[Sharon]

Do you think nurses learn by sharing stories? Have you ever shared or heard a story that had an impact on someone else or yourself? Share a story on the online discussion forum that had an impact on your nursing practice. It can be a story someone has shared with you or one you shared with others. (you may use pseudonyms to retain confidentiality).

[Claire]

I do think that nurses learn by sharing stories. I also think that it is especially beneficial when nurses share stores because of the very nature of the work that we do. I find palliative nursing at times to be somewhat isolating due to its intensity and nature of the care we provide. With all of its complex layers, it take an another nurse who has had similar experiences to truly understand this shared experience, and these moments of sharing create opportunities for fellowship so desperately needed in this profession.

One story that I have read that has impacted by nursing practice was in a memoir called ” A Nurse’s Story: Life , Death and in between in an Intensive Care Unit: by Tukda Shalof. I actually read this many years prior to me deciding to return to school to study nursing. The story that made an impact on me was when the author discussed the relationship between a mother and her son that had been living with a development impairment since birth. The mother’s decisions and their dynamic had resulted in them becoming extremely isolated. He was one of the author’s patient in the ICU and his mother, who was his one and only caregiver, showed what the author felt to be an abnormally close relationship with her son. She discussed what she observed and how it made her uncomfortable when she first took on the care of this boy and his mother. She had related it to her own sense of what an appropriate relationship was to be, and reflected on what her role was at this time of their lives. She came to an understanding at discharge of care that while the dynamic they had was maybe one that she could not relate to, she needed to put her judgment aside and focus on providing them the space needed to remain in their comfortable microcosm at the time of his catastrophic health crisis and eventual death.

This story was powerful to me at the time because I think it was the first time I had thought of nursing in the context of the complicated and emotional relationships that exist between their patients and families. It also highlighted how nurses need to come to terms with their own biases and personal experiences to meet those in their care where they are at. This was also the first time I was introduced to the concept of “Person Centred Care” and its not lost of me that this remains the rudder to which I base all of my interactions and interventions in my role as a bedside nurse.

[Alhasan]

I work in pediatric palliative care at a hospice as well, and the stories you share really resonate with me. Sharing these experiences is indeed a powerful way for us to learn and connect. The emotional and intense nature of our work makes it so important to have these moments of understanding and support.

[Alhasan]

During my training as a case manager, I experienced a situation that impacted my approach to patient advocacy and communication. We were in a hospital meeting with a physician, the case manager that was training me, a patient who was non-verbal, and the patient’s family member, who was the POA. The physician surprisingly ignored both the patient and the family member, addressing only the nurse and me. This behavior was dismissive and disrespectful to the patient and their family.

The nurse I was training with immediately addressed the situation by calmly but firmly reminding the physician that he must speak directly to the patient and acknowledge that the patient could understand everything being said, despite being non-verbal. She also emphasized that the family member could assist with communication. This intervention was done in a respectful manner, avoiding confrontation but showing readiness to confront if necessary.

This incident left a lasting impression on me about the importance of strong advocacy. The nurse’s actions demonstrated how to stand up for patients’ rights and dignity without escalating the situation. It reinforced the importance of treating patients with respect, involving them in conversations about their care, and recognizing the role of family members in facilitating communication.

Since then, I have adopted this approach in my own practice. Whenever similar situations arise, I ensure that patients are addressed directly and involved in their care discussions. I also make it a point to involve family members when necessary, ensuring that communication is inclusive and respectful. This experience taught me the value of advocating for patients in a way that is both assertive and respectful, which is crucial in providing holistic and patient-centered care.

[Barinder]

As a fairly novice nurse, I feel I retain the the most information when it is provided through a form of a story. It is understandable that is more difficult to remember a set of facts, however when provided through an engaging form, such as a story, it is much easier to recall.

A previous preceptor has told me a story about his work in palliative care and how his actions towards providing culturally sensitive and spiritual care during the end of life stage of a patient’s life, aided in pain management, resulting in reduced signs of agitation. This left a lasting impact on my practice, as I now find myself speaking with my clients to prioritize holistic care, asking what component of care (in additional to medical interventions) is important for them.

[Claire]

Hi Barinder,

I am glad your post discussed the importance of a holistic approach in nursing, as this concept is the absolute foundation of my practice.

I loved how your preceptor used a more spiritual and culturally sensitive lens with a particular family when guiding their care. Through this holistic approach he was effectively able to decrease their agitation and therefore improve quality of life, which is really the heart of palliative nursing. This story solidifies what I believe Dame Cicely Saunder’s term “total pain” was exploring. That pain is not just physiological, but that there are many facets such as emotional and social considerations that are swirling together to either heighten or dampen a person’s pain experience. By addressing a person’s pain with this acknowledgment opens a nurse up to using a variety of other approaches to achieve goals or care, whatever they may be.

Thanks for sharing.

[Janet]

It’s wonderful to see such positive responses to the holistic approach. I also believe in treating patients holistically, focusing not only on their medical conditions but on their overall well-being. As a home health provider, working in their personal spaces makes this even more critical.

