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The book typically gives a vivid picture of the life of a nurse from the real actors the nurses. Each story portray deferent situations the nurses are exposed to on their line of duty. They each encounter equally tough circumstances that sometimes stretched their levels of knowledge and physical being too far. Some of the themes depicted in each story are tough work environment they work under for example the veteran nurse Lori Mulvihill give a detailed account of the multiple things she is supposed to do at the same time in the gynecological station. This cleared is intended to prepared the future nurses to prepare themselves for such situation when preparing to enroll.
Another major linking theme from the stories emphasized on the role of a nurse in the general healthcare system. One of the stories describes how the patients view the doctors as a rocket science since they come only once a day. The rest of the day the patients are left in the care of the nurse. One of the patients in the story of Madilda who was a registered nurse bring out a confession of one of the patient that noticed they received better services when nurses where in charge of the hospital.
There is concern in the one of the stories that gave a comparison of the old nurses who were trained in the hospital and those who were training in college with the degree. The todays’ nurses have no hands-on experience unlike the hospital trained nurse who could manipulate things in hospital. The current nurses’ curriculum need to be changed to include more practical.
Nursing is more than a profession but involves more of a calling as it is a tough career that entails sacrificing self for the service to the society. Nursing calls for strong interpersonal skills such as communication skills to enable the nurse to effectively collect information and interact effectively with the patients. To be a great nurse one must be compassionate as they deal with people who are terrified of falling too ill and are at risks of succumbing to their ailment, and alongside, family and friends accompanying the patient as they are terrified of losing their loved ones. All these people are in a state of confusion and they require somebody to assist them come into terms with the situation at hand and also to guide the patient to transition in case of a permanent condition that alter the patient’s normal life style. Nurses’ help comes in handy at such situations.. A nurse must also be emphatic. They should always be willing to make a resolute effort to listen to the patient and the people close to the patient, put themselves on their place, and try to appreciate their challenges without being judgmental.
Ever since I trained as a nurse, I have learnt a lot that pertains in clinical care, learnt a lot about people and more so about myself. Going through the course, I encountered situations that left me feeling exceedingly susceptible and unproductive, such as dealing with abuse or trauma of young children that essentially rendered me emotionally distressed for some time. In that state of affairs, I had to acquire a couple of coping mechanisms to compact with the circumstances or seek the help of my fellow nurses to help me during such tough times. Like in the except in the book of veteran Ob-gyn nurse Lori Mulvihill who remembers how Betty and Phyllis mentored her to becoming an accountable and emotionally stable, thus a better nurse.
References
Daines, P. A. (2000). Personality hardiness: an essential attribute for the ICU nurse. Dynamics, 11(4), 18-21.
