Listening – A School Nurse’s Greatest Tool

[responsive] [/responsive]One of the most important things that a nurse can learn is the art of listening.  I learned this lesson from being on the other side of the exam table.  I have to go for surgery, while hearing those words alone can be frightening, I knew they were coming. I know that I need tubes in my ears to restore hearing loss.  What I didn’t know was the career advice I would be getting.  I went to my ENT doctor who was recommended in his field.  I was told by him that in order to have surgery I would need to see another specialist, and also go for all these tests where the co-pays would rival a really nice Coach bag! I knew in my gut that this was ridiculous.  (Attention Nurses – trusting your gut, is a future blog) I trusted my gut and went for a second opinion, and I was amazed at what I found.  The doctor came into the room, sat down and listened to me.  He asked me questions about my life, my sleep habits, he even asked my husband questions.  Turns out I don’t need expensive tests to give him the results that a ten minute conversation gave him.  Guess which doctor is preforming my surgery!

This tied into how I viewed my job as a school nurse. School nursing offices are busier than ever.  We can see roughly 30 to 50 patients a day who walk into our office.  It is easy to limp across the finish line and wait for 3pm.  I urge school nurses, take a moment listen to what is being said.  Listen to what is NOT being said.  Look these children in the eye, bend down to their level.  Sometimes just asking “Is anything else bothering you” is all it takes.  The school nursing office should be a safe haven for students, these kids are often looking for someone to listen to them.  When you mute the technology that surrounds us, and focus on the child that is when we see a full picture.  We get that history that we need to assess and refer patients.  Just like my new physician gave me his undivided attention, I try to do that for my school students.  He made me a better nurse who helped me really hear – in more ways than one!