Many clients have apologized to me about the state of their homes or their inability to do as much as they once could. In these situations, I always reassure them, saying, “I’m here to assist you, not to judge your home.” I prioritize understanding their feelings and needs, ensuring I can provide the best possible care.

Effective communication plays a crucial role. For example, I encountered a client who consistently refused care because he felt uncomfortable with unfamiliar caregivers. Stating” These strangers only want to get me naked.” This experience underscores the importance of empathy and taking the time to understand each client’s perspective before proceeding with care.

[Carmen]

Yes, I think nurses learn by sharing stories especially through firsthand experiential and secondhand stories. Firsthand stories are particularly impactful as they can help mentor nurses and make the lessons more memorable. Secondhand stories are helpful by highlighting key facts and points that can guide situations effectively.

I recall when I was starting out in this field and I met an RPN who was a team lead. She shared how RPNs are not “just RPNs” and emphasized that we can take on leadership roles and have diverse experiences beyond being bedside nursing. This story impacted my nursing practice and inspired me to pursue leadership opportunities and view my role more expansively. Sharing stories like this example can help create a sense of possibility and growth within an individual.

[Rebecca]

Hi Carmen,

I love that you shared this story, short and sweet but impactful. I too did not fully realize the many areas an RPN can venture and with that story as a light or inspiration will spark individuals to seek more and ask questions and develop their skills and or knowledge to thrive as not “just an RPN” but a successful health care worker. I appreciate this, it was wonderful to share, this also gave me a little pep to my step to keep pushing for more.
Thank you.

[Janet]

Nurses learn significantly through storytelling. Personally, I utilize past experiences to teach my staff effectively. Recently, our company’s educator requested that I share some of these stories to enhance an education program. I firmly believe that storytelling enhances the learning experience. In my own education, instructors who shared stories had a stronger impact on classroom engagement, and I found that students learned more effectively as a result.

[Melissa]

Hi Janet,
I enjoyed reading how you utilize past experiences to teach staff in your workplace. I agree that storytelling does enhance the learning experience. It leaves a larger impact on listener’s and is more memorable then other teaching options such as a slide show. I also have found when stories are shared in my workplace meetings or training sessions there is more willingness to engage from other people in the room, rather than if a question was asked. I also find it can be therapeutic getting to speak to other colleagues about your experiences in the form of stories.

[Melissa]

Yes, I believe that nurses do learn by sharing stories. I find that stories that have been shared with me as well as colleagues I’ve spoken to tend to leave an impact. They are usually memorable and easy to reflect back on your practice with. It can also be therapeutic sharing stories amongst your colleagues as they are able to understand what is being shared and provide support amongst eachother.

One example of a story that I can think of is back from nursing school from a preceptor regarding patient death in long term care. In school we are taught not to get attached to our patients. It is also “frowned” upon to cry after a patient death as it is looked at as “unprofessional”. This preceptor’s story went into the care they provided to this resident along with building a trusting relationship with their family members. As the nurse they were there during this difficult time to provide emotional support and resources to the grieving family members but apart from being a nurse we are also human and although in nursing we are to be “stoic”, she taught us that it is ok to take a moment away and cry. We as nurses, especially in LTC form bonds with these residents and their families. Nurses will see many deaths during their lifetime and unfortunately some of these deaths will hit us harder than others. At the end of the day nurses are the ones that have to go home and hide our pain and grief from others even though we are just human too.

[Kristina]

Hi Melissa,

thanks for sharing. I completely agree with this, I work in long term care as well. It is hard when working with seniors full time to not get attached to them, and to just shut them out emotionally. I feel like in certain parts of the hospitals it is very “cut and dry”; where you have a patient for 1 shift and then the next they are gone. In long term care, you may be with a resident for 5 years, and will develop a professional relationship with them and their family as well. If we are there to take care of people, we still have to do it professionally, but also in a safe, compassionate way.

[Ruth]

I do believe Nurses can learn from stories. Currently am working at a retirement home. I love my work as a nurse. I am passionate about nursing I help the Residents with my whole heart. I recalled the day I went my work for my shift I signed in and waited for the elevator to go up for NS. The manager approached me and called my name and stated “ I need you in that room” pointing to the room beside the elevator. I was doubtful when I entered the room my coworkers clapped for me and said “Congratulations!! you choose as an employee of the month. The GM handed me a certificate. I liked one sentence saying “Your hard work, dedication, and exceptional performance have not gone unnoticed” I still believe I should do more. However, the appreciation motivated me to work harder.

[Sherri]

Yes I do believe nurses learn from stories; I have shared mine many times through bursaries, grants and loan applications. Being First Nation ,where diabetes is prevalent, and members are at risk, has greatly impacted me. In 2017, after a family member was at risk of loosing a limb I enhanced my education and went into Footcare. Since rarely, there are no specialists of this kind. I now care for my surrounding communities and hope to impact and educate our youth ambassadors.

[Holly]

Hi Sherri – thank you for sharing your perspective! It really goes to show how impactful you can be in other peoples lives sharing your knowledge and education!

