Tension held the room

Bob became an avid fan of all kinds of my music over the next weeks.

The nurses told me he asked when I would be coming in and made sure he was dressed and ready for my arrival.

One Saturday I arrived to find him surrounded by his family in the great room. The Hospice social worker had briefed me that his adult children weren't speaking to each other and that his wife, disabled and in a wheelchair, was often abrupt and grumpy.

Tension held the room.

No one was talking except Bob and his wife. Bob looked up when I entered.

"Oh, Robin," he said. Then he turned to the rest of the group. "This is the House musician." No one moved a muscle except to briefly look at me, and then return to their downcast, blank stares. I could feel anxiety creep over me. I wanted to excuse myself and escape.

Here was a situation where I came to give my patient music but there were others present. As a CMP my work is patient-centered. And the family members charged the room with negativity. What would you do in this situation? Escape, like I wanted to?