Putting oneself in others shoes

One evening, while a group of caregivers were gathered around the nurses desk at a facility in which I worked, the talk turned to a certain patient and how fussy and difficult she was at bedtime. Complaints were rampant about all her particular demands about her blankets and pillows. The general consensus was that she was a pain in the neck.

This bothered me and I couldn’t keep quiet. “Wait just a minute, everyone, do me a favor? When you settle into your bed tonight, pay attention to all the little things you do to get comfortable. Then, imagine that you can’t do them by yourself and have to ask for help. Tomorrow, you tell me how fussy you might sound.”

This job can try the patience of a saint at times but I have always found a well of calmness when I try to see it from our client’s point of view. Are they feeling vulnerable, scared, irritated that they can’t do it themselves, embarrassed, etc. How would I feel in the same situation? This helps in more situations than just work. Try it. I think you will be impressed with the understanding that comes.