#tipsfornewdocs starting in Ireland

Hands Head Heart

Hands
Covid killed the handshake, but hands are not off limits. Examine them, there’s lots to find. My favourite sign is proximal nail pallor, which tells you someone has been unwell recently...
(1/5)

You can even estimate for how long, or see if they got better (normal colour returns as it grows out). It’s common after ICU, esp in older people. It lets you look into the past, and may tell you they have been unwell for a long time, if it goes all the way to the nailtip
(2/5)

Head
Covid means there’ll be extra heads on hospital teams for the next few weeks, with the overlap. Maybe too many, so it’s not clear in anyone’s mind what they should be doing.
Keep your head. Step up, assign roles or jobs so there is no diffusion of responsibility.
(3/5)

Heart
With covid, hospitals can seem like heartless places. No visitors. No leaving the ward. No faces visible. This can cause real anguish. Think with your heart: help people to contact families by phone or videocall. Have a chat with them, try and find out their story.
(4/5)

Sometimes you’ll also need to *hold* your patient’s hand. They may be afraid, delirious, or dying. Your head will say no, but listen to your heart.

And of course, wash your hands...
(5/5)

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