When I became a nurse I often say I was cured of one problem but I acquired a different problem. I suddenly became a hypochondriac and chronic worrier. I began to self-diagnose every ache, pain, blemish, wart, rash and knot appearing in my own body. I also worried about my loved ones when things occurred that I would have previously shrugged off. For example, a skinned knee from a bicycle accident became a risk for MRSA, cellulitis or sepsis. Ear infections and sore throats need treated immediately because untreated bacterial infections can result in meningitis or rheumatic heart disease. As my experiences in caring for hospitalized patients grew, so did my respect for maintaining healthy lifestyle. I began to share stories with my family and friends who smoked about patients with end stage COPD who had admitted that if they had known how it was going to feel to not be able to breath they would have given up their cigarettes while they still had their health. I became a teacher and health advocate. The one thing I did not expect was that I would somehow have a new outlook on life, one that in essence practically cured any depression I had previous to entering a nursing practice. Most days that I went to work feeling a little sorry for myself for some reason or another, I would without fail hear a story from one of my patients that made me realize I had it pretty good and that things could be much, much worse. I enjoy listening to the stories that people are willing to share and considering the things that have brought them to their current plight in life. I’ve learned that sometimes we unknowingly allow unfair biases and judgments to enter our minds about someone and on more than a few occasions, hearing their story has shamed me and made me feel sorry for those biases and judgments. Have any of you had similar revelations or experiences as a result of your nursing career?
Posted on: Mon, 28 Jul 2014 22:13:11 +0000