Medical Communication

We spent our lab today discussing the role of communication and various strategies to effectively use communication in the medical field.  I happen to have a Master of Arts degree in communication, and spent my first career in communication, so today's lab was not the most informative to me.

That's not to say that I'm the expert and know everything there is to comms.  I'd never say something like that.  I'm always learning.

So even though today's lab wasn't exactly new to me, it did get me thinking about the differences in communication styles and uses.  Medical communication is different from my experience in governmental and diplomatic communication.  It will depend on the type of nursing I eventually end up doing, and the comms skills will be very different depending on the situation.  In trauma/emerg, you'd be most interested in getting the basic, key bits of information that are critical to the patient's condition.  While working as a nurse in an area where a longer-term relationship is forged with the patient, the communications approach would be very different.

The key point to remember, I concluded, whether working as a nurse or a diplomat, is to be an effective communicator, one must always be ready for any situation, be able to think on one's feet (think quickly!) and to "trust the gut" -- trust yourself that you are able to handle the situation presented to you, and in your abilities to ask the right questions, the right way and to project the appropriate body language.

Effective communication comes from experience...and that I have loads of!  Effective communication skills will definitely be a key "transferable" skill that I will bring to my nursing career, from my first career.

The Art of Writing Nursing Notes

I feel I am learning a new language, and learning how to write, both at the same time! 

I already speak five languages, and can muddle my way through a couple others, that are very similar to the ones I know.   I love languages, and was lucky enough to live in several countries where I got to truly learn the languages.  Now I'm learning a new language from a textbook in simulation lab...certainly a new experience!

I also already have a MA in Communications, and spent the vast majority of my government career writing and in strategic communications.  Writing was one of my core strengths in my job...I wrote, planned and project managed for a living.  Writing was so easy, so natural. I knew all the governmentese lingo.  I was fluent in it.  Not anymore!  Now I read my nursing notes and feel like they were written by a five year old.

What a learning curve it is for me to write succinct, yet descriptive medical notes that touch on all the important points that need to be addressed with each patient. The sentences are so intricate.  Medical writing fascinates me, as to how a simple sentence can convery so much information. 

The medical lingo in itself is mostly new. And learning what to include, what is "note worthy" and what is secondary, is currently the biggest hurdle.  Further, today I learned that something as simple as a carelessly written number could make or break a court case, as my nursing notes could be considered invalid evidence. The pressure!

What makes it particularly daunting, is that somebody's life may be on the line.  That was NEVER a factor in any of my previous writing.  Ever.  Now, if I miss documenting something that was, in hindsight, a vital clue for that person's diagnosis, or even if I don't ask the right questions in an interview, the results truly could be life and death. 

I'm not trying to sound melodramatic here.  It's simply coming to realize the full implications of writing in my new career reality.  I never before fully appreciated just how important the writing component is.

That's a lot of responsibility.  I'm up for the challenge, and am reading and practicing as much as I can (yes, I've mentioned before I am somewhat of a 'keener' -- but all joking aside, this is really very important to me to learn to do as best as I can, as quickly as I can.)

I'm hoping it will come more naturally over time and from practice, and most importantly, from experience.  That last factor is probably 'the' most important piece of the puzzle.  We are still only in simulation lab.  Lots of practice and real-life experience, where I can read 'real' nursing notes is bound to help with the learning process.

Any suggestions of books or website that people have found useful in learning this craft would be greatly appreciated.

Have I mentioned recently just how much I'm LOVIN' this career change!?!?!

Happy Future Nurse Kate!!!

Last day in my current career

Today will officially be my last day in my communications career that I have worked at since the late 1990s.  I imagine I will always be doing communications work in some capacity, most probably medical communications, as I do love to write, plan and, simply, communicate!  However, today is the official end of my current career.

That seems quite surreal to write.  Despite the fact that I am thoroughly convinced that this is the right move to make, being fully aware of the reality that 'this is the last day' gives me mixed feelings.  I have been extremely lucky and blessed in my work all these years.  I've had the opportunity to work for the UN -- I've represented Canada at the UN in Geneva, NYC and New Delhi, and have worked at the Canadian Embassy in Paris.  I've travelled on my coveted red, diplomatic passport, now safely tucked into a memory box for safe-keeping.  It's been quite a ride...and I am so extremely grateful for all the opportunities and experiences I've had, and all the incredible people I've met along the way, who have helped me and encouraged me in my career.

However, the pull of the medical field as my calling, my vocation, has not diminished over the years, as I'd hoped it would as I settled into a communications career in the field of international diplomacy.  Then came a family, and the pull towards a more balanced home-work career also appeared.  What I ultimately need to do, is see and feel that my daily work actually has some tangible meaning, in a helpful way, to someone.  I need to work in the medical field.  And I must admit, I've already found the perfect job for me that I will be working towards -- my new long-term goal -- is being a nurse with the UN in Geneva.  That is simply THE perfect job for me.  So, soon-to-be former colleagues, our professional paths may yet cross, but in a somewhat different capacity! 

It has not been an easy decision to make, and I didn't make it lightly.  I truly believe this is the right decision to make at this stage in my life, and that it will all work out great.

But now it is simply time to move on.  Here's to harmony, and happiness!

"What is happiness except the simple harmony between a person and the life they lead."

                                                                                            -- Albert Camus

Summer blogging - health communication and more!

So here I am, back in the corporate world for almost a month now, continuing my professional career.  My first year of nursing school is finished, and school will resume in September.  That leaves a few months to fill, where I don't have nursing school to write about. 

I really enjoy writing, and don't want to stop updating my blog over the summer.  Therefore, I've decided that in the coming months, I will write about health.  I am a so-called 'communications professional' -- I've been in the communications field my entire career.  I've mentioned before that I love the idea of combining my communications skills with the medical field.  So I will be a "medical communicator" writer over the summer.  There is so much medical information that I want people to be aware of, and here is my platform.

Also, I am planning to write about a topic that is consistent with this blog's purpose -- to help encourage people who want to make a mid-life career change.  I seem to constantly be coming across interesting articles and blogs that talk about the issues involved about making a career change.  About personal satisfaction in what you do, (or at least liking and enjoying what your work is!).  About gathering up the courage, despite the 'golden handcuffs', that keep so many people from making a change.  About the fear of transition and the unknown, and staying put, even though one may be profoundly unhappy where they're at, and about the negative health effects such a scenario that can bring on.

Finally, I also plan to write about gratitude.  About voluntary simplicity.  About enjoying life, not just planning to live, or wanting to change -- but simply about enjoying what you have, right here, right now.

So stay tuned.  There are many interesting blog entries to come over the summer.

Music and Memory Project

Here is a YouTube video that shows an exerpt from the "music and memory project", with reneowned neurologist, Dr. Oliver Sacks narrating (his work was portrayed in the movie 'Awakenings').

http://www.musicandmemory.org

The video shows Henry, an elderly man with dementia in a nursing home, who is not able to communicate or respond when spoken to.  His reaction to hearing his beloved tunes from his young days transforms him -- not only does he respond to the stimulus, but then he is actually able to verbally respond to questions.  For a brief period of time, he is restored to himself.

"What does music do to you?  It gives me the feeling of love...I feel a band of love and dreams..."

"Music brings a sense of identity back to people who are 'out of it'" -- Dr. Sacks

What a gift.

P.S. And while you're at it, take a peek at Cab Calloway music on YouTube, and say that "Henry sent you".  I looked at a few videos, and saw in the comments section, that many people had written, "Henry sent me here". 

I'd never heard of Cab Calloway before, and now have learned about another great musical artist.

Thank you, Henry!