Making a Difference

Week 5: July 19- July 25th

Sometimes at work I get disillusioned with the thought that there is no hope. Working with families as they welcome new babies into the world is supposed to be happy work. People always gush when they hear what I do for a living, "Oh how fun that must be". The problem is, whenever people are involved, there are broken people. Broken families, broken lives, broken futures. Lost hope.

My preceptor works with the disadvantaged populations in the Fort Worth area. Like many others in both commercial and charitable organizations. As with any other area of nursing burn out is a factor. This week my preceptor was wondering, "What is the point? Is what we do really making a difference?"

On our first day we had a meeting with a man associated with the United Way. He has just assumed a new position and was clearly inundated with the tasks at hand. He was coming on board to repair a community service program that had been running in a non-optimal fashion. We sat and they discussed the enormity of the tasks and how to find the will to continue.

This meeting about the two organizations became a meeting of encouragement to both of them. They realized they are not alone and they are not the only ones working toward this common goal of a healthy community.

On our second day, we visited the mobile units on location at a neighbor market. The manager of the market shared with RG how grateful he and the corporation were that they were out serving their customers. Apparently there is a homeless shelter behind the market that RG didn't know about and the women in the shelter were accessing our services. The market was providing food and supplies to the shelter.

We met a woman (patient) on the unit who told RG that it was her third year of using the mobile for her well woman exam. RG kept saying, "Three years." She began her week feeling worn out. But by Thursday afternoon she was encouraged and charging full steam ahead. Generating ideas and refreshed.

It was encouraging to me to see this process play out. While my work, the families, the future of those babies seems hopeless...I know better. My hope comes from the Lord Almighty. The One who I watched meet RGs needs. Who met her where she was at and revealed to her some of the effects her work is having. He is the same one who gives me a love for the unlovable mothers. The ones who I want to judge, but He insists I love. I don't know how anyone can survive nursing without Him.

July 20th: 10 hours
July 23rd: 10 hours
Total: 60/60