Essay On Critical Care Experience

The room was small and clean, painted in shades of blue that seemed to have a soothing effect, not only on patients but on personnel, too. I was standing with Dr. U., taking notes in my diary, ready for a quick post-exam quiz. He would always quiz me, one of the many perks of mentorship that I received at his Pulmonary Critical Care practice. He was perennially cheerful and confident with his patients. This was how I had always envisioned a physician in my mind but, on this day, for the first time, I saw how things could take a turn for the worse. Mrs. M. was an established patient of Dr. U., discharged from the hospital after being treated for a severe case of pneumonia. When admitted, she said that she felt like she was drowning – no …show more content…
U. was right there, in front of the M. family, speaking about oncogenesis, breaking down strange scientific terms into smaller, more manageable pieces, drawing symbols on the whiteboard, and pointing arrows from one step to another. He told them about his own father and shared a sad story of his disease, while contrasting it with a happy one about another patient. His tone was peaceful but profound, his attitude was encouraging, and, most importantly, I knew that he was honest with Mrs. M. He was doing his best to educate the patient and her family, attempting to lower their anxiety level and initial fear of the disease. He never promised anything, except his compassion and undivided support to the patient but, at that moment, it seemed that it was the one thing she needed the most. His courteous gesture could be interpreted to have many meanings, depending on the person and their perspective, but I have been thinking about it for a long time and found this trait not only exemplary but fundamental for a physician to have. Moreover, it became very clear to me that being a doctor was not about being able to cure everything or to help every single person; it was about making sure that I did my best to take care of every one of my patients, to the best of my ability, no matter what life circumstances they could be