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Tending with care
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Nursing is one profession that banks on compassion. On the occasion of International Nurses Day today, read on to know what nurses do
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Photo: M. Periasamy
HANDLING WITH CARE: Mere education and training don't make for a good nurse. Compassion does.
A pat on the back, a comforting smile and a nod of assurance can help heal better than medicines. Who better symbolises this than nurses?
Despite technological advances, nursing is one profession that has retained its human face. Nervous patients and their relatives rely on the care and compassion of nurses.
A nurse is more than a caretaker; she takes on many roles: "Caring, administering medicines, teaching, counselling are additional duties," says Jean Abraham, Principal, PSG College of Nursing.
"When a patient comes, he or she is very nervous. When we close the doors of the operation theatre leaving the attendants outside, the patient enters the unknown world of doctors, nurses, beeping monitors and the constant murmur of suction apparatus. Added to this is the acute pain he is in," says P. Shanmughavalli, nursing staff in the Intensive Coronary Unit of G. Kuppuswamy Naidu Memorial (GKNM) Hospital.
A patient's friend
Inside the theatre, the role of nurse becomes very significant. "We have to relieve his pain, provide psychological support and tell him that he is in safe hands and everything that needs to be done will be done," adds Kavitha Devi, a nurse from the Obstetrics and Gynaecology department of the hospital.
Anxious relatives also need to be consoled and provided information. Here, the role of nurses extends to answering questions and giving assurances.
But at times, undreamt of situations need to be dealt with. During the 1998 serial bomb blasts, Kavitha learnt that nursing meant being "prepared for anything and everything".
"I did not know what happened. We were called from our hostels ... every one was running, we did not know the names, the places and the relatives of victims. But we had to act, we had to separate those who needed critical care and those who needed to be operated," she recalls.
During this difficult period, nurses worked round the clock.
Recognition scarce
Despite this, the recognition that comes their way is minimal. "We feel a little upset but take it as a part and parcel of the job," sighs Shanmughvalli. "We work backstage. Just as in a drama, the focus is on the actors, not on the director and the helpers".
But there are moments that make them feel this is the only profession they would have chosen. Sulochana, who works with a New Born Intensive care unit narrates an incident about a baby who was put on the ventilator and had only a 10 per cent chance of survival. "We gave the baby maximum care and she survived. Now, on every birthday, she visits us".
In another case, a patient's condition was so critical that doctors had to open his heart in the room before rushing him to the theatre for a by-pass. His wife was losing hope, crying out how she was going to marry off her five children. In this case, the nurse kept reassuring the wife even while taking care of the patient. He survived after a month of nursing. This gave Sulochana great satisfaction.
In some cases when anaesthesia cannot be administered during painful procedures, nurses divert patients' attention by engaging them in conversation. "We call it vocal anaesthesia," quips Kavitha.
Teamwork vital
It is not merely education and training that make a nurse. Since they deal with many patients, patience is a paramount quality. Emotional stability is the other. But the field has taught them that it is impossible to carry on without teamwork.
"This is 100 per cent team work." But it is important to learn continuouslyWhat keeps them going is the knowledge that "we are dealing with human beings, not machines." And, the happiness on the faces of patients when they are discharged.
Today is the birthday of Florence Nightingale, the founder of modern nursing, and it is celebrated worldwide as International Nurses Day.
"We remember her contributions to the field which are relevant even today. She was a nursing leader of great vision," concludes Professor Jean.
PUJA S NAVIN
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