Tuesday, March 16, 2010
My job is not okay...
Imagine this: In one room you are taking care of a patient who is dying. A patient who is only 62 years old. Your mom, your friends mom. She's is dying right before your eyes. You do chest compressions when she goes into cardiac arrest, she's intubated and on a breathing machine. You give her several doses of epinephrine and atropine every time she arrests (five times so far!)! You start a chest tube. She came in talking, saying she didn't feel well the past couple of days. How many times can you code her? Enough. She dies. The family weeps, it's horrible, it's tragic. You hug them, you cry. Then you have to finish your shift. You have to go into a room with a patient complaining of a headache. They want your attention, they want your sympathy. HOW? How can I feel compassion for you???? Your headache is stupid, it is not important. How do I do this? How do I feel compassion for your headache when someone just died right in front of me!?
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
3 comments:
I don't know how. That is a horribly stressful thing to have to manage. Wow. You must care for yourself very gently while you process that. I think you are an amazing nurse. I don't think compassion like that comes easy for anybody.
I have a similair issue with my law practice. How to deal with the client that calls complaining every three seconds about their nothing case when someone is losing their house? I just have to remind myself that every human has value and their problems are important to them. And cuss when no one is listening. A lot.
This post makes me realize that there is not enough emotional support for nurses and all medical personnel. If we don't take care of the medical professionals, then how can we expect you all to take care of us?
Post a Comment