UMSN Guest Speaker Shares Personal Story About His Patient Experience

“Don’t limit what your patients may or may not be able to do.”

University of Michigan School of Nursing sophomores received a heartfelt lesson about how their care of future patients can make a lasting impact. Guest speaker James “Pat” Ferguson, PhD, shared how a severe spinal cord injury changed his life when he was 21 years old and about to report for active duty in the Air National Guard. Dr. Ferguson was in an ATV accident and broke four vertebrae, becoming a quadriplegic. Pneumonia, collapsed lungs, suicidal thoughts and intense muscle spasms are among the many complications Dr. Ferguson has faced. 

In the 30 years since the trauma, Dr. Ferguson has had ample interaction with health care professionals while managing his condition. He told the class he wanted them to know how much the nurses impacted his recovery and that he felt genuinely heartened by the relationships they formed with him. “You could tell who cared and I thought if they see value in my life, there must be a reason,” he said. In addition, he credits nurses with being a valuable resource to his family members who were also learning how to adapt to his treatment and recovery.

While Dr. Ferguson said his overall experience with nurses is overwhelmingly positive, he did have a few words of caution for the students. He explained that even through the mental fog of his pain and medication, he knew how nurses spoke to his family, who washed their hands before providing care, and who did not check his chart. He also shared the story of one nurse who failed to listen to a warning before Dr. Ferguson’s position in bed was moved which resulted in a painful fall.  

He reminded the students to always think of the patient as a person. “The problem with many providers is they read your chart but don’t pay attention to the patient; listen to your patient.”

Since the accident, Dr. Ferguson earned a PhD in English Literature from the University of Virginia and leads an active lifestyle which includes driving, skiing, and hand-cycling.

After the class, some students approached Dr. Ferguson with more questions and to thank him for speaking with the class. This was the second year Dr. Ferguson, who is the brother of UMSN Clinical Instructor Diane Ferguson; spoke to the Health Maintenance & Restoration class, led by Clinical Instructor Ellie Wagner.

“It’s a good lesson for these students who are just beginning their clinical rotations to hear a patient’s perspective and keep that with them through their education and practice,” says Wagner. “His examples reinforced the importance of listening and seeing the patient as more than a room number or diagnosis.”