Tag: Summer 2009
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Maximum security kindness or the public health nurse accrues her CEU’s
Geraldine Gorman Chicago, Illinois, United States When I was young, I admired clever people. Now that I am old, I admire kind people. Abraham Joshua Heschel As she leaned into the doorway of my room, I explained the quandary to my daughter, Grace. “I don’t know what to do,” I said, “I am supposed…
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To Nurse – Hospital Halls – Breath – and more
Carol Battaglia Chicago, Illinois To nurse Hospital halls To Care To Solace To Touch To Feel To Hurt To Need To Heal, others as well as ourselves. I have walked these hospital halls for many years now. Thousands of steps, thousands of words, it’s no wonder I’m tired. Talked out. The emotions of others…
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Tuberculosis – a journey across time
Mindy Schwartz Introduction Few diseases have captured the imagination more than tuberculosis (TB). Tuberculosis fascinates many people – scientists and epidemiologists, artists and humanitarians, sociologists and physicians. It is as much the stuff of art and song as a merciless killer of the young and old. Even its name conjures the image of the…
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High drama in the scullery
George Dunea This dramatic incident must have taken place around 1930, at a time when great controversy raged about the level at which a life-saving tracheotomy should be done. It is an extract from “High Tracheotomy Low Tracheostomy,” a lecture as given by Sir Clive Fitts at the Royal College of Physicians of London in…
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A window on iatrogenesis
Norm Lieska Chicago, Illinois, United States The medical school journey is a roadway lined with many mileposts. These appear suddenly and pass quickly—in laboratories, lecture halls, clinics, and patient rooms. Often the travelers are not even aware that they have passed a milepost in the fogs of their arduous journey. We who attempt to…
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My first (do no harm) patient
Paul Karagiannis Chicago, Illinois, United States The door to room 7403 was opened slightly, and a TV inside hummed the midday news—nervous but resolute, we knocked and crossed the threshold. Inside, sitting knees-up in bed, his height accentuating the awkward angularity of his position, sat Mr. C., Bed No. 2, United States Veteran, my…
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The vaudeville revue
Terry Wahls Iowa, United States My partner, Jackie, asks Grandma if she would like to come with her to watch the dress rehearsal for the Vaudeville Revue. Since my children, Zach and Zebby, were toddlers we have called my mom “Grandma.” I thought it was less confusing to my kids to have me use the…
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Tense
Lawren VandeVrede Chicago, Illinois, United States I stand in a room where over half of the people are dead. Students stand like vultures over corpses barely identifiable as human. Lieska stalks like a reaper between the tables culling fascia and fat. But death is not present in the room. Death has come and done his grisly…
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After inspection – Inheritance – Summation
Shirley Stephenson After Inspection Palpation, table to skin. The tumblehome ribcage seeking amen. Three times light, organs figure an aquarium. Muzzled one hand sensing the other active to pressure, volar surface. Turgor discriminates seaworthiness. Percussion borders tone. Clapotis caravans. Density, an oarlock murmur, proper blows delivered. Tympany snared in underlying glaciers. Judgment within the…