What if You Became a Nurse? | Sana Goldberg | TEDxHarvardCollege

TEDx Talks
18 Nov 201619:17
EducationalLearning
32 Likes 10 Comments

TLDRThe speaker shares a personal journey from a liberal arts student to becoming a nurse, challenging stereotypes and highlighting the critical role of nurses as compassionate and skilled professionals in healthcare. They emphasize the transformative power of nursing, which not only provides hands-on care but also builds trust and advocates for patients, offering a unique perspective on the human experience.

Takeaways
  • 🌟 The story begins with the speaker attending a Catholic girls school and then going to Reed College, where they were exposed to new ideas and philosophies.
  • 🧠 The speaker learned about the human mind's tendency to categorize and stereotype, and the importance of liberal arts in challenging these innate tendencies.
  • 🎓 After feeling isolated in their academic research, the speaker sought a more connective profession and discovered the opportunity to become a nurse with a one-year program.
  • 🏥 The speaker's perception of nursing changed after witnessing the trust and impact nurses have on patients, especially in vulnerable situations.
  • 🌐 The speaker reflects on the business aspects of healthcare and the societal responsibility to address mental health and other stigmatized conditions.
  • 💡 Nursing is often misunderstood and undervalued, with stereotypes of it being a subservient role or a stepping stone to becoming a doctor.
  • 🌈 The speaker emphasizes the importance of empathy, understanding, and the pursuit of knowledge in nursing, as well as the profession's potential for growth and evolution.
  • 📈 The future of nursing is linked to global challenges such as an increasing population and the need for accessible healthcare.
  • 💖 The speaker's personal journey in nursing taught them about humility, the complexity of human experiences, and the significance of being an advocate and warrior for patients.
  • 🌍 The liberal arts education is highlighted as essential for developing a well-rounded nurse who can communicate effectively and understand the diverse experiences of patients.
  • 📚 The power of storytelling and the liberal arts is reinforced as a means to connect humanity, offer renewal, and provide moral courage in the face of life's challenges.
Q & A

  • What was the speaker's initial perception of Reed College?

    -The speaker initially perceived Reed College as a place of atheism, communism, and free love, which was quite a contrast to their conservative upbringing at a Catholic girls school.

  • How did the speaker's language skills develop during their time at Reed College?

    -The speaker's language skills were noted as 'flowery' by their freshman year Humanities Professor. However, they took this as a compliment and continued to grow, learning about complex ideas like Marxism and paradigm shifts.

  • What led the speaker to consider a career in nursing?

    -The speaker was feeling isolated in their lab work and desired a more connective profession. They stumbled upon a program online that allowed individuals with a bachelor's degree to become nurses in one year, which piqued their interest.

  • What were some of the stereotypes the speaker faced when they decided to become a nurse?

    -The speaker faced stereotypes that nurses were maternal figures or sex objects, often relegated to the base of the medical hierarchy, and not considered as smart or capable enough to pursue medical school.

  • How did the speaker's view of nursing change over time?

    -The speaker's view of nursing changed as they experienced the profession firsthand. They realized the importance of nurses as trusted figures who could connect with patients and provide care in ways that other medical professionals could not.

  • What challenges does the speaker foresee for the nursing profession by 2050?

    -The speaker foresees immense and complex challenges for nursing by 2050 due to an expected increase in population to 9 billion and the implementation of the Affordable Care Act, which will demand more from healthcare professionals.

  • How did the speaker's liberal arts education influence their perspective on nursing?

    -The speaker's liberal arts education taught them to question and explore ideas, which helped them understand the value of nursing beyond stereotypes and recognize the profession's complexity and humanity.

  • What role did empathy play in the speaker's experience as a nurse?

    -Empathy played a significant role in the speaker's nursing experience, as they learned to understand and connect with patients on a deeper level, acknowledging the importance of unlearning biases and working at understanding others' experiences.

  • How did the speaker's nursing experience impact their personal growth?

    -The speaker's nursing experience led to personal growth by teaching them humility, resilience, and the appreciation of life's uncertainties. It also made them more aware of their privilege and the importance of empathy and understanding in their work.

  • What message does the speaker hope to convey about the nursing profession to their audience?

    -The speaker hopes to convey that nursing is a valuable and complex profession that deserves more recognition and respect. They want to challenge stereotypes and highlight the importance of nurses as advocates, warriors, and friends in the healthcare system.

  • How does the poem by Adrienne Rich relate to the speaker's nursing experience?

    -The poem by Adrienne Rich relates to the speaker's nursing experience as it talks about exploring the depths of the sea, which symbolizes the complexity and multiplicity of human experiences that nurses encounter. It emphasizes the importance of facing truth and finding beauty in the midst of challenges, much like the speaker's journey in nursing.

Outlines
00:00
🌟 Journey to Becoming a Nurse

The speaker begins by sharing a personal story of transformation, from attending a Catholic girls school to embracing the liberal arts at Reed College. Initially captivated by academia and abstract concepts, the speaker's perspective shifts after realizing a desire for a more connective profession. This leads to the discovery of a program that enables one to become a nurse in a year, despite having no prior interest or knowledge in nursing. The speaker's journey is marked by a quest for meaning and a desire to challenge societal norms and expectations.

05:02
💉 Learning the Ropes of Nursing

The speaker delves into the practical experiences of nursing school, highlighting the diverse backgrounds of fellow students and the range of skills learned. From administering injections to dealing with sleep deprivation, the speaker describes the highs and lows of the nursing program. A pivotal moment occurs when the speaker witnesses a heart surgery, realizing the coolness of the medical world. However, a deeper understanding of nursing is born from interacting with a heroin user, recognizing the trust and connection that nurses build with their patients.

