Making a difference

Dermatology Nursing, August, 2008 by Daniel B. Burfeind

Making a Difference

Hudacek, S. (2004). Making a difference: Stories from the point of care (Vol. II). Indianapolis, IN: Sigma Theta Tau International Books.

Sometimes, as nurses, we become so absorbed in the care of our patients, we need a reminder about why nurses do what we do. This literature review hopes to remind us and say thanks to all nurses everywhere.

Dr. Hudacek is a nursing professor who founded The Making A Difference Foundation, which helps LPN's get scholarships to obtain their BSN. She has taught nurses for years and has written other books on nursing.

This book is a compilation of different short stories about nursing and the many experiences nurses live with, while caring for their patients. It covers the essence of caring, compassion, cultural competence, community relationships, hospice care, crisis interventions, and just going the extra mile for their patients. We will look at two of these amazing stories.

Caring by Helping Each Other Heal

When you simplify all that nurses do, caring is the core truth. And this truth is at its utmost when you care for sick children. When death comes to children, it is a very heavy burden for everyone, but especially nurses.

One particular evening while working in a pediatric nursing unit, I received word that a pediatric code was coming to our unit. The patient was an 8-month old infant who had been diagnosed with sudden infant death syndrome. The entire code team worked very hard, but the baby died.

The parents and grandparents were outside the treatment room. The grandmother had found the baby unresponsive, and she was very upset. After the baby had been pronounced, I prepared the baby to be seen by the family. I realized then that I did not know the baby's name, so I went to our unit clerk and got the name from her Addressograph card.

This really hit home with me because my own daughter's birthday was only 3 days apart from the baby's. When I got home, I picked up my daughter and starting feeling guilty; why was my daughter so fortunate and the baby's' mother was not? I decided to send the family a sympathy card, and a week later the baby's mother called and left a message for me at work. When I called her, she asked me if her daughter had ever had a heartbeat. I had to tell her that her daughter had a heartbeat briefly in the ambulance, but never in the ER.

Months later, I received a letter from the baby's mother. She had sent pictures of the baby and thanked me for what I had done. I thought that I had done nothing, because we were not able to save her. A year later I sent the mother a single rose and a note. The mother sent a letter back, saying that she was pregnant and that she knew it was a girl. It seemed that we had both dealt with this horrible tragedy and were able to go on with our lives.

Caring requires innovative thinking and dedication during difficult situations. Nurses know that in order to care for their patients, they must be excellent listeners and be non-judgmental. Patients are very grateful for these qualities, which develops a human bond like no other.

--Mary Ann Godshall

Intervening at Critical Times

Behold, I'm going to send an angel before you to guide you along the way. --Exodus 23:20

This was the Biblical phrase that was handcrafted and given to me by my patient, Amy, on her last visit. We had grown close over the past year, but her treatment was ending and she was moving away.

We first met in an examination room, as I met Amy and her husband. Amy was just 28, and for all appearances seemed healthy; except for the medical turban that surrounded her head. Amy had been diagnosed with a brain tumor, and she was sure she was going to die. She was very anxious, nervous, and could not sit still. Quite frankly, who would not be? Amy's husband is in the military and she did not know how that was going to affect her treatment.

One Saturday evening Amy had a seizure, lost consciousness, and was taken to the ER, where her tumor was diagnosed. She was then referred to our facility for treatment. As I went though my assessment with her, I asked her how she was doing, and she began to cry, as she held her husband's hand.

As we talked I said, "I can only begin to imagine what these last few weeks have been like, but you should know that you have come to the right place. Primary brain tumors make up only 1% to 2% of all cancers, but we treat these tumors all the time." I began to discuss chemotherapy with her, and how the management of side effects had greatly improved over the years.

The physician I work for has a very heavy foreign accent, so I stayed with Amy and her husband and listened to the treatment plan, so I could follow up with the appropriate patient education. Amy was to receive chemotherapy and also radiation therapy. I began to explain her schedule, and went over with her and her husband side effects management, seizure precautions, and about driving. Amy would not be allowed to drive; she would have to be driven everywhere. This was very devastating for her, as she was often alone while her husband was away on duty.