · 20/03/2022 23:26

Using my first name and speaking to me like a person rather than a patient

Absolutely ❤️ HCPs, they are a breed apart

MarmiteCoriander · 20/03/2022 23:29

Introducing themselves by name, title and explaining what they are going to do. Such a simple thing- but so important.

Recently went to specsavers- not one person introduced themselves nor whether they were the optometrist, admin or the cleaner! I felt on a conveyor belt. Dreadful.

52andblue · 20/03/2022 23:36

I too need to know the name & title of the HCP & for them to explain what they're going to do for me to feel safe.

Interested in this thread?

Then you might like threads about this subject:

General health

splintinfarentino · 20/03/2022 23:37

My premmie was in ICU for Fathers' Day, Easter Day, her Dad's birthday, and our wedding anniversary. There was a nurse on the unit who made beautiful handmade cards in her own time and brought them into the ward for the babies to 'give' their parents on special occasions. Those 4 cards are so precious to me.

And on the first day she sat in a bouncer chair for a few minutes, still attached to all the oxygen tubing and monitors, her nurse took a photo of her beautiful little face and made it the centre of a 'sunflower'. She made petals by cutting out her tiny handprint several times in yellow paper. It was so unnecessarily kind and made me weep.

SomePosters · 20/03/2022 23:55

In the paediatric hospital we visit more than I would like many of the staff have a picture of their unmasked smiling face filling an id badge style clip (with their official ID and standard tiny pic on a separate clip)

Figmentofimagination · 20/03/2022 23:58

When DS was re-admitted to hospital 2 days after he was born by EMCS. As he was discharged from maternity he was admitted to the children's ward.
When he was being examined, the nurse made me get examined as well back at the maternity ward as she was worried I had torn my stitches.
The first night, the nurses wheeled his cot out of the room to be by their station that was right outside our door so they could tube feed him and I could get some sleep.
Being fed DS's meals since he was allocated one anyway and I didn't want to leave to his side
The HCA who took over caring for DS during his first full day so I could be taken home to shower. We walked back in to find her sat in the chair in our room by the window singing to DS and feeding him.

Twilight7777 · 21/03/2022 00:14

Having had a few surgeries, for me it’s keeping talking about anything when the surgeon doing something painful. Still get a bit sweary but the talking definitely helps. Also like to be told exactly what they doing and when they will do it. Had a bit of surgery related ptsd when I was younger so I get nervous if I don’t know what’s going on. As a deaf person it is really helpful when they offer to put a visor on or remove their mask, as I rely on lipreading.

Fuuuuuckit · 21/03/2022 00:29

My mum died recently, unexpectedly, and very quickly. I'd taken some irises for her to the ward, picked from her garden, the day before, wrapped in wet kitchen roll. When I had the call to go to ICU someone had popped them in a cup close to her head. They were the first things I saw when they took me in to see her. A hundred kindnesses that horrible weekend, from so many of the nursing staff, doctors and other hcp, even the porters were so much more than pushing her down for a CT scan.

Nightdancer · 21/03/2022 00:32

When I was 21, I received a phone call from my sister telling me I needed to get to the hospital now, because our mum was dying. I knew she had cancer, but she had fought it for so long and was still fighting it, she was still working ffs! I had no idea this would be my final day with her!

When I got there, she was sat up in her bed, fully conscious, aware and she was there, she was my mum. I was extremely upset and bemused and I asked her what was going on. She said 'I'm sorry, this is why I couldn't tell you'. Her doctor was there.

Her doctor took me to a side room and explained that there wasn't anything they could do for my mum anymore and that she was going to die. I wasn't crying at that point, I was just numb. I was sat down on a chair and she was knelt in front of me. Tears ran down her face and she apologised.

I have never, ever thought that that doctor was unprofessional for crying. She was the kindest and most compassionate person that could've given me that news, other than my detail omitting mum herself, and I felt so much warmth from the doctor. I will never forget her, or that moment and I'm forever grateful to her.

Rummikub · 21/03/2022 00:35

When having my first dc ( failed inductions, long labour etc)- the midwife walked in and turned the lights away from me. So simple, so kind. I begged her to come back the next day!

AnneLovesGilbert · 21/03/2022 00:35

I had surgery under a local for a missed miscarriage. I was okay till they started when I began sobbing and shivering like mad and one of the women, don’t know what role she had, stood next to me stroking my hair and wiping my tears the whole time and telling me how well I was doing. Meant a lot to me.

pawpaws2022 · 21/03/2022 00:39

Sitting with my Nan all night as she was dying. Couldn't sleep and just sat holding her hand. About 6am the curtain around the bed went and a lovely nurse brought in some toast and tea. She didn't say anything but just put them down and vanished again

And the nurse who made me hot chocolate at 3am after an op when j couldn't sleep and even dug out squirty cream and a flake for it

Whiskersonkittens21 · 21/03/2022 00:43

First time being in hospital as an adult, I was only around 18. My mum had just had to leave and I was in a ward off of a&e waiting for a bed on the proper ward. Suspected PE at the time and feeling very scared and emotional. The HCP sat with me and stroked my hair and told me it was going to be ok. She also tucked me up in bed. She treated me like my mum would of and I still think about it to this day over 10 years later as she really did take the time out of her evening to try to reassure me.

