The last couple of days, I have been back at work on inpatient palliative consults. I feel like I am back in my element. I tend to do better when there is more going on, so I have enjoyed being busy. Getting to spend my day talking patients and their family through difficult situations is something most people shy away from. I really enjoy it. Even when I thought I was semi-good at it as a resident, I feel better prepared at this point for the communication required to sit with people through their darkest moments. I still have a ways to go from a growth standpoint, but I am closer than I was just a few, short months ago. I feel more comfortable with letting the family lead the conversation which is completely different from how the conversations would run when I was in residency. In most cases, I was given an agenda for the conversation, and that's what I would stick to. Now, there is so much more I can do by simply following the patient and their family. It feels less forced. I will never be perfect or an expert, but I can certainly do the best of my abilities for my patients. That is a good feeling.
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