There are moments as a nurse that stand out. I am a behavioral health nurse, currently working triage in an emergency department. One day, when I came on shift, I received report on a patient who arrived during the night. They had used a substance and were found unclothed walking along the road. When they arrived they had to be sedated for safety due to psychosis and agitation. When I did my room checks after report I went and talked to this patient. They were still somewhat sedated, but told me they needed to use the bathroom but couldn’t stand on their feet. I lifted the blanket and their feet were raw, red, cracked, swollen, and covered in dirt/gravel/debris. After addressing their bathroom needs, I contacted the day shift provider and requested that she come look at the patient’s feet. Received an order for pain medication.
I decided I should wash the patient’s feet, so they would be better able to stand up. I had a chair, a warm washcloth, and sat at the end of the bed. At every light touch, the patient softly wimpered. As I worked, I thought of Maundy Thursday. Jesus washing his disciples feet. The moment felt sacred, not in a “I am like Jesus” way, but in a caring for a vulnerable person way. I felt grateful for the opportunity to serve my community. I do not consider myself a real christian. I don’t believe the creed of the church I attend (I chose not to participate in the creed, but I respect those who do). I would probably qualify as an agnostic who appreciates the ritual of the church, and the mission of the one I attend. And it was the ritual of that moment that stays with me even now, as Holy week moves towards Easter Sunday.
Behavioral health nurses see patients at a moment of crisis. The bias against patients experiencing mental health emergencies exists even in the emergency department. Every patient requires our compassion, our empathy, and to be seen as a valued member of the community. I am honored to serve the patients I encounter at work.
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