This column is meant to make us all more aware of the healing ministry done by our doctors, nurses and others working with the sick—in hospitals or at home.
In India, doctors are treated as VIPs, while, sadly, nurses are often not treated with the respect they deserve. Indian nurses working overseas see a great difference—not just in salaries, but in the way they are treated in India, and the much more dignified treatment they receive in other countries.
This month, we meet
Staff Nurse Asthitha Simon.
- Why did you decide to become a nurse?
It is because nursing is a professional degree course. It provides job security, proper earning, scope to work abroad.
- Inspired by anyone in this profession?
Ya, many of my relatives are in this profession. They inspired me.
- An experience at work when you felt really happy:
One of my patients was very happy on her discharge day, as we helped her to improve her condition a lot.
- You will also face sad and tough situations. Can you mention one?
We have worked hard to save one of our patients who was on ventilator. Unfortunately, we couldn’t save her.
- When have you felt really scared?
I felt so scared during the Covid pandemic. Many of us were.
- To be ill is a very hard situation. You will be aware of the patients’ situations much better than most of us. Are there treatments which they find hard to bear?
Many procedures like, intubation, lumbar puncture, pleural tapping, etc., are all painful for patients.
- You must be feeling bad when you see the patients suffer.
I feel sad, but still we explained to them the need for the procedure. We will try diversional therapies if possible.
- You must have felt inspired to see how some patients bear pain or face death.
One of my patients was suffering from severe respiratory distress and was on ventilator support. She was also having bad sores. But she didn’t complain. Unfortunately, she couldn’t survive; she accepted the painful death.
- At least some of the patients and their families must be feeling so grateful to you all.
One of my patients, who was seriously ill and had very little chance of survival, got well, and was discharged. The family thanked us heartily.
- What do you want Indian society to understand better about your work?
Nursing is a difficult job, since it includes many situations of having to save the lives of people.
- Why are Indian nurses attracted to work abroad?
Other than salary, working abroad gives better job security and good living conditions.
- Tell us something beautiful you heard families and patients say about nurses?
I have heard them saying, “Nurses are angels.”
- Patients and their families really appreciate it when you all pray for them. In fact, some of them are convinced that nurses’ prayers have much to do with their healing. What do you say?
Yes, of course, we pray for our patients daily—whether they are serious or not.
This is what others have said about caring, with special reference to nurses:
“Nurses dispense comfort, compassion, and caring without even a prescription.”
“When someone is going through a storm, your silent presence is more powerful than a million empty words.” (Mahatma Gandhi)
“Too often we underestimate the power of a touch, a smile, a kind word, a listening ear, an honest compliment, or the smallest act of caring; all of which have the potential to turn a life around.” —Leo Buscaglia
“Nurses are there when the last breath is taken, and nurses are there when the first breath is taken. Although it is more enjoyable to celebrate the birth, it is just as important to comfort in death.” —Christine Bell
Ms. Asthitha Simon.
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