Apr 20, 2008 12:42 AM - Its strange how sometimes we stumble upon things in our lives that we see, watch or read that cause you to stop, step back and look at things.
I have wanted to be a nurse now for at least 7 years. But, to no fault of my own, i have changed schools and moved to different cities so it seems my pre-nursing career has been extended. Anyways, I am currently working as a medical assistant in an internal medicine office. I have been here for 3 1/2 years and I enjoy what I do. However, due to the daily stresses of dealing with different personalities, giving the results of bad news to patients or just to busy to stop and take my time talking to a co-worker patient, I have become somewhat calloused. (i know that is a horrible thing to say, but its the truth.)
I am getting ready to take my final exams this coming week for A&P II and microbiology.
Three weeks ago, i called my mom (who lives in springfield, mo). She had sent me an email telling me she was home from work and not feeling well. To make a long story short, I called EMS and they transported her to the emergency room as i frantically packed a bag and threw it in my boyfriend's car and we high tailed it from St. Louis, MO. She had a bleeding ulcer that caused her Hemoglobin to drop to 8.
When i first got to the hospital and saw all these people working (nurses, doctors, etc) i said to myself, I must be insane to what to do this and contemplated ending my schooling to be a nurse. It was not until she was admitted into the cardiac care unit that my heart changed.
I knew, then and there that this is what I was meant to do. I made quite a few friends during my stay (if you call sleeping in a waiting room for three weeks a stay) and had a change to talk to a wide variety of nurses at different times of the day. One particular one in the CCU brought it all home for me.
In reading this post, it made me realize how right she was. All to often we fall prey to outside forces that control our moods, effect how we listen to others or quick to judge someones actions. We don't even know the entire picture.
What this one nurse said to me, "Nursing is the easy part, knowing how to give meds, tend to wounds, make sure the doctors orders are right.. all that stuff is the easy part... its the Art of nursing that is hard". The art of nursing? i had no idea what she was talking about... She was talking about patient care; making sure their sheets are all bunched up underneath them, holding their hand, sitting and talking to them (this is just a short list). This is the kind of thing that is not taught in nursing schools, and probably should be.. the art of compassion for another human being.
As soon as i read this post, this is what i thought of. As nurses, nursing students or pre-nursing students, we get so caught up in our own lives and problems that we have lost the humanity towards others and are quick to judge. There has been many a day where I have been yelled at, cursed at, etc and I get offended and upset about it. But, if i stop to think about it, its not personal. This patient is really sick, or has a loved one who is ill and dying; its not me they are mad at, its just circumstantial.
I have learned so much these past three weeks that my outlook on my nursing career is just going to be that much better.
Its hard at times not to judge others for their actions, but, i think if we slow down just a little bit, our careers and our own selves and our patients will benefit from this. After all, isnt this what nursing is really about??
I really want to thank the staff that took care of her.
You are amazing people, and have touched and influenced me in ways you could not even imagine... Thank you
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