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from Lauré, a nurse in CA
Just finished reading the story about Lewis in the book. Wow…. one of the most intensely profound things that I have ever read. It scares me. I see so much complacency in so many nurses and I don’t understand where it comes from. Sometimes I attribute it to a knowledge deficit, but only because it is hard for me to accept that people can be so robotic and cold when it comes to dealing with another human being. It is difficult to admit, but I think that far too many bedside nurses fit into this category. Not to be Negative Nelly or anything, but it’s really how I feel. Sure, there are many of us who have true compassion and empathy for those whose lives we are entrusted with, but the other side of the coin is a reality that must be faced. It’s funny, I knew from the time that I was a little girl that I wanted to be a nurse and I feel as if it is a true gift from God to have a career that I love. I feel hugely blessed and lucky to work in an environment where I have the chance to make a difference for someone during their most vulnerable time. Don’t you agree? Sometimes even the smallest things like a gloveless touch or a genuine smile can make an impact.
I once had a patient who was aphasic and unresponsive, according to 4 days of nurses notes found in her chart. She would lay in the bed, often restless and sometimes moaning. I felt sad for her because she never had any visitors. One afternoon, I helped move her to what seemed like a comfortable position, straightened up her blankets, and pulled up a chair next to her bed. I took off my gloves and touched her forehead. I just put my hand there and stroked her gently from her brow to the crown of her head. I didn’t say a word, but without opening her eyes and in perfectly clear and coherent speech, she said to me, “That feels good.“ To this very day, I can see her perfectly clearly in my mind’s eye, and it remains one of the most satisfying experiences of my 15 year nursing career.
So did Lewis’ nurses lack knowledge or just compassion? It seemed as I read the story that they just didn’t care; not one of them cared enough to insist on an appropriate or more thorough assessment by a seasoned physician. He had clear signs of trouble…they weren’t vague or atypical presentations of some bizarre situation. I just don’t understand. I think that part of the problem is that nursing has become a desirable profession because of the financial benefits whereas in the “old days”, people became nurses because it was a passion or a true life choice.
I think that we should photocopy and distribute (with permission of course!!) the story about Lewis and have every single nurse at XXXX Hospital should read it. I’ll bet it would hit home and be a real eye opener for many of us. Wouldn’t it be great if a nurse could travel around the country sharing these kinds of stories with nurses everywhere so that they could have a new perspective on how important the concepts of early intervention and rescue are?!?
I plan to take it home and devour the rest of it before next week.
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