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| On rounds today: Maureen M., M2, hears her first real, true, certain S3 gallop |
Back to the Bedside
Don't say you hear it
if you don't
Don't say you see it
if you can't
Don't say you're with me
if you're not
Don't
Just say
I'm not sure
or even
No, I don't
hear it
see it
get it
Then
We'll go back to the bedside
and listen again
and look again
and ask again
and get it better
and get it right
together
Why?
Because someone is counting on you
somebody's mother
somebody's father
somebody's child
all of them are counting on you
to hear it
to see it
to get it
for sure
Or at least
almost sure
This means
they're also counting on me
to make sure you do
You hear me?
You see me?
You with me?
If not
I'll explain it again
and show you again
and again
and just maybe
again
Not for me
or even for you
but more for them
the ones who are counting on us
So, please--don't
Don't say you're a burden
to teach
because
you're not
Not to me
My only real burden
is when I can't
or worse
when you don't want me to
~ K.M. 6/27/2012
***
Happy Wednesday.
P.S. Maureen really did hear those heart sounds. . . AND she came on her own time during summer break to round with me--because she wanted to.
You.Are.Amazing.Just.Amazing.
ReplyDeleteI get it from my mama. Ha ha! Thanks, Tounces!
DeleteYour mama is right. Of course.
ReplyDeleteI'll never forget my A&P teacher, Dr. Sparkman. Perfect name for her. I'll always remember when people in my nursing class would dispute a grade on a test with the words, "But I KNEW the answer," and she would say, "Yes, but in real life, knowing and not doing could kill a patient."
Hmmmm...
Maybe that's why I'm not a practicing nurse. I'm too afraid of killing a person.
Sister Moon, you are a born healer and a born teacher. And don't you think for a moment that we believe that you aren't still a nurse of sorts.
DeleteYou know that.
wow. yes.
ReplyDeleteThanks, Sister Lister.
DeleteAgree with above. The most dangerous health care provider is the one who won't admit what he/she doesn't know, see, hear, feel etc. If only more teachers were like you. In medicine, nursing, auto mechanics or whatever field you choose!
ReplyDeleteThat's so kind of you to say, Mary Alice. I appreciate you.
DeleteMy new favorite piece of your writing. Thank you. I am moved to improve my teaching, and create an environment where it's OK to say, "No, I actually don't know." "No, I actually don't hear that." "No, I actually don't see that." "Can you show me again?"
ReplyDeleteI need to work on that. I will read this to remind me how important it is, and share it to help create that environment.
Thank you.
Roger! Seriously? You have always helped everyone to embrace a positive learning environment everywhere you go. You could quite possibly be one of the most genuinely enthusiastic learners and teachers I've known. (The other that comes to mind is Roy A.)
DeleteDon't think you met Shanta Z. when she was at Emory, but teaching at the bedside today made me think of her. Her example as my friend and colleague inspired these words and I always hear her in my head day after day chanting her mantra "back to the bedside. . . back to the bedside. . .back to the bedside."
Roger? Just keep doing what you do. It's working, my friend.
P.S. Everyone: Roger is one of our chief residents and is an AMAZING teacher, physician and human being. Be encouraged that many of our up and coming colleagues get it. They do.
DeleteI just spent the past week going through your (incredibly inspiring and moving) blog (well, a lot of it, at least), and I LOVE this post! I'm a third year med student, and I really work on asking questions, even the ones that feel stupid, because my future patients are gonna need me to have some answers. I'll try to remember this post of yours, some far off day in the future, when, G-d willing, I'll have med students of my own...Thanks for all the work you put into this blog, it's really touched my heart.
ReplyDeleteShosh, you will have medical students of your own. You certainly will. Today I ran into one of my former students from ten years ago. . .She is now an attending physician on the Infectious Disease service. The best part? When I overheard her teaching a medical student. Full circle.
DeleteYou are inspiring! I did medical school in Pittsburgh and remember Dr. Z taking us to the bedside regularly. I'm sure I would have loved to have had you teach me, as well. Your students will always remember you, I am certain!
ReplyDeleteYou are beyond fortunate to have had the opportunity to work with Dr. Z. She is the realest of real deals and personifies why it is so important to always go back to the bedside with our learners.
DeleteI hope so fervently that some day I can be at least just a tiny little bit like you. You remind me each day how much I need and want to be more, to know more, to get it more... not just for me or for you but for all the mothers and fathers and brothers and sisters and daughters and sons who may need me some day. I hope Maureen realizes how very lucky she is to have the privilege to round with you on any summer day. Thank you, thank you, thank you!
ReplyDeleteYou are too kind. Thanks for these thoughtful words, WCD.
Delete