A little goes a long way

After being a patient myself during the delivery and then having a loved one hospitilized shortly after, my perspective changed on what it is really like for my patients.  So often I would find myself letting the fatigue, mentally and physically, let me do the bare minimum in terms of bed side manners...just enough to get by...a little effort is better than none right?  A little goes a long way...isn't that the saying?

Well, I want to do an experiment.  What would happen if I went an extra mile or two for my patients?  How much more will they not feel like a number, a patient, but a person?  My first day of my experiment went well yesterday.  The benefit to me isn't the thank you's from the patients and their families, but the peace of knowing I'm not falling into the trap many medical providers fall into...apathy.

A good rule of thumb:  Treat your patients like you would want your mom (or dad) to be treated if she (or he) was hospitalized.