Jana, Mrs. Goetz, Mom. These are some of the titles I answer to everyday. The other one I hear on a regular basis is Nurse Jana. Not by the people I see at my nursing job, but by the people I hang with in my everyday life.
I'm the go-to-gal. If someone's kid just fell off the play-set, if their husband has a deep cough and 102 degree fever, if their periods have become irregular, I'm their gal. When they aren't sure if it's worth a call to the doctor, they call me. When debating between clinic or ER, they call me. When they need a sounding board, I'm it.
This is not a role I asked for, but it's one I fit into naturally. I never mind the call. I never resent walking through a situation with someone. It's just part of who I am.
I just got one of those calls tonight. A friend's son did a face plant on the road as he went head-first off his bike. She called wondering if he had a concussion or broken nose. I put on my "Nurse Jana" hat and ran over to their house. Sure enough, he looked like he had kissed the pavement. After a thorough assessment, I came to my conclusion: He might have a concussion or a broken nose. I mean, how was I suppose to know? It's not like I carry an x-ray machine or CT in my back pocket! I was looking at the same face the mom was. It looked bloody and swollen just like when she called me. What did she need me for?
The answer may not be profound, but it's as important as a medical diagnosis: Calm. These people call me for a calm, rational, non-judgmental voice. They call me because I give them permission to either relax or worry. They just need to know which direction to head. They don't really expect a diagnosis from me; they just need a little reassurance.
As often as not, I tell them to call the doctor. It's the doc's job to make the final call, not mine. But I can make the whole crisis go a little better by smoothing the way. Adding a dose of calm right off the bat improves the outcome for everyone.
In my friend's case, I assured both her and her son that if he had a concussion (which he did) that he'd be fine, and if he had a broken nose (which he did) that he'd still be handsome. In the end, it was the ER that made the diagnosis, but Nurse Jana started the healing process.
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October 4th, 2007 at 9:04 pm
In a way, it’s an honor to be in this position. Aside from providing a calm tone to a situation, we have the opportunity to encourage our friends & family to not be fearful of going to the doctor. Most of my friends / family aren’t actually afraid of the doctor… they’re afraid of wasting their time, or being labled “over-reactive” for needlessly seeking their expertise.
October 20th, 2007 at 6:37 pm
I’m glad I’m not the only one who feels this way. My dad has been asking me for medical advice since i was 14 (a volunteer at a local minor emergency room)! Some of my friends will go to their doctor, then call and ask me what they omitted. It’s good to feel like you are trusted. Afterall…as my instructor once put it, “you are in one of the few professions where you say ‘get naked’ and that person does without question.”
October 21st, 2007 at 1:32 am
It is okay to hand out medical advice but be sure to always recommend they follow up with their doctor……