Related Tracks: Jean Watson, PHD, RN The Caring Moment Christina Puchalski, MD The Healing Encounter Rachel Naomi Remen, MD Being Whole Naomi Judd, RN Soul of the Caregiver Connect through your heart with your patient and yourself. Your presence is a source of meaning, energy, and healing power. It includes your capacity to connect without words, as well as intuitively and compassionately speak when called upon. Distancing may be the default, adapted, or chosen way of being with patients, experienced as professional, scientific, objective, detached, and emotionally safe. In times of illness or when life is at risk, however, suffering may inadvertantly be increased when the human element is missing from the encounter between practitioner and patient. Your technical and medical expertise is what patients expect- your humanity is what helps you both feel connected. Even when your patient is courteously spoken to, provided with the correct medications,and given the necessities to feel physically comfortable- something vital isn't there without human presence. There may be times when you simply don't have it in you to be as compassionate and caring as you may wish to be. In those times and with those people, don't be hard on yourself. You are providing a service simply by showing up. Do what you need to do to recharge, to be able to connect in a more openhearted way,to the degree that you can. Summary: The inclusion of human connection can make a profound difference in the experience of both you and your patient.