Anyone in
the medical community knows this quote. I’ve had the opportunity to experience
it first hand of late. With my mom in the hospital, I’ve seen my fair share of
nurses and doctors in the short time I spent there yesterday. One thing I
noticed was the nurses that came in. The way they would look at her, listen to
her concerns, answer them the best they could, and follow up. In the short
timespan of an hour, I really grew to appreciate the care and the compassion
they showed my mom.
The medical
field, like education, gets a lot of flack. However, I believe that the
majority of people that go into it do so because they want to help. They want
to ease the suffering of others, help them go home better than they came in. It
is a noble profession.
As I sat
lost in thought on our drive home, I was jolted out of my zone by my son, Liam,
spilling his milkshake on the floor of the car. One look at his face showed me
that this was not the time to get frustrated. His eyes locked on mine and I
could see the concern. I told him it was fine, we all have accidents.
Fortunately, I had napkins stored in the glove compartment. I quietly mopped up
the spill and gave some thought to the oath.
First, do no harm…
I am not
operating each day. I don’t have someone’s life in my hands. Yet, in another
way, I do. We do. Children come to us – some whole, some broken, some somewhere
in between. The way we treat them matters. The language we use with them each
day matters. It is not an easy task. There are days that we are exhausted. Days
that we have our own concerns weighing heavily on our hearts. And yet, we teach.
Watching
nurses and a doctor with my mom, I was reminded of what is important.: connections,
compassion, caring. It is important in the medical field, in the classroom, in
our homes, and in life.
First, do
no harm…
A simple
command, but such an important one. Be kind. What you do and what you say
matters, more than you know.
