 Provided by Clinician 1
I stated in my first blog that my only goal is to provide one person’s thoughts about the everyday practice of my work as a Nurse Practitioner. Period. I am no better or worse than anyone else who delves into this strange world of nursing/medicine. We all have our successes and failures... some to share, some not to share. I don’t mind if others don’t agree with my opinion. In fact, at times, I will deliberately write about potentially “controversial” topics to spark dialogue. We grow more when we challenge the “status-quo.” In my humble opinion, of course. Many times, we will have the chance to reflect upon our practice and our patients... and hopefully, we grow as a result.
I have done a lot of reflection in the past month. Thoughts about my family, my practice as an NP, my patients, my spirituality, and how I can best meet everyone’s needs... while trying to hang on to my sanity in the process.
I have had somewhat of an awakening in the past few weeks, since we initiated out-patient hospice services for my almost 91-year old grandmother, who suffers from terminal breast cancer, with metastasis to the lungs, and probably the brain. Rules have been changed and broken. Things that we expected have not come to pass. We see which caregivers are stellar at caring for her and us... and those who appear to just “do their job” without making a connection to their patients or family.
I have learned to appreciate the nurses who have taken a few minutes to talk with my family during this time. I really am grateful for the hospice nurses who have worked to keep her comfortable, while also educating the nursing home staff about the importance of administering routine pain medication. One of the nurses (on her day off) even spoke on the phone with my mother to share some insight and support. This experience has been very good reminder of what it feels like to be the patient’s family.
If you find nothing else of value in this blog, think of this: cherish every single day... every moment that you have with a loved one. Reach out to those who you think may be stand-offish and irritable. This pertains to patients as well.
We all have patients for whom we shudder when their names appear on our daily schedule. See if you can find one glimmer of hope in your interaction. It may be the only meaningful conversation that he or she has.
Or... maybe it’s the last one. I am trying to keep that thought in mind as well. I don’t know when the end will come for my grandmother, although I suspect it will be very soon. However, I hope that her spirit will remain with me... and remind me what is important. For my family... and for my patients.
Kim Spering is a family nurse practitioner who currently works at Brndjar Medical Associates, P.C., a family practice in Emmaus, PA. Her past experience includes the fields of medical/surgical ICU, open heart/trauma ICU, labor and delivery, nursing education, nursing supervision, and as a nurse practitioner in both family practice and OB/GYN settings. She currently serves as a NP preceptor for her graduate school alma mater, DeSales University, as well as for local baccalaureate programs. She is passionate about patient education and helping patients understand that they are ultimately responsible for their own health. She also firmly believes that the public needs to be educated on the value of NPs and PAs in meeting the health care needs of the next decade and beyond. In her free time, Kim enjoys family vacations with her optometrist husband, Mark, and her two sons, Matthew and Connor.
The viewpoint expressed in this article is the opinion of the author and is not necessarily the viewpoint of the owners or employees at Healthcare Staffing Innovations, LLC.
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