Nurse reveals simple technique that reduces pain, promotes wound healing and even improves quality of life in cancer patients

Caitlyn Ecock used to feel like just another cog in the machine.Inside the cardiac procedures unit at NYU Langone Hospital-Brooklyn, the 28-year-old had grown accustomed to darting between patients, checking vitals, prepping them for surgery and keeping the department moving amid a constant flow of activity.But somewhere in the middle of the chaos, something subtle was slipping away.She could see the pain on patients’ faces and hear the anxiety in their voices, yet slowing down long enough to be present with them often felt out of reach.“These are real people with real stories,” Ecock told The Post.

“I felt like I wasn’t able to connect with that in the past.”That started to shift when she joined NYU Langone’s Lerner Holistic Integrative Health Nursing Fellowship, a nine-month professional development program helping nurses rethink what “care” looks like — blending clinical practice with evidence-based wellness tools that support both patients and providers alike.For Ecock, it wasn’t just another credential.It’s reshaped the way she shows up on the floor.“It’s only been six months, but my entire practice has definitely changed,” she said.

“I’ve learned so many hands-on skills, like, I do guided imagery with my patients now.”The technique has providers encouraging patients to picture themselves in a vivid, immersive scene — like strolling on a beach or walking through a forest — drawing on all five senses to trigger the body’s natural relaxation response.“A lot of times, people are just sitting there waiting, only thinking of their pain and distress, so if we can engage with them and distract them, it can provide some relief,” Ecock said.“It helps me too.I leave that shift feeling better because I connected with someone,” she explained.

“I sat down and looked someone in their eye and did these exercises with them and they got relief from it.And maybe they won’t need as much medicine.”The approach may sound s...