Sunday, December 16, 2007
Humbly Grateful....
Last night after our date, we stopped by Joseph's facility so he could fax a document. In the 6 months he has worked there, I have never been into his office. (I have visited his building, just not the office). After he finished taking care of business we walked through the first floor. It was late on a Saturday night, so things were pretty calm. There were a few patients walking the floor (a couple who were my age) and a few nurses at the nurses station. As we walked through the floor, I felt humbly grateful for the health and the blessings I enjoy. It also made me feel gratitude for my husband and all others who work in healthcare related fields. They are definitely professions of compassion. I felt so grateful and appreciative for the hard work he puts forth each day so that our family can live comfortably....... There was a time when I thought I might like to pursue a degree in nursing. To be honest, I don't think that I could be a nurse, doctor, or even work in a hospital for that matter. It's not a repulsive feeling that I feel, it's a feeling that hurts. It hurts my heart and physically it hurts to see people suffer. I remember helping my aged grandfather put on his diabetic stockings in the last year of his life, as I pulled them up, and saw his sores, bruises, and swollen legs, I had a rush of slight pain go throughout my whole body...... As we left the building I explained to Joseph what I was feeling...he explained that you eventually get used to it. How do people get used to it? Does it take a certain type of person to do that work, is there a theraputic feeling that comes from helping to relieve someone's suffering whether emotional or physical? I don't know, but I am grateful. ... As I saw the way he treated the patients, and the way they responded to him, it made me love him even more.
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6 comments:
It is so obvious to me that Heavenly Father has such a hand in where we are going and what we are doing in life. Joe is such a compassionate and warm person and it sounds like the job he has is a PERFECT fit for the type of person he is!
I'm with you on the nursing thing. At times I wish I had all of the "medical knowledge" it takes to be a doctor or a nurse but I think it would be so hard to see people in pain all the time.
joe's right...you get used to it.
i don't think it takes a special person, it just takes time.
the harder part is not becoming so used to it that you don't feel empathy anymore...
Amen!
Sadly, I must confess that I am repulsed by bodily functions. This sometimes overrides my empathy. Especially bodily fluids. I would become a nurse (I should, I am breaking a 4 generation tradition) except for the three P's - poo, pee, and puke. Blood doesn't bother me. Oh, and mucus. Gross! EEEEWWWW!!!! I am nauseaous just writing the words. (Could be I am on child 3 of 6 with a two day stomach flu bug? - 6 days and counting of sick.)
In my experience (siblings with CF, disabled child, brother a Dr., etc.) I think Paul (whoever he is) is right, it is harder to not get too used to it.
As a child of a nurse, I think my mom got very used to it, aside from the dinnertable stories, in my family you had to be spurting blood at least 6 inches or coughed up an actual organ to get attention. Less than that, not worth noticing.
You are sympathetic and kind and I think you would make an excellent nurse and your empathy would be a great asset.
I atcually thought about a nursing degree. My grandmother was one, and I always admired her. I hurt to see people hurt. I cry and I am way too emotional. I thought a pediatric nurse would be fun so I could hold all the babies. But they are some who are not always healthy and not always live. I know I couldn't handle that.
I know exactly what you mean, Amy. Physical pain in sympathy. I can't even bear to look at my children's owies until I get myself under control and wait for that twinge of pain to pass. I feel it in my gut most of all.
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