Being a nurse is no easy task. It is an occupation which involves being around people who are having, more often than not, a really bad day. For instance, a nurse may be assigned to a dozen patients with varying illnesses. That is 12 different people who need care and support. However, as time passes, a nurse evolves. There are around 3 million nurses who are registered in the United States. (“Quick Facts”) This number includes both new and old nurses in different levels of expertise. Whence she/he started out pliable, moldable and feeling, later in her career, he/she may be tough, resilient and seemingly callous.
Florence Nightingale, known as the Mother of Modern Nursing, once said that “The very first requirement in a hospital is that it should do the sick no harm.” (Bostridge) This statement may seem innocuous enough, but it holds truth even centuries later. The world of nursing has evolved extensively since Ms. Nightingale’s time, but even then, she is still the embodiment of the modern nurse. She also said that, “How very little can be done under the spirit of fear.” It demonstrates the enormity of the tasks given to nurses.
The movie “Sentimental Women Need Not Apply” explores the evolution or the history of these professionals practicing the art of caring. (Garey, 1989) This movie shows that, while nurses may be in the business of caring, they are also, at the same time, required to be brave enough to face the consequences that they face every single work day. It shows how the nurse deals with the different challenges of working in the field of caring.
One example shown is that of a nurse who cared for a patient who underwent a code blue which is an emergency measure applied to those who suddenly stopped breathing or whose hearts suddenly stopped beating. In the midst of all the rush and hurry, the nurse found time to reassure the patient that things will be alright. As it turns out, that was just what the patient needed to hear in order to have the strength to survive the ordeal. In this case, the nurse used her humanity to reach out to the patient. This enabled the patient to keep on fighting for her life. In other words, the nurse’s “sentimentality” helped her save a life.
The other side of sentimentality is that of resiliency. Sometimes, it is easy to forget that nurses are humans too. They are humans who feel emotion and may also get tired of dealing with life and death. In order to cope, nurses may need to strengthen their insides and tough it up. This is in addition the need to be physically resilient in order to endure countless manual functions such as lifting patients. In order to provide holistically relevant care, he/she must also be wholly capable. More than just “assisting the doctor” as what is most commonly misconceived, nurses do everything from womb to tomb. This includes the care of not just the patient but also the care of the family and the other people involved with the patient or concerned with his or her health. Nurses are may be sometimes expected to set aside their humanity in order to function well as a member of the health care team. This is not easy to do. As a result, some are able to cope better than others. Necessary measures have to be taken in order to promote safety for the patients as well as the nurses themselves. (Wright, 2014)
The need for nursing services increases with each passing year. Today, it is one of the fastest growing professions in the united states (“101 Nursing”) With these statistics, many new nurses undergo changes in themselves, just like the ones before them did.
Thus is the paradox of following the footsteps of Florence Nightingale. She must be caring to those who are suffering, yet resilient enough to keep the faith. She must be sensitive to the needs of her patients yet tough enough to withstand death and disease on a daily basis. She must be strong, but most importantly, she must also have a heart.
References
101 Nursing Fun Facts. (n.d.). Retrieved February 20, 2016, from http://nursinglink.monster.com/education/articles/8220-101-nursing-fun-facts?page=2
Bostridge, M. (n.d.). Florence Nightingale. Retrieved February 20, 2016, from http://www.bbc.co.uk/timelines/z92hsbk
Garey, Diane & Hott, Larry & Florentine Films & Direct Cinema Ltd (1989). Sentimental women need not apply. Direct Cinema, Los Angeles, Calif
Quick Facts. (n.d.). Retrieved February 20, 2016, from http://campaignforaction.org/evidence/quick-facts
Wright, K. (2014). Alleviating stress in the workplace: Advice for nurses. Nursing Standard, 28(20), 37-42.
