Critical Care Essay
Hallie Latulippe
University of New England
April 23, 2020
Theresa Brown demonstrated patient advocacy, provided support and comfort when her patients and their families needed this compassion most. She exuded confidence and strength, even when she was unsure of the prognosis or diagnosis. In this novel, the reader begins to understand the love hate relationship of nursing which Theresa Brown corresponds with a poem by Frank Bidart, “I hate and love. Ignorant fish, who even wants the fly while writhing”. To love patient education, advocacy, and supporting these patients during potentially their worst days of their lives. However, hating those moment as well. Hating the moments of watching fathers petrified of losing their sons but knowing that with a firm touch on the shoulder could offer them all the support they need. To watch the life, drain from a patient’s eyes instantaneously. From one moment cheerful and ready for discharge, to spitting bloody sputum, and in cardiac arrest. According to legal and ethical obligations a team, unless the patient has an order to not be resuscitated, are required to administer CPR as well as call a code. As any health care provider would, Theresa Brown hated losing a patient, and she had to find peace in this in order to no longer be distraught and to move on. For her, this was through a movie about a concentration camp, that no matter the circumstance we must persevere not only for ourselves but for our patients as well. That she attempted everything, in her abilities, that she could in order to attempt to resuscitate her patient. That she gave her patient her all and that is what was important. Health care providers love to help their patients, maybe due to a foundation of wanting to help others. Maybe due to a sense of accomplishment when after a long day of attempting to have a patient, who needs to fulfill physical therapy requirement, finally take one step. A health care provider will never give up hope for their patient, that when the patient gives up hope, the provider will always accommodate and have extra hope that this patient will persevere through and will come out stronger on the other side. There will always be moments that any health care provider will hate with their career, as in this field there will be moments where you are truly tested. The moment when a nurse loses their first patient, as the life drains from their eyes, and they must come to terms with the fact that they did everything they could. A provider working in pediatrics will be tested immensely as they will witness lives that should just be beginning encountering diseases which have no explanation for causation. These providers will witness hardships for their patient’s parents as well as the patient themselves however, they will be rewarded through laughter, smiles, and hopefully children with restored health. However, what I found most meaningful and the biggest take away from this novel was not the love hate relationship although it had slightly prepared me to always expect the unexpected and to cherish the good moments and learn from the dreadful ones. I was inspired by Theresa Brown’s journey. Theresa Brown was originally an English professor at Tufts University however, felt unfulfilled and sought a more rewarding career which she did not find in teaching. Her realization dawned on her after she gave birth to her son, and decided to enroll in nursing at a university for two years. However, her husband accepted a new job elsewhere which ultimately caused Theresa to have to start over her entire nursing career. Theresa’s four year journey to obtain a Bachelor’s of Science in Nursing ultimately, became a six year journey due to the move to Pittsburg. For me her passion was inspiring, and this resonated with me more than it had last year. As last year, yes, I had needed to be told not every road is a straightaway. That some people’s paths aren’t identical to everyone else’s. However now, this novel, this journey, showed me the importance of hardships as well as perseverance. That we must endure the hardships, to appreciate the fond memories. That having a different pathway to a goal than others does not take away competency and in actuality can be beneficial and strengthen one’s skills, knowledge, and mindset. That without my hardships, I would have never tested my passion for nursing nor discovered a new passion of mine, public health.
