Adjusting to prolonged hospitalization, debilitatingly painful symptoms, and scary surgical procedures gives rise to overwhelming anxiety, fear, and stress. Patients diagnosed with acute and chronic illnesses and physical disabilities struggle with innumerable negative emotions and thoughts. Nurses can use a happy and positive bedside manner to help provide emotional support to patients.
Multiple factors trigger emotional distress, including pain, physical symptoms, fear of death, isolation, dysfunctional relationships, and becoming a burden on others. While nurses cannot address or eliminate these factors, they can uplift patients by offering compassionate emotional support. Building connections and understanding each patient’s life experiences and feelings is a heartfelt labor of love.
Let’s explore how nurses help patients overcome emotional distress and ensure a speedy recovery.
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