[Sherri]

Yes Melissa stories that are memorable and leave an impact are easy to reflect back on, great for learning and sharing.

[Rebecca]

Yes, I do think nurses learn by sharing stories. Many times, I have shared and heard stories that had an impact or myself and others.

I’m sure many of us have heard and or shared stories related to documentation and the quote ” if it wasn’t documented, it didn’t happen”. Numerous people have likely shared many stories related to this key factor in our daily lives as nurses. I encounter these daily, documented conversations, events and client conditions. I recently had an investigation come across my managers desk from back in February and not to say I forget everything but the number of conversations and patient interactions over a span of four months, I was not able to recall. The investigation was to determine if the appropriate steps were received and rolled out, there was a gap and thankfully the last documented note stated I had requested the appropriate actions and followed-up. I had always heard others stress the importance of document, document, document and follow-up; this was a great example of one of those moments I was so thankful to have ensured I completed what was expected of me. You hear about the intense stories of nurses losing their jobs and or license for missing one note, this was drilled into us in school and school was no easy task. I am forever thankful for those stories and now I have my own I can share.

[Rose]

Rebecca, I completely agree that nurses learn so much from sharing stories, and yours is such an important reminder about documentation. It’s amazing how something we hear over and over, like “if it wasn’t documented, it didn’t happen,” really hits home when we experience it firsthand. Your story shows how crucial it is to stay diligent, even when things get busy. As a feeler, I tend to focus on patient interactions and emotional support, but your experience reinforces why balancing that with strong documentation is just as important. I’m glad your notes backed you up when you needed them! Have you changed anything about how you document since this experience?
Thank you for making a great discussion. I hope to receive your reply.
Rose

[Kristina]

Yes, I do believe that nurses learn by sharing stories. When I was about 6 months in to being a new nurse,
I was performing a catheter insertion on a resident who had never had a catheter. My charge nurse; who had 20+ years of experience in nursing, assisted me. The patient ended up having a lot of blood drain into the foley bag once I was done inserting the catheter. I was a little worried when it first happened due to the blood, but my charge nurse assured me that it was perfectly fine, just a little bit of trauma. A few hours later when I checked on him, the patient had an very large amount of blood draining from him into the catheter bag; and I informed my charge nurse. In the end, we removed the catheter and sent the resident to the hospital due to the large amount of blood. I was so upset that day, I thought I had caused him too much damage and he was going to have some serious complications. My charge nurse had pulled me aside near the end of my shift, and explained that when she was a new nurse, something like this happened to her as well. In her story, she ended up not inserting the catheter all the way into the bladder and caused damage to the urethra of her patient at the time. In the end, when my resident returned from hospital, and he was completely fine.

I believe that as nurses, whether we are 1 year in or 20 years in to working, we all have stories to share. I feel that when we share, we bond, and we can overcome fears we may have and learn lessons out of each others stories of what to do vs what not to do.

[Monika]

Thank you Kristina. I appreciate your story regarding your experience with the catheter insertion and that your charge nurse was able to share her story that was similar when she was a new nurse. I do believe nurses learn from sharing stories. I was told many stories from many nurses I met during my clinical experiences as a student and it truly helped me over come my fears, doubts. Stories and experience of others helps me feel human, normal and not “unique”. Stories remind me that all nurses have been “new” and they give me hope that I will once day feel comfortable in my nursing abilities. Stories help me relate, challenge my way of thinking and allow me to be gentle with myself.

I was give a “first hand” experience story by a woman who killed someone drinking and driving and had no memory of doing it. She had been in a black out. She woke up and demanded to know why she was in a holding cell. The police were shocked that she had no idea why she was there. She collapsed when she learned she had killed someone over night. This story had an incredible impact on me as a future nurse and person. She was so “normal” looking, a “soccer mom” who otherwise had a normal life with a job, children and a husband. I talked with her for a while and learned much about her and knew from that point on, I can not judge people. This experience helped challenge my values, ethics and biases. I listened in a way I have never listened to anyone before. This was such a powerful time she and I shared. I was just there for her. I listened and I learned that is the most important thing anyone can do-listen.

[Holly]

I truly believe nurses learn by sharing and telling stories. I remember my preceptor once told me about a time where she removed an IV before a patient was discharged and sadly they experienced an emergency before they left. If they had kept the IV in until the very last minute, then they would have saved time during the emergency. That has stuck with me in my own practice and I have passed that along to my fellow nurses too.

[Rose]

Hello,
Yes, I believe nurses learn a lot through sharing stories. Real experiences help us understand different perspectives, prepare for challenges, and support one another. One story that had a big impact on my nursing practice was from a senior nurse I worked with early in my career!
One story was about a patient, “Mr. J,” who had late-stage dementia and would often become agitated during care. Many staff members assumed he was just resistant, but one day, she noticed he would hum an old song when he was upset. She spoke to his family and learned that he used to be a musician. The team started playing soft music during his care, and his agitation decreased significantly. This taught me an important lesson! Behind every behaviour, there’s a reason. Instead of reacting to a patient’s frustration, we should take a step back and try to understand what they’re feeling.
Thank you for reading my post.
Rose

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