Comments on: The Time I Lied

By: Lisa

Lisa — Fri, 03 Aug 2007 11:43:13 +0000

Geena , i can relate on how you feel , i’m also a nurse , you have done what you think is best professionally , firstly for the emotional state of the patient at that point of time , trusting you by asking what is in the very core of her being ,” am i going to die ?”,and by reassuring the patient that she is not going to die , somehow you uplift her spirit , and you may not have realised it . your attitude and a positive frame of mind at that time , and other members of the health team , have acted and delivered the outmost care needed and its not always easy in the presence of the family members in emergency situation which can be devastating for all concern , and i beleive we as member of the health team , has no right to put time limit on each human life no matter what , its not our call but God alone.

By: JMo

JMo — Sun, 22 Jul 2007 21:05:16 +0000

Its easy for me to say but try but try to focus on the MANY things you did right. I still remember a pt I sent to emergency OR for a ruptured aneurism. I did have the sense to asst the elderly man to call his wife at home and talk briefly to her. I regret not being more direct and saying “this may be the last time you talk to each other” (as it turned out to be). That was 15 yrs ago and it still hangs with me.

By: Wanda

Wanda — Sun, 15 Jul 2007 04:26:54 +0000

I know exactly how you felt. My husband who had surgery for the first time in his life told me after a week at home that he felt like he was dying but gave no specifics. I assured him that he would be fine and prayed with him that night. The next morning he threw a massive Pulmonary embolism and died at home. I can’t help but think that if I had been in “Nurse Mode” and not wife mode that things would have turned out differently even though in my heart I know that what is meant to be is meant to be. I don’t know if I can ever forgive myself.You did your best and so did I but it is never up to us.

By: Tabitha

Tabitha — Fri, 29 Jun 2007 09:53:00 +0000

I’m a nurse and if I ever ended up in a situation like your patient’s, I’d want a nurse exactly like you looking after me. But I still get the way you must have felt/still be feeling. I supsect that the day you stop caring about how you did/what happened to who you were looking after, is the day you stop be a great nurse and become merely competent.

By: RN since 1992

RN since 1992 — Thu, 28 Jun 2007 06:57:51 +0000

I felt each step of your story. Fantastic writing! You brought me with you for each step of that horrible day…I would have said the exact same thing to your patient, knowing that my personal beliefs are that we are immortal in a soul sense. I admire your courage –you conveyed to both her and her family that in the end, all will be OK–telling her that she might die, would die, etc. only adds terror to her last moments. She was indeed blessed that YOU were the last person she spoke to before leaving this lifetime. I also so appreciate your gentle care for her dignity while amidst crisis and trauma. YOU can be my nurse any day…

By: almeda

almeda — Wed, 27 Jun 2007 22:15:10 +0000

extremely touching story and your decesion makings are commentable! I myself felt bad even in tears if uncontrollable things happens to my patients, always remember though that as long as we’re doing our part deligently w/o negligence then that’s the best part of us.

By: Dell

Dell — Wed, 27 Jun 2007 12:09:14 +0000

Extremely well told and emotionally touching story. Any health care giver should be able to see themselves in your shoes, the patient’s shoes, and the doctor’s shoes and feel true compassion for all.

By: ladybug

ladybug — Wed, 27 Jun 2007 11:08:18 +0000

After being a practicing nurse for 37 years, I still recall patients(and their families) that do not survive. My years of experience give me insights upon which to reflect. One thing that I have learned is that the human body is very resilient, but there is a limit to what we can do to prolong life. We do the best that we can do, with the resources that we have. The rest is up to the Master Planner.

By: Debbie

Debbie — Tue, 26 Jun 2007 23:59:42 +0000

Chilling, heart wrenching, thanks for putting it in words.

By: tammmy

tammmy — Fri, 01 Jun 2007 03:45:11 +0000

geena, you did what you can, as a nurse you’re not God. Situiation like that some make it some don’t. Other answer may be told her “We’re trying to do everthing to not let it happen”