does it make sense?
This picture reminds me of when I was working in medical ward where it was full of patients who were really sick. Working in this ward was very stressful. I still remember when I went to see one of my patients who were very sick this patient was HIV positive and COPD stage 4. This patient’s folder was even written not for code meaning do not resuscitate.
When I got to this patient, just about to treat her patient started shouting at me, she pushed me back and said I must not touch her again or else she’s going to pinch me and then she shouted “leave me alone, there’s no point of treating me, i am dying”. I moved away with frustration, sadness and confusion. It did not make sense to me, she was still alive, and she was still on physiotherapy treatment. She was still breathing and that was what I saw with my naked eyes. Little did I know what she was going through within? It was not a physical fight but an emotional fight. I mean there is still today to live for.
I ran to the bathroom, there I was fighting with my thoughts. What is it with this patient? What does she mean when she says it’s pointless to treat her she’s dying when she is still alive! Perhaps I do not understand, perhaps it is really an emotional battle. Considering the condition she is in, it must be hard. I cannot comprehend what she is going through. A song then came to mind while I was buried in my thoughts at the bathroom “it is well with my soul”. What does the writer means when he says when sorrows like sea billows roll; whatever my lot, thou hast taught me to say “it is well; it is well with my soul”. It makes no sense to me
After the song came into my mind, it came into my attention that what I was supposed to do was to show my patient empathy because this was going to build patient trust, clam anxiety and improve health outcomes (Fields et al, 2011).
Reference list
Fields, S. K., Mahan, P., Tillman, P., Harris, J., Maxwell, K., & Hojat, M. (2011). Measuring empathy in healthcare profession students using the Jefferson Scale of Physician Empathy: health provider–student version. Journal of Interprofessional Care, 25(4), 287-293.
Picture retrieved from https://www.google.com/search?biw=1022&bih=615&tbm=isch&sa=1&ei=k76eW8q2IoqbgAbsxrvgCw&q=when+sorrows+like+sea&oq=when+sorrows+like+sea&gs_l=img.12…0.0.1.4293.0.0.0.0.0.0.0.0..0.0….0…1c..64.img..0.0.0….0.2l5ysLqgQpc
3 thoughts on “Does it make sense ?”
Masindi, your content really caught my attention, this may be me but i love how you portray what happened and how you took time to understand what your patient was going through, instead of bombarding your patient with work, instead you took time to understand the place she was coming from. You went as far as knowing enough was for your patient and that she just did not want to continue with treatment.
Though i can not say this happened or not, and there is no actual evidence of the incident, but i understand what you are claiming happened to your patient, i would like to know a bit of after your understand of what the patient was going though, how did you handle your patient or what happened after the realization.
There is a good reference that you have made, though i as well am not sure how many we are supposed to have.
Your writing is pretty good and very capturing.
Vuyolwethu Ndlabulala
Hello Masindi
Thank you for sharing a personal story. The explanation of your specific clinical experience is very detailed and easy to follow. Well written. I can’t imagine how difficult the situation actually was for you.
As I read through it I found a few grammar errors; (This patient’s folder was even written not for code meaning do not resuscitate) Maybe add in some quotation marks around “not for code” in your first paragraph? and a few words are being repeated that is maybe not necessary in your first paragraph like “very sick” you already explained that the medical ward where for very sick patients so I think its not necessary to say you saw a very sick patient, just say your patient was HIV positive with grade 4 COPD. Further more it read really nice.
When I got to the last paragraph I wasn’t sure if your media piece was the picture or song lyrics or if the song lyrics are within the picture? Maybe just clarify it a bit better by explaining exactly how those specific words you highlighted contribute to your clinical experience your described in much detail. I like how you added the patients exact words and circumstance plus your own feelings and thoughts at that moment, it makes the reader connect a bit better to your story.
Your clinical experience described above is very relevant to our module. I believe it was appropriate and professional of you to take a step back from your patient and think about your next actions/treatment plan, although I would have liked to know how you actually handled your patient and the sensitive situation. How do you think your professional ethics came into play?
Good in text referencing and reference list at the bottom.
Overall I enjoyed reading your piece, and I hope my advice/ comment will help you.
Wiana Muller
Hi there Masindi!
Thank you for sharing your story. The content is explained in detail and I love how you explained your clinical practise experience, it catches the reader and draws a lot of attention and interest of what you will say next. However, as Wiana has afore mentioned, mind your punctuation. I will highlight all the grammatic errors that I could identify.
E.g in your first paragraph, “…when I went to see my patient who WERE…” Substitute “were” with ‘was’.
Paragraph 2: Second sentence, rectify your use of commas.
Paragraph 3: Please revisit there as well, check out for grammar and punctuation.
Overall I enjoyed reading you work. I personally love how you put the patient first before you. This is evident in a line where you mentioned that you decided to leave the patient after the pt was not affirming to you treating them. Sometimes the best way is to really give them space and talk them through their condition as opposed to just showing no empathy and concern more about administering physio rx.
Your clinical experience as per described above is very relevant to the module. However, I would love to know how you dealt with the patient on your next session with them? Given your history and knowledge of your patient .
Otherwise, good referencing.
Thank you! All the best with your final submission.
C.ndamase