Welcome. Or welcome back. Over at my daily blog, 300wordsaday.com, I wrote this week about National Nurses Week and the tradition of the blessing of the hands. I have to confess, I have a hard time reading the formal words of others in those times. I’m not good a reading the scripts of others. I’m more comfortable writing and reading my own script. The process of writing helps me think.
"Tell people what they are waiting for.” That’s such a good description of so many of the areas people need to think through and talk through as they await results. Helpful.
(Sorry if this shows up twice. I thought I’d posted here and in Notes, but it only showed up in Notes)
I agree that it's helpful to know what you're waiting for. Also, if possible, how long you can expect to be waiting. I think being informed (err on the side of overinformed) and checked in on from time to time - if nothing else to know you haven't been forgotten - makes waiting easier. I also appreciate efforts to make waiting more physically comfortable - questions: Do you need anything? Is there anything I can get you?
I try to avoid waiting at medical appointments, so schedule the first appointment in the day or right after lunch whenever possible. From the hospital/medical office side of things, physical space for waiting makes a great deal of difference. I think there are plenty of people like me who want to be left alone in a waiting area—easier to do if there is spreading out space. Also, the space in a waiting cubicle in ER makes a difference in the stress level. Comparing two different ER experiences, I can say that the one where the waiting took place in a tiny, cramped area definitely added stress to the situation. And, I bless the nurse who recognized that I might be cold waiting in that area for a long while with an injured person (who was covered up in a bed) and offered/brought me a warmed blanket.
I had the privilege of waiting this week as my mom had some medical tests done. It took a couple of hours. I sat in the waiting room (at least we call it by its real name!) And I multi-tasked, as did those around me. Occasionally, I'd glance up, and notice the provided distractions: a television with the sound fairly low, its pictures and info quickly flashing by, a painting of trees, a person sleeping in a chair hunched over. As an American society our chairs are wider. This makes them a wee bit more comfortable.
Since we expected the procedure to take this long, I expected to wait. And that made it easier to do so.
In the past year & a half, being diagnosed with a severe heart blockage, several attempts to install stents failed & I was faced with open heart surgery, it has provided me multiple opportunities to be in various medical settings.
My philosophy is to be upbeat, encouraging, smile, be positive, pay people compliments, which, sadly & ironically is not the norm in those environments! Talk to people, get them to talk, see if you can put a smile on their faces, life is hard, yet going through those experiences with a smile on your face sure does a lot to ease the stress of the moment.
In return, which I wasn’t expecting, the person’s receiving my positive messages, in return smile more, are more relaxed, are able to understand how being positive impacts others in a positive manner.
Isn’t this the essential message that Jesus taught all of us? If you focus more positively on others than on yourself, everyone benefits.
"Tell people what they are waiting for.” That’s such a good description of so many of the areas people need to think through and talk through as they await results. Helpful.
(Sorry if this shows up twice. I thought I’d posted here and in Notes, but it only showed up in Notes)
I agree that it's helpful to know what you're waiting for. Also, if possible, how long you can expect to be waiting. I think being informed (err on the side of overinformed) and checked in on from time to time - if nothing else to know you haven't been forgotten - makes waiting easier. I also appreciate efforts to make waiting more physically comfortable - questions: Do you need anything? Is there anything I can get you?
I try to avoid waiting at medical appointments, so schedule the first appointment in the day or right after lunch whenever possible. From the hospital/medical office side of things, physical space for waiting makes a great deal of difference. I think there are plenty of people like me who want to be left alone in a waiting area—easier to do if there is spreading out space. Also, the space in a waiting cubicle in ER makes a difference in the stress level. Comparing two different ER experiences, I can say that the one where the waiting took place in a tiny, cramped area definitely added stress to the situation. And, I bless the nurse who recognized that I might be cold waiting in that area for a long while with an injured person (who was covered up in a bed) and offered/brought me a warmed blanket.
I had the privilege of waiting this week as my mom had some medical tests done. It took a couple of hours. I sat in the waiting room (at least we call it by its real name!) And I multi-tasked, as did those around me. Occasionally, I'd glance up, and notice the provided distractions: a television with the sound fairly low, its pictures and info quickly flashing by, a painting of trees, a person sleeping in a chair hunched over. As an American society our chairs are wider. This makes them a wee bit more comfortable.
Since we expected the procedure to take this long, I expected to wait. And that made it easier to do so.
In the past year & a half, being diagnosed with a severe heart blockage, several attempts to install stents failed & I was faced with open heart surgery, it has provided me multiple opportunities to be in various medical settings.
My philosophy is to be upbeat, encouraging, smile, be positive, pay people compliments, which, sadly & ironically is not the norm in those environments! Talk to people, get them to talk, see if you can put a smile on their faces, life is hard, yet going through those experiences with a smile on your face sure does a lot to ease the stress of the moment.
In return, which I wasn’t expecting, the person’s receiving my positive messages, in return smile more, are more relaxed, are able to understand how being positive impacts others in a positive manner.
Isn’t this the essential message that Jesus taught all of us? If you focus more positively on others than on yourself, everyone benefits.
Waiting for test results IS hard but reminding myself that God knows, cares, and is in control (even the timing) is reassuring.