Nightdancer · 21/03/2022 00:49

I obviously wasn't there when my mum went through surgery, chemotherapy and radiotherapy, but I know she had amazing doctors, nurses, healthcare assistants, porters and domestic staff looking after her. She even got a beautiful long black wig that she refused to wear. I popped it on though .

I know for sure that those people laughed with my mum - she was so funny. But I'm also sure they held her whilst she cried and comforted her, none of which I can be sure of, but I'd bet my house on it. I thank each and every one of those people.

Babyroobs · 21/03/2022 01:06

My son ( aged 20) was in agony from a pilonidal sinus and had been kept nil by mouth all day in case of an emergency theatre slot. At about midnight he was told he could drink as it would be the next day. A lovely kind nurse brought him back a cold coke when she went for her break, and paid for it from her own money.

Kanaloa · 21/03/2022 01:17

I think simple things such as smiling, making small talk etc. I will never forget after one surgery a young nurse rolled her eyes and seemed very irritated with me when I called for her assistance. I was bed bound and had had surgery the day before but she just seemed annoyed to be called away from chatting outside.

After that I always noticed when nurses or the other workers seemed cheerful and pleasant to me. The day after that I remember a nurse chatting to me as she took blood about a programme that had been very big/talked about at the time. Seems small but when nurses just talk over your head/ignore you it’s actually quite dehumanising. The simple effort to have a conversation meant a lot to me at that time.

mowly77 · 21/03/2022 01:19

The male nurse who when I couldn’t sleep after a surgery and loads of pain relief etc (had so many it has the opposite effect on me now) tried in vain to track down a dr to prescribe me a sleeping pill but couldn’t because it was the middle of the night. A few minutes later he came back with a cup of warm milk for me. Just the small, kindest thing ever.

The lovely midwives who changed my sheets without me asking in the middle of the night when I hadn’t realised I had bled and sweated all over them and brought me “the good stuff” again without me asking (oramorph) & told my DP to let me sleep in the next morning whilst he dealt with DD. (traumatic birth).

The male nurse who stopped work and came to see if I was ok & then held my hand & listened to all my worries about my now 3.5 yr old DD being left motherless while I cried my eyes out last week after being given a diagnosis of metastatic breast cancer.

So so many. Better than going on about my bastard cunting consultant on the other hand …

SpaghettiSquash · 21/03/2022 01:26

My prem DS was three weeks old and in NICU and I had to have emergency surgery, I hadn't seen DS for two days as I'd been feeling so unwell. I was wheeled to theatre and a NICU nurse was waiting for us there with DS. I was able to have a quick cuddle with him before I was anaesthetised.

It meant the world to me that the NICU nurses and nurses on my ward coordinated this as I knew I wouldn't be able to see him for a couple of days after my surgery.

CoffeeBeansGalore · 21/03/2022 01:28

Admitted to hospital for tests for a sudden & worrying unknown condition. Feeling overwhelmed after a lumbar puncture. The lovely young Dr went down to the cafe & bought me a latte. Wouldn't let me pay for it.
Lovely chap who popped back later to make sure I was ok. All the nurses were lovely too. Really cared & it showed.

ifellintoarabbithole · 21/03/2022 01:30

The nurse that inspired me to go into nursing myself a few years later - she held my hand all the way from the ward to the theatre when I had to go for emergency surgery and I was terrified. I never got her name, and she never knew the profound effect such a small action had on me. I like to think I pay it forward now with each of my patients.

Thank you for starting a positive thread - as a weary NHS nurse it can be hard to see past the constant barrage of negativity sometimes. Thank you.

RobertSmithsLipstick · 21/03/2022 01:36

A junior (trainee?)doctor who was so very kind to me on one of the last hospital trips with my daughter, when it was finally sinking in that this was "it".
She was a little bit ill at ease, but offered to phone my job for me to tell them I wouldn't be in that day, and bought me a cup of tea and a donut.
Bless her beautiful heart.

mowly77 · 21/03/2022 01:37

And the anaesthetist whose shift ended before DD was born but who came back the next day to see how I was - not DD (who was fine) but me. Meant the world to me. Love this positive thread.

BusMum79 · 21/03/2022 01:48

The incredible a&e doctor who was so kind to my terrified 6yo and bonded with him over football, then took the time to scour the department in search of a blanket in my son’s team colours, as he had missed an important match and been sick all over his shirt on the way to hospital.

RobertSmithsLipstick · 21/03/2022 01:50

A lovely lead nurse in A and E where I was a few months ago, who asked me if I needed morphine.
I said I wasn't really in pain, but she said "Oh well, it's friday night, so why not have a bit of a treat..."
Then she gave me what must have been the perfect dose, and winked her eye at me.

dipdye · 21/03/2022 01:52

First midwife we had when I had DS. She was so reassuring and lovely. Wore Disney scrubs too which made her more approachable

Flip

1 2 3

Swipe left for the next trending thread