Comments on: Personal Convictions vs. Professional Responsibilities

By: Edward Gordon, RN

Edward Gordon, RN — Sat, 02 May 2009 18:57:32 +0000

I’ve worked in the ICU all my years (six years, but it sounds a lot better when I say–all my years)as a nurse. I have seen the medical torture we put people through. Such an experience would be even harder in the PICU.

There is one thing to keep in mind about nursing vs. medicine. Medicine (MDs, DOs, NPs)always, eventually fail. Always. Nursing, done right, never fails. Even if all we do is provide comfort and care to the end of life.

The secret to a good life is knowing when it’s through. Not many know that. Most people put physical life before honor and glory–what a horrible thing to do.

By the way, Andrea, you and your high morals regarding that young woman–good job

By: bryn hagan

bryn hagan — Sat, 02 May 2009 15:29:00 +0000

i am curious as to who makes the call about aggressive treatment. In this case, did the father want it, was the father made aware of the possible suffering and the likely prognosis.
Were you bound by law?
Can you tell us a bit more about the father/mother and their wishes and understanding of things and who was responsible for deciding how far treatment should go.

By: andrea

andrea — Wed, 08 Apr 2009 12:45:56 +0000

Like the writer,I have felt very conflicted with regard to what we do as nurses to promote life when it seems better to let death take a more natural course. Often families will intervene to sustain life when there is no quality and no hope for a better outcome. My earliest and most memorable experience came when a young woman with Cystic Fibrosis was being prepped for an abortion. I did not feel, as a matter of conscience I could be involved in the prep, altho I had no issues with her after care. I asked for an assignment change, and the whole staff went ballistic. One of my colleagues even went so far as to call the Nursing Board during the shift. When it was confirmed that I was within my ethical right as a nurse, the prep was done by the charge nurse and I cared for her post-operatively. At other times, I have watched colleagues call a’slow’code and it turned out to be best for the patient. Other times I have observed pain meds withheld because “how do you know what they’re feeling, they’re dying anyway.” It’s always a matter of ethics over medicine and often we do what is mandated by the family as well as the facility. To me, it is always a fine line. And, as stated by the writer, one learns with experience.