Editor's
Note
Accentuate the
positive
Remember
to focus on what is right in health care
Beth Ulrich, Ed.D.,
RN, Texas Editor
October
2, 2000
I was
watching the TV show "Hopkins 24/7" recently.
Like many other "health care" shows, it has its
problems portraying our world.
On the
positive side, however, the show reminded me about how often
those of us in health care take for granted the results
of our efforts.
In one
of the profiles, three people received cochlear implants.
I found myself anxiously waiting to see their reactions
as the implants began to work.
One
patient who had never been able to hear was amazed by the
loud (to her) sounds of a computer and a fan, and she took
great joy in being able to hear herself laugh.
The
show made me think of another program I watched with my
husband a number of years ago about organ procurement and
transplantation.
At the
time, I had been in nephrology nursing for many years. While
I saw a well-done documentary on what happened at work every
day, my husband, a layman, witnessed miracles. He watched
in wonder as a newly transplanted heart began to beat and
was awed as a kidney pumped its first drop of urine from
its new body.
Hearing
his "oohs" and "ahs" made me realize
how much we take for granted. We are often so close to the
work that we do that we lose sight of our own worth and
the worth of the work. We see our jobs as common. We compare
ourselves to other people who work with numbers and widgets.
There is no comparison.
When
we succeed, people live, or at least they die with dignity.
When we make mistakes, people can get hurt.
Often
more important than all of our skills is the caring we provide.
That’s what brought many of us into health care and that’s
why many of us stay.
We all
need to periodically take the time to fully appreciate the
results of the work we do – to back away from our jobs far
enough to see the "miracles" we accomplish every
day. We do our jobs and a heart attack patient lives to
see his grandchildren.
We do
our jobs and a paraplegic learns to function and focus on
what she has rather than what she does not have. We do our
jobs and a baby survives to grow into adulthood.
It’s
all too easy to get caught up in seeing what’s wrong with
health care and to forget to get equally caught up in what
is right.
Let’s
keep trying to improve the system, but let’s also take time
to remember why we wanted to help people.
Remember
how you felt the first day of your career? The drive and
pride that was in us then is in us still.
Let’s
loudly, proudly and often tell the stories to each other
and the public of what we do and how well we do it.
