Growing Up

I don't think we ever stop growing up. I've done a lot of extra growing up the past couple of months. As I'm working through my clinical hours I'm being introduced to so many people's intimate personal problems. And they're coming to ME for help! Watching people go through painful experiences and even face their mortality sometimes makes you grow up really fast. It's an honor to be welcomed into these strangers' lives and trusted with their health. There's always an opportunity to make a difference.

Something I've learned through my experiences is that your sick patient isn't always your only patient in the room. On one of my shifts we were going to be doing a procedure to a patient that is not a very easy thing to watch a loved one go through. Thankfully we were able to do it sedated, however, we still explained to his wife what was going to happen and asked her if she would be more comfortable stepping out. She wanted to stay but once we were going the look on her face showed so much fear. I was able to go over to her and tell her that he was doing just fine and that this was going to help him. She still looked scared so I told her she could go over and actually feel his pulse. I showed her where she could find it on his wrist. As soon as she felt his pulse for herself she wasn't just trusting us anymore. She knew for herself he was okay. For those few minutes she was my patient. Not the man on the bed.

One of the things I was nervous about was my age. I was worried my patients wouldn't trust me or take me seriously because I am so young. I was worried that my OB patients wouldn't trust me because I've never been pregnant. I was worried the parents of my pediatric patients wouldn't trust me because I've never had my own children. I was worried my adult and geriatric patients wouldn't trust me because I haven't had as much life experience as they have. But I realized that it doesn't matter. This is what I do. This is what I know. I will always be growing up, but if I can demonstrate knowledge, confidence, and competence it doesn't matter at what stage of life I am in. I know what I can do and I know that I still have a lot to learn and experience. I'm just grateful to be part of these peoples' worst days and so honored that I get to be the one to help make it better.

Just some thoughts

Sometimes I get up on a soapbox and stay there for way too long. Mostly only if I'm talking to Keith or writing on here. So fair warning: this is one of those times.

One thing I realized with all of this "make Kony famous" stuff going on is that I am so anti-slacktivism. Definition (courtesy of urbandictionary.com):

The act of participating in obviously pointless activities as an expedient alternative to actually expending effort to fix a problem.

I can't stand it! I feel like I sound so mean but really I think it's so dumb. "I'm a social activist because I don't just surf the internet all day- I surf the internet all day while wearing a 'Kony 2012' bracelet, an 'I love boobies' wrist band, and a pair of TOMS."

If you really want to make a difference in the world go join the military or become a police officer or go on a service mission. Those are the people who are actually getting up and doing something good. And a lot of them don't rub it in the world's face and spam everyone with it because it's trendy. (Some of them do...and that's annoying...but they're better than slacktivists.)

Anyway. Yeah. I could say a lot more but I need to learn when enough of my opinion is enough :)