Creative approach to administering medication brings young patient comfort
A creative idea, a calm approach, and a deep commitment to comfort made all the difference for a patient struggling to take their medication.
The instincts of Brooke Roe, BSN, RN, made all the difference for a young patient struggling to swallow medication. The situation had been causing the parents extreme stress for days prior to the patient being admitted as an inpatient. That is until Roe was assigned to their care.
Roe worked to gain the patient’s trust, despite the patient being in what the parents described in their DAISY Award nomination letter as, “an ornery, full fight mode mood.” And as for administering the medication, that’s where Roe got innovative. Knowing the patient had been struggling to swallow the large pill, she dissolved it in apple juice and put it in an oral liquid medicine syringe. The patient consumed the medication easily and willingly without vomiting or gagging.
To further ensure the patient’s comfort, Roe also successfully drew labs from the patient’s IV, helping the patient avoid additional needle pokes.
“Every patient needs something different to make them feel comfortable enough to take their medication. I like to find out if they’re a kid who likes a song before a dose, or if you should do it while they’re not listening, or if you can incentivize them with a video game or a fun activity before the procedure,” Roe says. “You need to get creative but still set the expectations with them. We need to work together but also make sure we get done what needs to be done.”
Roe believes there is power in association. She doesn’t like to go into the room to only do an assessment, take their vital signs, and leave — instead she prefers to form a relationship and have a little fun.
“I’m here to sing and dance with the patients. I love to play with them. Patients will associate you with what you are doing with them more than just the task at hand,” Roe says.
Roe was first exposed to nursing as a high school student in West Des Moines, where she job-shadowed health care staff at a hospital for one of her classes. She was immediately drawn to the profession because of the opportunities for building relationships with patients.
But like many pediatric nurses, Roe sees the parents as her responsibility, too. She thinks of it as being on the same team, working toward a common goal of getting their child healthy.
“I try to remember that this isn’t just the patient’s first time experiencing this, but the parents’ too. That’s why I like to be there for them and work together with them. It's so important to build a collaborative relationship with them during their child’s stay,” Roe says.
Roe’s approach to nursing is an impactful one as she sees her pediatric patients’ struggles not as an obstacle to overcome, but as a whole person to treat.
“I always tell people to treat the child in front of you. Don’t let what you read on their chart influence you too much — just give them what they need at that moment,” Roe says. “That’s part of what makes nursing so special.”
