A few weeks ago, I met a friend for lunch. He has been in healthcare for over 50 years and has seen the ups and downs of the healthcare system. I asked him how he remains optimistic when the system seems to be going backwards.
Here are his words of wisdom. “My focus is on pushing the good life to a better life. As we get older, by virtue of loss of function, injury accident, surgery, or insult, we need to work to regain our lives and ensure resilience. I keep my focus on maximizing and authenticating my existence. Everything else is secondary to that goal, and small incremental changes to achieve that goal make huge differences.”
He said this outlook keeps him going when working on projects. He gives the best suggestions that he can. If people listen, they learn. He they don’t take his advice, at least he plants the seeds for change. He said you never know when or with whom you will make an impact. We can only do the best we can.
These words comforted me in so many ways. Many of my recent cases, have left me feeling like I am not able to affect the changes needed to help my patients. It seems like the system is set up to keep people under the system’s control – not to help them move forward.
So many times, I feel powerless to make changes, and I know how the inadequacies hurt people who need help.
So I ask you the same question I asked my friend: how do you continue to be positive when the systems seem to be going backwards? I would love to hear your thoughts. Please put them in the comment section so we can learn from each other.
Thank you for reading this post.
Have a good week.
What words of wisdom your friend has shared with you. Remaining positive while working in a challenged health care system is not easy fait accompli. When I observe a positive outcome in a client, no matter how minut it may seem I take a step back, pause, and rejoice in the moment.
Case in point, this past Saturday night – a client was in the ER and unsure of whether he would be admitted or discharged. (he had gone to the ER two days earlier and was under observation then discharged- but some medical issues necessitated him going back). I contacted the Nursing Supervisor for some guidance and then the ER Registration Supervisor. These two individuals were very cooperative and “hands on” and assisted me in my requests.
For those of you who know me and have heard me present – my mantra is to always request a copy of your face sheet to correct errors and avoid being treated without informed consent. I was added to the face sheet and not to my surprise one of the emergency contact individual’s name was spelled wrong. All was corrected and updated and a copy was handed to my client. MISSION ACCOMPLISHED!
Lately, it has been hard for me to be positive. I am in the 17th year of being the primary caretaker for a family member with frontal temporal dementia. The thing that I have found most helpful is the support group run by Elder Source. Listening to others who are walking similar paths, gives me courage as well as information. Alone we beat our heads against the walls-together we move forward with courage.
There is need to accentuate the positive, discuss with the client how much worse the situation is so he/she can accept what is being done, and always treat a client, including clinical discussions, as one would like their family members treated.
I do not have all of the answers, but surely we need more clinicians!
the best thing to happen to me was to be fired for talking about staffing issues at a closed door unit meeting called for by our don. my job on a level 2 trauma unit was killing me. I was only 64, and planned to work until 66. Now at 68 I am a master gardener, teach gardening, write articles, have a normal sleep schedule, go to the gym 3 times a week, no longer crave ice cream, and am finally going to europe which was supposed to be my retirement present and then got delayed by the pandemic. The fight to do nursing as it should be equates to believing you can beat the casino. I worked as a nurse 35 years, I hope to have a wonderful long happy retirement of almost that long
Congratulations Sharon! I am with you! Enjoy your life. We have done our duty. Now it is time for US!
Enjoy every minute