Safe and Sound

So what can be done to ease the patients’ minds?

Nosocomephobia. 

It’s a big word with a simple meaning: fear of hospitals. While not everyone entering the hospital suffers at this level, most people do experience some degree of stress or anxiety. Patients aren’t always versed in how healthcare operates. And toss in an angry wound or an unfavorable diagnosis and the fear is amplified. 
So what can be done to ease the patients’ minds?

Safe Patient Handling 
Safety is a great place to start. Patients already in vulnerable positions need to feel secure and confident in their care. Anxiety can often present as anger with the caregivers in the direct line of fire. When flight isn’t an option, fight will win. Studies have revealed the negative impact psychological stress can have on the immune system. And in wound healing, maintaining strong immunity is paramount. Disruptions can delay healing while increasing the risk for wound complications. Fear, stress, and anxiety could translate to longer hospital stays. 

Handling these emotions with compassion and open communication is the best bet. Safe patient handling serves to keep the caregiver free from injury, but it also does as the name suggests — keeps patients safe. Let them know! Products designed to facilitate safe movements can serve as the conduit between caregiver and patient. Smoother transfers, pain-free turns, and boosts that minimize shearing forces all contribute to a better patient experience. A little upfront education and explanation may be all it takes to quell their fears.

Emphasis on Comfort 
With safety under control the focus can shift to comfort. Chances are good that it wasn’t a pressure injury that made a person a patient in the first place. The condition that brought them into the hospital is, most likely, their chief concern. Dealing with a pressure injury is not part of the bargain. But ramping up comfort with products designed to redistribute pressure makes good sense. 

Now is the time to explore the best options for patient safety and comfort. Remember: ease the body, and you’ll ease the mind.

https://www.nurse.com/blog/2016/11/11/how-nurses-can-help-reduce-their-patients-anxiety/

https://wexnermedical.osu.edu/mediaroom/pressreleaselisting/patient-room-comfort

Lucas, V. (2011). Psychological Stress and Wound Healing in Humans: What We Know. Wounds.