1) I do not think I can imagine how hard it would be for my patient to die. When thinking about my future as a nurse, I have often wondered if I will be able to handle my patient dying. Theresa had a patient who was a middle aged female with lung cancer. I found myself sad reading about this. She was young with more life to live. It seems unfair when someone that young passes away.  I was surprised to read about how sudden it was. Although she was already in the hospital for an underlying condition, she was considered stable. I do not think anyone would have thought that she would pass that quickly. She began coughing up blood and before they knew it, they had already been doing CPR for a significant amount of time to know that was not going to bring her back. It was sad to know she was alone when it occured and how terrifying it must have been for her. However, I am sure it is comforting to know there are several medical staff present to help. 

2) I was surprised by the way Theresa spoke with Anna, a clinician that worked on the same floor as her. When Anna had asked Theresa to help her, Theresa nicely said that she had to finish discharge papers. Anna became upset and made a comment about nobody on the floor being willing to help. Theresa stood up and said “that’s why I am transferring floors”. In my opinion, this comment from Theresa was unnecessary and it was definitely not professional. In contrast, she did not seem to regret or be critical of what she said. However, I do not think they should have been arguing in front of other medical staff, patients, families and everyone else on the floor at the time. No matter your occupation or where you work, there is always going to be disagreements between staff. This book has reminded me how some days can be overwhelming with tasks to get done in a short amount of time. Therefore, teamwork and communication are essential. Theresa should have taken Anna somewhere more private and explained the situation of how she kept being interrupted while filling out the discharge papers and just wanted to get them completed for the patient. Theresa should have gone on to tell Anna that she could help her when finished with the paperwork. 

3) I connected with Theresa’s patient Irene as her story made me think of my own grandmother. Both Irene and her are older women who have suffered with breathing difficulties, in addition to cancer. My grandmother was brought into the hospital a month ago to get her bladder removed due to cancer invading it. From then on, a plethora of other issues have unfolded with her health. Everything happened so fast. Similar to Irene’s family, my family was also caught off guard when we were told the severity of her condition due to complications from many other underlying conditions. As we were told about Irene, my grandmother also looked good and healthy on the outside which I think is why it was such a surprise to hear she was not well. Just like Irene’s family, mine also decided on hospice. The circumstances are both horrible and nothing you would ever want to go through, but both Irene and my grandmother had family by their side through it all. 

4) This idea of loving and hating your profession can relate to many occupations but nursing sticks out. Many days are going to be filled with recoveries, new babies being born and happy news. Other days, nurses might “hate” their job if they have to share news to families that their patient did not make it, or that the tumor came back malignant. Theresa brings up the example of loving being able to treat and possibly cure patients but at the same time, hate that these treatments could do more damage. They could also hate it because sometimes the chemotherapy actually makes the person weaker and instead of being cured, they end up passing away. I understand how that poem relates to nursing and my outlook on it is to focus on the good days and experiences rather than bad. Also, remembering the days you are able to help your patients and maybe ease their pain. Unfortunately, there will always be the bad days, often or not, but look at them as a learning experience.