Page 66 - Advanced Communication in Nursing
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Nurse Ratih : Hey, Melisa. I’m Ratih, your nurse. How are you today?
Melisa : What?
Nurse Ratih : Are you okay?
Melisa : I’m sorry. I couldn’t hear you. These people are talking.
Nurse Ratih : You can hear someone talking. Where?
Melisa : I don’t know. They are just close. They are saying I shouldn’t be here.
Nurse Ratih : Here, Melisa. Look at me, please. Someone is talking to you. I can’t hear them
talking. Are they talking about you? What else are they saying?
Melisa : They are saying that I’m stupid. I should not have led the police to bring me here.
I shouldn’t be here.
Nurse Ratih : Do you know where you are?
Melisa : Not exactly. They just don’t want me to be here. I should not be here.
Nurse Ratih : Ehmm, well, Melisa, can you see these people?
Melisa : (silent)
Nurse Ratih : Melisa, can you see these people?
Melisa : No
Nurse Ratih : Are they talking to you now?
Melisa : I don’t think they know I’m listening. They just hate me.
Nurse Ratih : That’s terrible. Are you seeing anything that I might not be able to see?
Melisa : No.
Nurse Ratih : Melisa, do the voices ever tell you to do things?
Melisa : (silent)
Nurse Ratih : Melisa, pay attention. Let’s see if we just can place the food on your bed. Be ready
for your breakfast while you are talking to me. Okay?
Melisa : (nodding)
Nurse Ratih : Do their voices ever tell you to hurt yourself or anyone?
Melisa : Not these people.
Nurse Ratih : But some do?
Melisa : Those people went away. I don’t talk to them anymore.
Nurse Ratih : That must have been awful for you. Before you said you weren’t sure where you
are. You are in the hospital, and I’m your nurse. Do you think you are safe here?
Melisa : No. It’s not safe anywhere.
Nurse Ratih : It must be frightening for you. What are you most worried about?
Melisa : I’m afraid that they will come and get me. I don’t want to go with them.
Nurse Ratih : We’ll do everything we can to keep you safe here.
Melisa : (smiling)
Nurse Ratih : Melisa, I need to take your blood pressure. Can I do that?
Melisa : They say I shouldn’t let you do that. They say it is stupid.
Nurse Ratih : I know those people you hear don’t want me to take care of you, but I do care about
you and I just want to help you get well. Will you let me help you?
Melisa : I just want to go home. It’s better there.
Nurse Ratih : Well, until you are ready to go home. Are there any things that we can do to help
you feel safe? Maybe something to do with the voices?
Melisa : Maybe.
Nurse Ratih : What do you do at home to help with the voices?
Melisa : I watch TV, but my channel only works on channel 113. At night, the lights have
to be on. Sometimes, I listen to the radio. It helps distract the voices.
Nurse Ratih : Let’s do that. I’ll first turn on the TV. After that, you can switch the channel from
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