 Provided by Clinician 1
I am a “sports wife.” Two decades ago, my husband semi-joked (at least...I THINK so) that I should never make him choose between me and the Steelers. I haven’t challenged his comment from oh-so-long ago. Instead, I chose to become a “football wife” instead of a “football widow.” I can quote the best of football statistics, play Fantasy Football on his team (and have won the team Superbowl FOUR times)...suffice it to say, I have been a good learner.
More recently, we have been club-level members for our local AAA baseball affiliate Phillies team, the Lehigh Valley IronPigs. The past two years, we had two seats; this year, we upgraded to four seats, so that all of us could enjoy the games. My two boys play Little League baseball, so it’s a great way to spend some family time together and enjoy ball games in a great arena.
If you understand the demographics of my area...indeed...MANY areas in this country, then you will understand that baseball is a way to unite MANY people. Including...a LOT of my patients. I have been amazed at how many of them I have run into at games. They are often quite surprised to see me, out of my dress clothes, and with my family, but they have always been friendly and respectful of my personal time and space. I haven’t had to perform any “curbside diagnoses” while at the baseball field.
It occurred to me that there is an upside to patients seeing us providers outside of our office or hospital walls. We look more HUMAN. Perhaps...we are more approachable. Sure...most of us don’t want to have to do a curbside consult, but it’s not a bad thing to have patients see us interacting with others...our families...enjoying things OTHER than our normal “routine.”
In my daily patient visits, I have held many conversations about sports teams. I know the football players (thanks to Fantasy Football), the latest sports sagas, and I have found it can be a common “bonding” issue with patients. Works for me. If it helps them relate to me as a person (even being a GIRL), so be it.
Sometimes, showing our “non-professional” side works wonders in terms of patient interaction. I’ll take it. (smile)
Kim Spering is a family nurse practitioner who currently works at Brndjar Medical Associates, P.C., a family practice in Emmaus, PA. Her past experience includes the fields of medical/surgical ICU, open heart/trauma ICU, labor and delivery, nursing education, nursing supervision, and as a nurse practitioner in both family practice and OB/GYN settings. She currently serves as a NP preceptor for her graduate school alma mater, DeSales University, as well as for local baccalaureate programs. She is passionate about patient education and helping patients understand that they are ultimately responsible for their own health. She also firmly believes that the public needs to be educated on the value of NPs and PAs in meeting the health care needs of the next decade and beyond. In her free time, Kim enjoys family vacations with her optometrist husband, Mark, and her two sons, Matthew and Connor.
The viewpoint expressed in this article is the opinion of the author and is not necessarily the viewpoint of the owners or employees at Healthcare Staffing Innovations, LLC.
RECOMMEND THIS ARTICLE
You must be logged in
to recommend articles
|
