This week I got to do one of the most gratifying things I do
as a patient advocate. I got to speak to
a group of nursing students and share our experiences in health care. For someone who wants changes in health care
this is the place you have to go. The
schools where they are taught to be nurses.
Many times I will say that we are more than just a patient
story. Many patients and caregivers have
some very clear ideas on the state of health care and what should be done at a
policy level. This is not that kind of
discussion. These classes are about
learning from experience. The patient
experience. We just relax and share our
story. It is about being a human being. No hidden agendas. No preconceived ideas.
The class we attend is part of the 2nd year
nursing program at Red River College.
Several other volunteers participate in story-telling and a panel
discussion. We have done this for
several years now. It is not an easy
thing to do but it is well worth it.
For the students this is an opportunity to hear real-life
examples of how they (as nurses) may impact or play a role in someone’s patient
journey. For us, as caregivers, it is an
opportunity to share our experiences in health care and try to explain to these
aspiring nurses what it’s like to be on the other end of the health care
system. It’s also good therapy.
The best part for me, in these sessions, are the questions
the nursing students ask. Their genuine
concern and compassion for patients. I
have no idea what kind of nurses these students will become but I am confident
that at one point in time their intentions to enter the nursing profession were
noble and genuine. The feedback we
receive is very affirming of the future of nursing.
One of the difficulties I struggle with is what happens to
these students once they graduate. They
enter the health care profession that is far from perfect. They will be exposed to many of the failings
of our health care system. There is no
doubt that the zeal they once showed in nursing school will be tempered by the
harsh realities of the nursing profession.
Some will become complacent in their approach to nursing and caring for
their patients. I know that is a very
pessimistic view but it is a real possibility.
It was pointed out to me that last week; on every day there
was a news story in the local Winnipeg media that discussed a failure, in our
health care system, to provide adequate care and compassion at a time when a
patient needed it most. These are
failures of no one person but several people involved from various
disciplines. For me it is difficult to
rationalize seeing very genuine and caring nursing students, like I spoke to
earlier this week, eventually being in a position where they too could choose
to ignore the needs of a patient. This
is the reason those of us who share our experiences volunteer our time and our
emotions.
The patient experience is profoundly powerful not only on an
emotional level but as a teaching tool.
I have shared and heard many patient stories. I
enjoy hearing how others approach being an advocate for a loved one. I always
walk away having learned something. This
is also why I enjoy sharing our stories at Red River. I get to meet and share with other caregivers
who share their own experiences. Such a
unique and knowledgeable group.
I know the nursing profession is an extremely challenging
field. It is difficult going to work day
after day with the same level of commitment that you had as an
idealistic student. I am sure there are
times when nurses question their choice of careers. I certainly don’t want to minimize the many
issues facing nurses but when you sit in one of these classes and hear, first-hand experiences, from patients and caregivers; the effect is
profound. I wish more nurses, the
veterans of 15 and 20 years could hear more of these experiences. It may just make another day of the “same old” seem
a little more relevant. Thanks nurses
for all you do.
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