The relationship between healthcare providers and patients is an eternal and inexhaustible topic. On the one hand, each patient is unique, each has personal characteristics, so it is essential to understand them and act so as not to cause harm and discomfort. On the other hand, medical workers, despite all their professionalism, are also living people. Therefore, in their work, it is not only professional qualities, such as medical knowledge or skills in performing procedures, that are important. Understanding, sensitivity, and empathy are also essential skills for healthcare professionals. Thanks to them, they will be able to cope with even the most “difficult” patients, which has a beneficial effect on the entire workflow. I always try to pay significant attention to these issues, but I often find new materials that show numerous new aspects of work to learn.
I’m Here by Marcus Engel (2010) is a prime example of a literary work describing the relationship between people in the healthcare sector. The author argues that this relationship is a fundamental aspect of the entire treatment process and, more importantly, recovery. This book is written from the perspective of a patient, which is vital for the readers. This allows nurses who read this book to understand the feelings and thoughts of an average patient. Undoubtedly, nurses can sometimes find themselves in situations where they need treatment. However, getting used to the medical environment, they will behave differently from ordinary people who are far from health care. Hence, a deep understanding of the patient’s reactions and feelings is a crucial idea that permeates the entire book.
I was impressed by the fact that the entire book is filled with humor and lightness. This allows readers to take a fresh look at the treatment process and the interaction between the patient and the nurse. Undoubtedly, some diseases are serious, terrible, or at least unpleasant. Patients experience emotional distress and need support. The book teaches readers that the feelings such as sadness among nurses are not always the best help for these patients. Sometimes a more relaxed and fun attitude towards life can help people much better. Thanks to this, patients actually “throw off the burden” of the disease, experience positive emotions, and feel the taste of life, which could have been completely lost before. Indeed, such an approach to communicating with patients can be not only beneficial but even contribute to a faster recovery. I believe it is necessary to adopt it for future nursing practice and communicate with patients in new ways to cheer them up.
One of the critical ideas of the book is compassionate communication in medical institutions. Indeed, nurses cannot and should not experience all of the feelings that patients experience. It would be too hard with a lot of work and the number of sick people. However, the most critical task for nurses is to understand how the patient is feeling, how strong their emotions are, and how to provide support. Undoubtedly, at first, such a deep and thoughtful approach can be difficult and even impracticable. However, like many other skills, empathy and compassion can be developed with practice. Therefore, there is no need to be afraid of interaction with patients; it is essential to try to understand and get to know them better. With a warm attitude and the kind of support that a particular patient needs, recovery can be much faster.
One of the cases that the author describes in the book, in my opinion, is essential and indicative. It refers to patients’ modesty: people are often embarrassed about their diseases or their bodies in general, so it is necessary to maintain privacy and a comfortable environment. In chapter 20, Engel (2010) describes just such a situation. The nurse behaved as professionally as possible and did not put him in an uncomfortable position in front of his guests. She acted as quickly as she could and was ready for the necessary procedures. This speaks of her professionalism and deep understanding of the patient’s feelings: she cares about his comfort and knows how to work with it.
Thus, the book I’m Here by Marcus Engel is an essential work for modern nurses. The author comprehensively examines various aspects of the work of nurses and shows how the patient feels in a given situation. This allows nurses reading this book to understand the importance of comfort, understanding, support, and kindness to patients. All these qualities need to be developed even in the early stages of study to truly help people and make treatment less unpleasant. In addition, the author points out the importance of the professionalism of nurses. It includes not only treatment but also professional ethics, moral qualities, and other aspects. I think that this is really important: even if the nature of the nurse is not initially suited to the work as much as possible, these qualities can be developed. Thanks to this, nurses will be able to provide people with high-quality healthcare services and thus make a significant contribution to the health of the population.
Reference
Engel, M. (2010). I’m here: Compassionate communication in patient care. Phillips Press.