Among my role as ER and Triage nurse, I was anointed “The Hysteric Whisperer." Many teenage girls and young women came to the hospital via ambulance or private vehicle presenting in catatonic states, hyperventilating or as “post-ictal seizure” patients. We soon learned, these were anxiety/panic attacks. One teenage girl was brought, ambulance lights blazing and sirens blaring for "seizures" – but made eye contact and was purposefully moving around in the gurney - not in a post-ictal state. The doctor approached the patient and shouted, "Prepare to intubate!"
Three minutes later, I held the girl’s hands and helped her
off the gurney and onto a chair.
Intubation was certainly not necessary. With an astounded look on his face, the doctor asked “How
did you do that? That was magic!” I replied, “Want to know the magic? I put my
face down close to hers, spoke very slowly, softly and quietly into her ear,
and told her 'It's OK' over and over and
over. I pet her cheek, made eye contact
and suddenly big crocodile tears began to slide out."
The Haitian population has several factors working against
them: the traumatic events of the 2010
earthquake - the country is still piecing itself together. The fact that Haiti is an impoverished
developing country with limited resources.
Add to that frequent sexual violence against women, family issues, loss
of not only loved ones but schools and homes and churches, plus the surging
hormones of teenagers, it's no wonder these young female patients frequently
present with anxiety and hysteria.
A nurse’s approach is humanistic. It's thoughtful. It involves comfort, care, touch, words and
warmth. It's holistic. Nursing approaches patient care - whether in a hospital,
a clinic, or a tent in Africa – from another direction than medical
doctors. Our professions are intertwined
yet quite different.
It's the art of nursing versus the science of medicine.
- Sue Averill, RN
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