PFCC in Action: Partnering with Families, Providers' Stories

DRY ERASE BOARD: A diamond in the rough 

Charles Wilbur, RN

Emergency Medicine - MCG Health Inc.

April 2, 2008

I always thought that to be a good nurse I had to be good at IV’s, use appropriate medical jargon, be nice to my patients and, generally, follow my own moral compass.You know, treat patients, as I would want to be treated.

To be told that writing my name on a dry erase board in my patient’s room has anything to do with being a good nurse just seemed trite, forced, and “another one of those hoops management wants us to jump through.” Confession: this is me casually dressed in my worst attitude. But, perhaps my colleagues can relate as well.

Patient- and family-centered care or PFCC in the Emergency Department allows me to see a simple truth that I can apply in my work every day, every hour: “Do unto others as you would have done unto you.” Let this sink in and I hope that you too will see what I found when I began using the dry erase board in my day–to-day nursing care.

 

PFCC will become apparent.

If you believe (like I did) that your patients don’t care about things like: what their nurse’s name is, what their title is, what they do, what tests will be done–by whom, when and what for– and who else may be involved in their care, then be enlightened. They do care and very much so! These are things that would be important to you should you become a patient. Well, they are just as important to your patients and their families now.

What does a dry erase board have to do with patient- and family-centered care?

The dry erase board has become my new best friend! It is a wonderful tool to convey meaningful information to your patients.

Here’s how it works. I write my name as well as the patients’ family members’ names, tests ordered, medications given and their times administered on the board so that I can help keep my patients and their families informed. 

Also, I try letting them know what may possibly come next, for example: “peds urology consult pending.” I’ve found that these small steps help alleviate potential anxiety produced by lengthy wait times and by not knowing what to expect for the patient and family.

For example, in one case, the grandmother was able to tell the consultant specialist who entered her grandson’s room all that had been done so far, using the notes on the dry erase board as a point of reference. Wow! I did not anticipate this positive consequence! In fact it showed all of us the power of the dry erase board as a two-way communication tool and as a vehicle to engage a family member or the patient.

Written communication at the bedside allows patients and families time to think on, ask questions of, and engage in dialogue that both educates and informs. One of the serendipitous results of our more patient- and family-focused care was that the family demonstrated a positive appreciation for the care they received.

Isn’t this an outcome you’d like too?

 

"... it showed all of us the power of the dry erase board as a two-way communication tool and as a vehicle to engage a family member or the patient."

 

Go to Top