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As my first day of clinicals in this leadership course clinical experience unfolded, I watched as relational inquiry was used in practice. Let this journal entry show how the team worked to keep the operating room running smoothly and the client satisfied.
It was essential for us to understand the religious object’s value for the patient. It may have been a meaningless object for us, but it held significance for the client. The client’s previous experience with healthcare personnel has left him feeling scared and vulnerable. The client is firm in his faith and feels this is the last feeling of control he will have. The language we use to address him should never be demeaning or dismissive of his need for the object of his faith (Peters et al., 2017).
As nurses, we have been taught to see the individual client and think as individuals are solely responsible for our client’s well-being. As we think of inquiry as a form of action, we know how the relationships of the nurse, client, and system weave together (Doane & Varcoe, 2015).
Communication is vital when it comes to successful collaboration. When beliefs collide with policy differences, the nurse tends to lean toward the policy as a known variable. As I grow as a nurse leader, I hope to learn from my peers and clients. The system can be rigid and outdated. Policies are put in place for safety, but they can also be amended by thoughtful and purposeful leadership input (Doane & Varcoe, 2015)
We used humility by considering a new process. The suggestion by another staff member to create a sterile environment so the object could still be used showed that we could look at the situation from a different perspective. Pragmatism would have us examine what could go right with the problem instead of what could go wrong. We created a safe condition and put the client at ease. That went right today. I felt vulnerable today. I am often anxious about conflict. Initially, when the problem arose, I wanted to step as far back as possible to avoid the situation. As I watched the situation unfold, I learned the feelings of anxiety were not just mine but the client’s as well. He was anxious and scared. Knowing how to think of new ways to make everyone happy made the day better (Doane & Varcoe, 2015).
The team decided the object could be wrapped in non-conductive material and applied to the client under a sterile dressing. The surgeon approved, and the client was happy. This was the most appropriate action for the situation. There was no harm to the patient and no surgical field contamination.
As nurses, we should always explore new possibilities and look for new ways to work out problems as they arise. I believe in a person’s right to freedom of religion. As long as reasonable accommodations can be made, we should look to provide a way for the patient to exercise their religious freedom. I can remember early in my nursing training when absolutely no jewelry or objects would have been allowed in, on, or around the patient for any reason. The hospital made no accommodations and no excuses. The current situation shows how we can work with clients to achieve a more collaborative outcome that makes everyone happy.
Doane, G. H., & Varcoe, C. (2015). How to nurse: Relational inquiry in action. Wolters Kluwer Health.
Peters, A., Vanstone, M., Monteiro, S., Norman, G., Sherbino, J., & Sibbald, M. (2017). Examining the influence of context and professional culture on clinical reasoning through rhetorical-narrative analysis. Qualitative Health Research, 27(6), 866–876.
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