True Meaning 0f My Profession

Hey everybody, I am a new grad and I am currently working on a Renal/Pulmonary intermediate care unit with a six bed stepdown. Even though I have been a practicing nurse for only 3 weeks now, one of my patients has taught me the true meaning of nursing and caring for a person.

This gentleman was admitted with a diagnosis of primary pulmonary hypertension, and was scheduled to begin treatment with an IV medication called Flolan. I took care of him the next day when treatment was scheduled to begin.

When I initially greeted him he appeared extremely anxious and also very exhausted. He told me that he could not walk more than a few feet without becoming SOB and that he could not sleep. He said he took Ambien and benzos at home and was still unable to sleep, and if we were unable to help him sleep to let him die because his life was not worth living. He did consent to beginning treatment that day.

I was off the next day but stopped by to see him two days after the initiation of Flolan therapy. The patient was alert in bed and seemed to have no anxiety. He told me with tears in his eyes that he had slept through the night. The next day he was up and walking in our unit and was able to walk several laps around the unit without any SOB. When he was discharged the next day he thanked us all and told us we had given him his life back.

Patients like him have taught me more about the true depth and meaning of nursing, and make me want to come to work and give me satisfaction and joy in my work.