Hi everyone! My name is Celine Marcotte, and I’m a dietetic intern based out of New Bedford, Massachusetts. I am originally from a small Vermont town and I completed my undergrad at the University of Vermont. I traded my beloved mountains for the oceans of Rhode Island for completion of this internship and I am loving it! I am currently wrapping up my advanced clinical rotations at Charlton Memorial Hospital before transitioning to my Critical Care MNT concentration.
Ever since I chose to study nutrition, my goal has been to work with critically ill individuals. Now having spent time in the ICU, CCU, and SICU, I have been able to see firsthand how nutrition plays a huge role. Whether in providing nutrition support, offering supplements to help meet increased protein needs for serious wounds, or discussing nutrition therapy with a patient battling cancer, nutrition is vital in this setting and these patients need our expertise.
Something I have learned as the end of my internship draws near is that our expertise can only take us so far. The importance of encountering the patient should always take precedence before delving into anything else. For me, the patient encounter means recognizing their dignity and humanity by providing a compassionate presence, a listening ear, and a respectful attitude that places the patient at the center of care. I firmly believe in the importance of prioritizing knowing patients as persons, not diseases or complex cases, and striving to provide empathy toward each person.
The high-tech, fast-paced ICU saves many patients’ lives, yet this stressful environment can often make it challenging to look beyond the demanding physical needs and focus on the humanness of the patients. It can be easy to get wrapped up in the complexity of a patient’s case and focus on what interventions are warranted, putting them at risk for being reduced to their acute or chronic illnesses.
When I attempt to put myself in a patient’s place, it is apparent that hospitals can be frightening, and exams and procedures often include elements that may erode their dignity. Patients are exposed and vulnerable, poked and prodded, questioned about intimate details, stereotyped based on their diseases, and they’re subjected to the scrutiny of strangers. As future dietitians, we are a unique presence to critically ill individuals as we do not come to poke and prod; we aim to provide comfort in the form of one’s basic need for nutrition.
Below are reminders that have helped me strive to preserve patient dignity- even amidst the chaos of the critical care environment:
In today’s world, it is vital to maintain a culture of compassion and respect in the health care system by ensuring that all people are treated with the dignity entitled to them. I think it takes not only our professional knowledge as future dietitians, but also dedication, a clear ethical vision to see each and every patient as another human being and to strive to keep that dignity intact.
Ever since I chose to study nutrition, my goal has been to work with critically ill individuals. Now having spent time in the ICU, CCU, and SICU, I have been able to see firsthand how nutrition plays a huge role. Whether in providing nutrition support, offering supplements to help meet increased protein needs for serious wounds, or discussing nutrition therapy with a patient battling cancer, nutrition is vital in this setting and these patients need our expertise.
Something I have learned as the end of my internship draws near is that our expertise can only take us so far. The importance of encountering the patient should always take precedence before delving into anything else. For me, the patient encounter means recognizing their dignity and humanity by providing a compassionate presence, a listening ear, and a respectful attitude that places the patient at the center of care. I firmly believe in the importance of prioritizing knowing patients as persons, not diseases or complex cases, and striving to provide empathy toward each person.
The high-tech, fast-paced ICU saves many patients’ lives, yet this stressful environment can often make it challenging to look beyond the demanding physical needs and focus on the humanness of the patients. It can be easy to get wrapped up in the complexity of a patient’s case and focus on what interventions are warranted, putting them at risk for being reduced to their acute or chronic illnesses.
When I attempt to put myself in a patient’s place, it is apparent that hospitals can be frightening, and exams and procedures often include elements that may erode their dignity. Patients are exposed and vulnerable, poked and prodded, questioned about intimate details, stereotyped based on their diseases, and they’re subjected to the scrutiny of strangers. As future dietitians, we are a unique presence to critically ill individuals as we do not come to poke and prod; we aim to provide comfort in the form of one’s basic need for nutrition.
Below are reminders that have helped me strive to preserve patient dignity- even amidst the chaos of the critical care environment:
- Get acquainted and attempt to understand beliefs, values and cultural preferences.
- Remember basic courtesies by taking time to ask how the patient is feeling and give space to share.
- Be present and listen with intention.
- Attempt to understand the patient perspective.
- Replace labeling with positive solutions.
- Attend to your own well-being because you can’t give what you don’t have. If you expect to respect and care for patients, you need to do the same for yourself.
In today’s world, it is vital to maintain a culture of compassion and respect in the health care system by ensuring that all people are treated with the dignity entitled to them. I think it takes not only our professional knowledge as future dietitians, but also dedication, a clear ethical vision to see each and every patient as another human being and to strive to keep that dignity intact.
