A Fine Line...

At the beginning of nursing school, our professors told us that once people find out that you are in the nursing program, they will not think twice about asking your opinion about their health or the health of the people close to them. True to their word... most people I know would ask me for their opinion, most of the time, I try to help them out and find out what's going on and advise them of what to do. Sometimes, I try to explain to them certain procedures or illness to the extent that I know.

Lately, some people has been asking about something, and when I try to explain it to them either they insist that I am wrong or simply disregards my thoughts - why did you ask me in the first place then?

Now, that I am getting ready to embark my nursing career (professionally) conflicts in me occurs. How do you separate personal from professional? I always told my family that no matter what happens, I hope not to see them on my floor. I guess this would be one conflict that I have to address. I am not at ease to tell my family what to do when it comes to their health. I know I should be the one pushing them to eat properly, monitor my mom's nutritional intake especially, monitor their vitamin and prescription intake - for most them loves to share their medications with each other. No matter what I tell them, no matter how I explain to them that sharing medications is not the same as sharing candies - they don't listen, and I am pretty sure, as soon as I turn my back it's as if they never heard a single word. I tell my uncle to seek medical advice for his toe since he is diabetic (and has no idea how his glucose is!) when he hurt his toe and started to bleed (internally)... few weeks after, he asked why it's not getting better - did he seek medical advice? went to a podiatrist? No.

Sometimes, people has their ups and downs. How can I help my family when they are in the downs? My sister and brother used to not tell me the problems that we are facing. They usually keep things to themselves. So, I am usually left in the dark. How can I talk to my family, find ways to help them when it is so awkward to confront them? When they would rather keep a strong facade instead of sharing their problems...

It's just hard, I guess, to separate personal from professionalism.. but I hope, somehow I could reach out to my family and let them know that they could talk to me and I won't judge them. That's one thing that I learned from nursing and from life - never judge a person, it's not your place to judge anyone.

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I have learned that talking ones problems, thoughts, worries helps. It relieves the stress, the burden that you are carrying, you find support from people who cares for you and you could rationalized things better. Talking makes you see a better picture of the situation. Advise may be given, comments may have uttered, it may be not be the best advise or the words that you want to hear, but not all advises are meant to be accepted, advises are there for you to understand/see better. Decisions are still made by you. Comments may snap you back to reality, but oftentimes that's all that we need.