Throughout my career I’ve worn a lot of hats in healthcare, all of which center around care, the patient and their families. This season in my life one has me back in a hospital setting part-time. Each shift allows me to practice my empathy, my patience and reminds me of why I so respect those of us, of who choose to care for another in any capacity. Occasionally a shift leaves me wondering “does anyone wonder why we do it?”
There’s a myriad of reasons we go into the helping fields, too many for me to even think I know them all. There’s as many different reasons as there are different people and yet here we all are, coming together each shift with one purpose. YOU…and your well-being. We don’t even have to know each other by name and still we share one goal...YOU and your well-being. Speak to any one in this field from the bottom rung to top rungs and you will hear a core value of “caring for another human being is what I believe in.”
It’s not just a heart centered feel good cliché either. A multitude of skill sets, an immeasurable amount of education, dedication and hard earned credentials are in place for whatever unfortunate health event has surfaced for you. So with all due respect, I may not know all the reasons why we chose healthcare, but I’m confident no one chooses it for the following.
No one chooses it to be your punching bag, either physically or verbally. No amount of yelling and cursing, throwing small & large objects, biting, punching, spitting, banging on walls or threatening to sue etc. to name just a few. Is going to work. Unless you have a diagnosis that results in these erratic behaviors, it’s time for you to grow up! Helping you should never come at the expense of our safety, period.
No one chooses it to be a referee to your family dysfunctions. Fear of the unknown is always going to cause emotions to run rampant, but choosing to play out your family chaos bedside when you haven’t been able to sort that stuff out in a lifetime is a ridiculous use of time, mainly the professionals.
As I left this morning, so many names I didn’t know. I did however recognize the look in their eyes. It had been a rough shift, one where the lines of “caring for another human being” crossed over into a punching bag and referee. Wasting precious time & energy yet they never missed a step, I watched them do what they do, all for you…and your well-being.
These things don’t happen always or from everyone, but if ever in a healthcare setting with nothing nice to say. How about the first, the last and all in between be simply “thank you.’
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