Thinking Outside the Box

Last month, I admitted a patient from the ED with bilateral pulmonary effusion. During the days that followed, I built a strong relationship with the patient and her family.

On the fifth night I knew something wasn’t right; her respiratory status declined drastically from the previous nights and she was having anxiety attacks due to breathing difficulties. I sat with her and calmed her with a form of imagery; finding her special place and helping her to visualize that place. This calmed the patient and allowed her to rest.

During the next few hours, my patient experienced more anxiety attacks, but I was able to talk her through them with the same type of imagery. Working with the doctors we tried different ways to improve her respiratory status. Later that evening, she was transferred to an ICU floor. When I brought her to the unit, she gave me a big hug, started to cry and said, “I want to go back to your unit so you can care for me.” I stayed with the patient a little longer while she met her new nurse, wanting her to feel at ease with the transition.

Since then, I’ve used touch therapy and meditation, along with guided imagery on many patients. By using innovative thinking, I’m able to go beyond the boundaries of my nursing practice and make a difference in the lives of my patients.

— Chandrika Bender, RN, BSN, PCCN
Progressive Care Unit
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