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Multicare Mindfulness Program Coaching Call #6
11-7-2013
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Reminder of Lesson 8 - the last lesson - will come out on 11-9-2013
And our final live session and Graduation Ceremony is on 11/18, Monday in two weeks at 7AM at the Good Sam Meeting Room near the birth center.
No more new mindfulness practices in the next lesson.
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Sharing the Squeegee Breath with Patients
Today had a patient that was really upset about divorce
You shared a breath with her and pushed your EPIC tablet to the side
So there was nothing between you and her
Her voice changed and she was able to share her grief
You relaxed and became a better listener at the same time
You gave her your undivided attention
You focused not on the disease, you focused on being with the patient that has the disease.
You were a little anxious about “how am I going to get out of here” and found that when you are all the way there it was the most efficient and effective use of your time. You didn’t think about that at the time and it turned out to be the right thing to do.
Similar patient experience ... very anxious before surgery. You shared the squeegee breath and talked about mindfulness. She relaxed and let the nurse know to thank you because you are a very spiritual person.
If a person is open to the squeegee what is the next step you would offer them. “Full Catastrophe Living” by Jon Kabat-Zinn. It is a big book and if people have the direct experience first (your squeegee breath), they will be motivated to open the book. There is a books on tape version where Kabat-Zinn is actually the person reading it. He has written other books as well, including a book on mindful parenting.
Understand that patients are hypnotized when they are upset in a healthcare setting. They are “in a focused state of intention and are open to suggestion”. They will follow your lead to calm down just by you suggesting it.
Boundary Rituals
Recharging your energy when you get home is a key to preventing burnout. Turning off your doctor role is key. Boundary Ritual is a specific mindfulness practice to release the role and come all the way home.
How to use a Partial Boundary Ritual when you are home and yet not off
Why it is important to have some time in your week when you are completely off. Some call schedules do not allow that ... for reasons that do not make any sense ... it is important to work on your mindfulness AND your call schedule at the same time.
The definition of “professionally distant” and the impact it has on your family.
Mindfulness is something you can take responsibility for .. to lower your stress and be a better doctor. And there are multiple external factors that increase stress that you will also need to manage and minimize to be completely effective.
How to use the HAT metaphor and the “changing hats hand motion” as a boundary ritual to change roles quickly between you and doctor. Make sure you take it off when you are done with doctor.
Why taking call in the hospital can make boundary rituals and being completely off easier.
Example of a recent viral video of a woman in the OR and prepped for a double mastectomy who is dancing with the OR staff. She is being intentional about her emotions under even extreme circumstances.
Understand you are separate from your thoughts/feelings and the things that happen to you. You are deeper than that. You can be intentional about your day with mindfulness no matter what is going on around you. How thoughts and feelings are like clouds traveling through the sky and you are the sky.