10:02
🤗 The True Essence of Nursing

The speaker reflects on the stereotypes and misconceptions about nursing, emphasizing the need to see nurses as empowered individuals rather than subordinates in the medical hierarchy. Through experiences with refugees and psychiatric patients, the speaker learns about the interconnectedness of society and the importance of addressing its 'shadows.' The speaker argues that nurses play a crucial role in advocating for and supporting the most vulnerable, and challenges the notion that intelligence should only lead to medical school, celebrating the complexity and humanity of the nursing profession.

15:05
🌈 The Impact and Future of Nursing

The speaker concludes by discussing the profound impact nursing has had on their life, highlighting the humbling and transformative nature of the profession. By sharing personal stories and insights, the speaker emphasizes the importance of empathy, understanding, and moral courage in nursing. The speaker also looks to the future, considering how technology and an aging population will shape the field of nursing. Finally, the speaker advocates for the value of liberal arts in nurturing the holistic development of nurses, using a poem by Adrienne Rich to illustrate the depth and beauty of human insight and experience in the nursing world.

Mindmap
Keywords
💡Stereotyping
Stereotyping refers to the act of assigning a set of characteristics to a group or individual based on preconceived notions, rather than individual attributes. In the video, the speaker discusses how the mind categorizes information into 'neat little boxes', which can lead to stereotyping. This concept is challenged by the liberal arts, which encourage critical thinking and questioning of these stereotypes.
💡Interconnectedness
Interconnectedness is the concept that all things are interconnected and interdependent on each other. The speaker reflects on this idea during their time at Reed, considering it as a measure of a civilized society's ability to address its challenges. This concept is central to the understanding of the complex nature of healthcare and human experiences.
💡Nursing
Nursing is a healthcare profession focused on the care, support, and rehabilitation of patients. The video emphasizes the transformative impact of nursing on the speaker's life and aims to dispel stereotypes about the profession. It highlights the critical role nurses play in healthcare, emphasizing their agency, empathy, and the trust they build with patients.
💡Healthcare System
The healthcare system refers to the organization and management of healthcare services, including preventive, curative, and rehabilitative care. The video discusses the business aspects of healthcare, noting that certain types of patients are more profitable than others, and reflects on the ethical implications of this reality.
💡Liberal Arts
Liberal arts are a group of diverse academic disciplines that aim to foster critical thinking, creativity, and a broad understanding of the world. In the video, the speaker emphasizes the importance of a liberal arts education in challenging preconceived notions and stereotypes, and in preparing individuals for the complexities of the nursing profession.
💡Empathy
Empathy is the ability to understand and share the feelings of others. In the context of the video, empathy is a crucial skill for nurses, enabling them to connect with patients and provide compassionate care. The speaker discusses the importance of cultivating empathy and challenging the stereotypes that undermine the value of nursing.
💡Advocacy
Advocacy in the context of nursing refers to the act of supporting and promoting the best interests of patients, often by speaking up on their behalf. The video positions nurses as advocates who stand by patients during their most vulnerable moments, challenging the traditional hierarchy in healthcare.
💡Privilege
Privilege refers to the set of advantages or benefits that individuals hold based on their social status, often without being aware of them. In the video, the speaker discusses the importance of recognizing one's own privilege and working to understand the diverse experiences of others, which is essential for effective nursing practice.
💡Communication
Communication is the process of exchanging information, ideas, or feelings. In nursing, effective communication is vital for conveying essential information and providing emotional support to patients. The video underscores the significance of clear and empathetic communication in nursing, as it can greatly impact a patient's experience.
💡Human Condition
The human condition encompasses the full range of experiences, emotions, and challenges that define being human. In the video, the speaker draws on personal encounters and patient stories to illustrate the complexities of the human condition and the role of nurses in navigating these experiences.
💡Insight
Insight refers to the understanding or realization of a particular matter or situation, often gained through deep reflection or experience. The video emphasizes the multidimensional nature of insight in nursing, where understanding a patient's situation requires examining it from various angles and contexts.
Highlights

The speaker shares a personal journey of becoming a nurse despite a liberal arts background.

The importance of the liberal arts in challenging innate tendencies towards stereotyping and promoting understanding.

The transformative experience of nursing education, which includes both highs and lows.

The realization that nurses are the only ones who can help certain patients due to the trust they build.

The need to challenge the stereotype of nursing and recognize nurses as fully realized agents of their own fate.

The impact of societal indifference and the role of nurses in addressing the shadows of society.

The personal growth and humility gained through the nursing profession.

The importance of empathy and the need to unlearn bias in the nursing profession.

The value of the liberal arts in distilling stories that offer renewal and moral courage.

The diversity of brilliance found in nursing, from explaining complex medical conditions to comforting patients.

The essential role of language and communication in nursing, emphasizing the importance of being present and reassuring for patients.

The contrast between those who avoid darkness and those who seek truth in nursing.

The poem by Adrienne Rich, illustrating the descent into understanding and the search for truth in nursing.

The final message of recognizing the damage done and the treasures that prevail in the nursing profession.

Transcripts

Browse More Related Video

A DAY IN THE LIFE AS A NURSE // 16 hour shift, administering medications, injections, & more!

TOO OLD FOR NURSING OR NP SCHOOL?

Why Study Nursing? | College Majors | College Degrees | Study Hall

How to Study for NCLEX Exam | Free NCLEX RN Quizzes Questions

Real Doctor & Nurse React to “Nurses” | Medical Drama Review

Medicine is Sick: Nurses describe why they've left the profession

Rate This

5.0 / 5 (0 votes)

Thanks for rating:

Related Tags
PersonalGrowthNursingInsightHealthcarePerspectiveEducationalJourneyEmpathyInActionStereotypeChallengeLiberalArtsImpactPortlandNursingPatientAdvocacy