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Each war brings pain, both physical and mental, and soldiers and civilians are not the only ones trapped in such a predicament; healthcare professionals have to work in such conditions as well. In these circumstances, surgeons and nurses must keep their oath and provide quality treatment to every patient, regardless of nationality, ethnicity, or gender. In the story of Jacqueline Navarra Rhoads, Nurses in Vietnam, one can see a dramatic transition of a nurse who not only honed her skills, transcending the level of an ordinary nurse but changed her mentality and approach to the working conditions. In this sense, the story illustrates how in the moment of hardship, one must and can remain a professional who is still a compassionate human.
Throughout the narration, the nurse, Jacqueline, changes significantly. In the beginning, the reader can see a vulnerable 21-year-old who cannot yet comprehend the magnitude of the ongoing war and what kind of gory tasks await her. Even Jacqueline emphasized her emotional unpreparedness: “My God, what did I get myself into?” (Navarra Rhoads, 1987, p.1025). The narrator described the first time she had to identify the cause of death of men lying in body bags, and she “shook so badly” that the doctor had to calm her down (Navarra Rhoads, 1987, p.1027). In the subsequent parts, the reader can observe the personal attachment of the nurse. For example, in one case, Jacqueline became attached to the young boy who was seriously hurt, and she held his hand, knowing he would still pass away instantly due to severe wounds. As the woman later confessed, she “had to follow him to graves registration and put him in the bad [herself]. [She] couldn’t let go of him. It was something [she] had to do” (Navarra Rhoads, 1987, p.1028). However, while a nurse should be empathetic, she should not attach herself to the patient.
The next phase of change that Ms. Navarra Rhoads underwent did not align with nursing standards as well. The young nurse started to somewhat discriminate against the patients and forgot the professional conduct of nurses. An example of such a situation is shown when the nurses and doctors had to save the life of a Vietnamese soldier, and treating this man made Navarra Rhoads angry. As she confessed, she thought, “what happens if someone comes in like Cliff and we don’t have any anesthesia left because we gave it all to this POW?” (Navarra Rhoads, 1987, p.1028). While the nurse quickly realized the detrimental effect her thoughts might have, she could not resist them. In this sense, being overly sensitive and biased toward patients is unacceptable. She differentiated between patients, emphasizing that she is “American and they’re the enemy” (Navarra Rhoads, 1987, p.1029). The nurse has a duty, and it is not up to healthcare professionals to judge others.
The last way in which the narrator changes concerns her overall approach and skills. First, the young woman became more decisive since she “had to do a lot of things on [her] own, making snap decisions that could end up saving someone or costing him his life” (Navarra Rhoads, 1987, p.1031). Second, she became “emotionally and physically numb” (Navarra Rhoads, 1987, p.1029), such as when greeting another nurse with a severed leg under her arm, forgetting it was there and having “no idea this could bother her” (Navarra Rhoads, 1987, p.1030). Furthermore, the young woman honed her medical skills and gained more experience performing a tracheotomy, which is a surgical incision into the trachea to allow proper breathing. Still, this job and such tasks did not make the woman heartless or less professional. In the end, the reader sees her kindness toward former patients, such as when she hugs the soldier on whom she performed a tracheotomy.
This story is not only a useful overview of what a medical professional must not do but a collection of insights into what qualities a nurse or a doctor must possess in such an environment. The first quality is stamina, which implies that a healthcare professional must endure the challenges that come with such severe wounds, which can be infested or seriously infected. Additionally, the medical professional must have empathy toward the patients. It is inappropriate not to provide emotional support for the patients and treat them as objects. Aside from this, a nurse must not discriminate against patients and provide them with quality care regardless of their features.
Hence, the story serves as an example of how it is possible to maintain one’s humanity while yet acting professionally amid trying times. The narrator’s nurse, Jacqueline, undergoes a major transformation. The reader may first observe a young woman of 21 who is helpless and has no idea how serious the continuing battle is or what type of gruesome chores are in store for her. Since Ms. Navarra Rhoads began to treat the patients unfairly, the following stage of her transformation was not in line with nursing norms. The final way in which the narrator altered was her overall strategy once she discovered when and how to suppress her emotions and when to use empathy. In this regard, the nurse in such situations must be sympathetic, understanding, and firm.
Reference
Navarra Rhoads, J. (1987). Nurses in Vietnam. Texas Monthly Press.
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