by?Joyce Harrell, RN, OCN?on May 12, 2010
?A Dog in the cancer unit?I have always been viewed as non-traditional. I don’t always play by the rules. Being more holistic, I don’t always see things “in the box”. For example, how many times have you ever allowed a dog in the hospital room to see it’s master. I did. Once.
Several years ago, and I will never tell where it occured. I have worked in 4 different hospitals in my nursing career. Once upon a time, a young patient who was critically and terminally ill was on her death-bed. One of the loves of her life had not been able to see her, to bring closure to why the master was no longer at home. The friend of the young woman had one request. A request to bring the dog. The dog was a very small little thing. So, we worked it out. He was to bring the little dog in a small duffle bag. He called prior to coming up, and I met him and walked him up. The little dog was placed in the bed with the patient. He was a little nervous and fidgety at first, but made his way to her feet, where he curled up in a ball and went to sleep. This was a very touching moment for me. It was closure for the dog, and brought comfort to the patient and family.
www.loveonaleash.org is an organization who “works to increase public awareness of the benefits of pet provided therapy”.
This is a really neat organization. I am the kind of person that actually believes things like pet therapy, music therapy, art therapy, and aromatherapy bring a healing to the cancer patient that is different than traditional medicine. Notice I did not say cure. Healing and curing are two different issues.
So, the dog, brought about a healing and comfort that no medication could bring. I was glad to be a part of that rendezvous…
Tagged as: art therapy, cancer, caregiver, health dogs, music therapy, nurses, oncology, pet therapy, women
www.poweruphealthcoaching.comThe DogOriginally from: http://www.nursinglink.monster.com/news/articles/14958-the-dog
View this post on my blog: http://travelnursesuccess.com/the-dog
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