- In the book, Critical Care, there are several occurrences of patients’ deaths. Choose one account and discuss your impressions of this experience. What, if anything, surprised you about the situation. What are your feelings about dealing with patient deaths.
The first experience of a patient dying is something that is nerve wracking for all nurses. Theresa’s first experience with a dying patient stood out to me most. This patient, Mary, was only staying alive due to the oxygen mask. When it came time to talk to the family about removing the mask, they had to wait for the family to come to them. I understand her feelings of helplessness and wanting to do something but not being able to interfere. I get nervous thinking about experiencing my first patient death. I decided to become a nurse because I knew I wanted to help people, and I don’t ever want to have that same feeling of helplessness that Theresa experienced. When it comes to that time in my career, I believe it will be important to think about all the positives. Thinking about the ways you have helped the patient in the past and knowing that they will no longer be suffering is ideal to help facilitate coping. Part of being a nurse is learning and discovering over time how to be your best self for you and your patients, and this is what can make a great nurse.
- Theresa Brown is often critical of her own skills and actions as a novice nurse. What is an example where she was not critical of herself but where you questioned her actions, behaviors, or words? What might you have done differently in this situation?
When Theresa was working at the pediatric unit, she had a patient named Sean. The boy was worried about what was wrong with him, and he was asking her many questions. Each question the boy asked, she responded with “I don’t know.” When speaking to patients, and especially children, the last thing they want to hear their providers say is that they do not know what is wrong. Saying she did not know the answer may have been okay once, with some later reassurance that they will figure it out. Saying she did not know multiple times is not going to benefit the child in any way. Personally, I would have told him that the doctors were doing everything they could to try and figure out what was wrong with him. It is important to understand that as a nurse, you do not always know all the answers. Even if you do not know the direct answer to their question, the best way to keep the patient from worrying is by reassuring them. We want the patient to be comfortable and aware of the importance of their care, and it is important portray that verbally when they are unsure.
- Choose one section of the book (sentence, passage, chapter) that was particularly meaningful to you and explain why.
Florence Nightingale said, “Nursing is an art: and, if it is to be made an art, it requires devotion, as hard as a preparation, as any painter’s or sculptor’s work.” Understanding how much work and dedication goes into a single painting, it makes sense to call nursing an art. Ever since I was a kid, art and creativity has played a huge role in my life. Although it meant a lot to me, I always struggled to find ways to incorporate creativity in daily life. Realizing the similarities between art and nursing makes me appreciate my future profession even more than I used to. Through nursing, I can incorporate my desire to be creative while helping people. Preparation, dedication, and creativity are aspects I can use in regards to my profession and personal life that can lead me to become an even better nurse than I strive for. Hearing this quote by Florence validated my decision to switch to nursing, and will impact how I view nursing through the rest of school and throughout my time in the field.
- Theresa Brown relates the following poem by Frank Bidart to a career in nursing: I hate and love. Ignorant fish, who even wants the fly while writhing. How do you react to the idea of loving and hating a career in nursing? What aspects of the nursing profession do you see on both sides?
The reason most people begin a career path in nursing is because they are passionate and love the idea of helping people. It is hard to love something without experiencing pain and hatred. You may love caring for people, being a teacher, and a support system, but there are also aspects you may hate. Things like long twelve-hour days, not having a specific schedule, and not being able to be with your family on holidays. But without these things that you hate, you cannot have the things that you love. You learn to appreciate the things you love when you can also acknowledge the things you hate. In times of the COIVID-19 outbreak, nurses are going through a lot. There are some good days where they can help people and watch them get better. There are also the bad times where they have to wear the same PPE every day, having to quarantine themselves from their families, and risk their own health to care for others. I believe that without the risks, there really is no reward. I go into this profession knowing the risks and hoping for the benefits. I, and many others, would not want to have it any other way.
