What motivates us to keep going
It seems to be so long since I had time to sit down and enjoy my evening. Last four days this place was almost like my second home because of spending almost 13 hours there, starting from 8AM almost till 9PM and that was from Friday till yesterday Monday, from Tuesday on it is 9,5 hours till Thursday that means 7 days in total over 80 hours. That means majority of my hours are already done 19 hours left that are two more days.
There are many different shifts we are doing and this one when we do 7 days are the most difficult time, but that is the schedule and this is the work that we have chosen.
Despite of having such hard time, it is rewarding to see that after our treatment and especially surgery the patients are better, it is very satisfying. Often the patients coming with high temperature and pain, but after surgery we see how the temperature quickly normalised and patients are comfortable and that is what makes us keep going, maybe that adrenalin giving us energy and happy patients and their family.
The other necessary condition is a team work, everyone contribute to the outcome of a good treatment, starting from:
- ward clerk, who admits patients
- porters who brings patients to different investigations and from one ward to another
- the healthcare assistants and nursing staff
- and doctors of different specialities: acute medicine, internal medicine, ICU and anaesthetists, surgeons, radiologists, oncologists and many others
Luckily, many are very helpful and no matter who you ask everyone happy to help, that makes it very satisfying and brings good results.
There is also a hard part of our job and it is to break bad news to patient and his family. It is a nature of our life that we face the situation when patients been diagnosed with malignancy and we have to share that with patients.
It is a difficult situation because you never know how patients will react and how we have to tell that.
In general, it is important for patients to know what they have and what are their prognosis, even if it is a suspicion we should tell that that this is a case. Everyone has a right to have time to make the arrangement for their time and maybe to complete something that they wanted to do but left for later because we always think that we have plenty of time and will do it later.
Still from my experience, I see how patients are grateful for the truth, understandably they are upset but nobody want to have false hope.
This time I had one of such hard conversation, I usually try to have a plan of further action, what is going to happen and what will be done. This is very important for people because they know what will be done and that we are prepared and know what to expect. Often at the end it is satisfying feeling if the patient leaves but still thanks you and that give you energy and motivation to continue to keep working and helping people.
This is my reflection of my working days, wishing you nice evening and will see you around :)
I understand your job to be as hard as it is satisfying or fulfilling. How good to read that you consciously tell your patients the truth about their condition! I had a different experience with my grandfather and his doctors. They justified it as being in the old man's best interests. I thought that was so wrong... You respect your patients as responsible and self-determined. Thank you!
It is always a dilemma, having doctors from different countries we all have different approach, in general, I think it is always good to maintain an open frank discussion, if it is not completely clear then to tell as it is. I remember many complaints that later come are because the patients felt that it was not enough conversation and often not in time. Yes, your example is one of the commonest and it was so often that either doctors's side or patients's side was for keeping the information away from patient. That is why it is one of the hard talks. Thank you for your reading.
Over 80 hours, that's a lot. To this day, I still don't understand why such long hours are demanded in a profession where an attentive mind is so important.
Yes, I can imagine the difficult conversations and I would wish me an honest doctor.
I also have 7 shifts in a row at the nursing home. My difficult part of this is when a spouse has passed away, to lend a sympathetic ear to the one left behind.
Recently I met a resident, she smiled from a distance when she saw me. You were the one who made me tea 12 years ago and had time for me the night my husband died. That made me happy, the lady hadn't forgotten me after such a long time.
I'm sure some patients won't forget you either and will remember you with gratitude, even if it was difficult.
I think, the feeling of doing something meaningful is probably a motivation to keep going.
Yes, that is too much, but the employer keeps our working days within legal working condition, 7 days and this is maximum time that is allowed of continuous work.
I was not aware that you are working in nursing home, your profession deserve much more respect, that requires a lot of patience and attention, every warm word and a minute of listening makes a day for the residents of such houses.
Often when we have elderly, they love to chat and I stay longer with them just listening, I always think how it will be when I am old and in their "shoes" :)
I am pretty sure that elderly lady remembers you, such moments and such warm gesture never will be forgotten.
Thank you @michelangelo3, it was a pleasure to read your comment :)
Thanks God to have people like you! I know this hard job because some friends of my are working in a hospital. It's very hard, specially when you have kids at home.
But as you said, it brings also a lot of good things...helping other people for their health and sometimes really bad situation, working with a good time also brings a power for the day.
Thank you Gregor for reading, yes, you are right with little children it is not easy. I remember when our child was about 3 and I returned from my 24 hours shift, he was happy to see me and wanted to play, that I of course, tried but while playing always fell asleep. Luckily the shifts now 12,5 that makes it easier. You know what is the best thing after such long shift in building, especially now in winter, get out of the door, feel cold air, breath it in, look up usually it is dark, clear sky with many stars at this moment you know that you can relax and do not think about anything. Have a nice evening :)
I believe that health is the most important thing. Because if we do not have our health, everything else crumbles around us. And we only have one life. So the power to heal is priceless. And I honor those who choose that profession to heal others.
Thank you for all you and your colleagues do @stef1.
Yes, I agree, we do not think about our health so long we are healthy and do not need hospitals or doctors and hope that we stay away from them as long as possible.
Often, when patients going home they often say: do not be offended Doc, but hope I will not see you and then add in hospital :)
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