A Review of Abraham Verghes’ My Own Country Essay Example for Free

A Review of Abraham Verghes My Own Country EssayIntroduction Nursing transcends cultures and geographical boundaries. With the emergence of a cud of medical exam insures in the military man, nurses and level doctors have a lot of stories to share with each other concerning the delegacy they treat patients. Some of these stories are common while some are more than peculiar than others. When those from the medical profession write about their experiences, those who read their movement are bound to be immersed in their world and in their worldview. Dr. Ambraham Verghese wrote about the emergence of support in Johnson City, Tennes entrance during the time the HIV virus has not stock-still become as prevalent as it is now. Dr. Verghese chronicles his journey together with his patients and the way he struggled in fit his medical profession and his soulfulnessal bearing. As Dr. Verghese came in contact with the persons with AIDS, he had to confront his own stereotypes an d see his patients for who they really are and not for the labels and the stigma directed against them by society. The families of the persons with AIDS likewise struggled in accept their identity as homosexuals. Verghese then spent time with these persons with AIDS, talked with them, listened to their stories, and went to their families so he can know them more deeply. By doing so, Verghese succeeded in presenting the humane side of persons with AIDS. The stories he told were filled with emotions and the experiences of people who have AIDS. He likewise looked at the health flush system in the United States and the kind of health do by attend to delivered to persons with AIDS. Apparently, in that location are incidences when patients are victimized, privacy problems are impinged on and confidentiality between doctors and patients are compromised. On coronate of this, a lot of people in the society still have their own prejudices, preconceptions and biases concerning AIDS.Verg hese, Identity and AIDS My Own Country A Doctors Story is not only about the life of Verghese and his medical go for. It was a book about his awakening to the vocation of being a doctor. His book is a courageous look at a topic considered to be taboo by the rest of the society. It is revolutionist because during the 1980s, AIDS was slowly coming to the consciousness of the American society. Although he focused on Johnson City in Tennessee, his story dealt with the human condition and how love and fear can make changes in the lives of people. The autobiographical work of Dr. Verghese talked about the importance of identity. The doctor, himself wrestled with questions about his identity and various influences. He is of Indian decent although with an Ethiopian birth. To jumble things more, he was excessively a Christian. He speaks of being an outsider because of his ethnicity and the way he was labeled as an outsider. He in any case thought that he was only needed as a doctor and when there are no longer medical conditions he needs to treat, then the community will no longer need him. Against the backdrop of race and his practice of profession, he managed to identify with the persons suffering with AIDS. He also explored how society gives identity to a disease and by association, such identity is imposed to the persons who are discompose with such disease. To show this further, Dr. Verghese explained how society equated AIDS with homosexuality and sin. When morality comes in, the society looks at the labels and stereotypes instead of sounding at the real identity of the individuals concerned. Because of this, Verghese managed to identify with the persons with AIDS and gathered their trust enough for him to help them retrace their identity and explore his own identity.Death, Illness and Narratives One of the lost art of medicine that Verghese rediscovered is listening and give tongue to stories and narratives. He wrote that with stories, the dignity of a n individual can be reaffirmed. Through stories, too, such dignity could also be denied to a person. Through the book he has written, he showed the way that the narratives of his patients got intertwined with his. Along the process, he becomes changed and even relates the narratives from the family members of those persons with AIDS. The reality of death is very much present in the awareness of the persons living with AIDS. Family members are also aware with the possibility of death. Yet, at first they cannot see beyond the stigma of AIDS. With narratives and stories, however, they get to be do aware of the real personality of the individual with AIDS and recall their love and care for them as family member. Verghese, through his direct interaction with his patients and even with their families postulateed as much how families react to impend death. The price of his method acting of give-and-take, or rather his going out of his way beyond mere delivery of health care is the way in which he became an outsider from his colleagues from the medical profession. As the persons with AIDS deal with their own lifestyles and impending death, Verghese continues learning from the way they muster courage and inspiration to live.Personal Response The approach of Verghese in transaction with his patients with AIDS is amazing. He went beyond the stigma of the society and the accepted way of doing things in his profession conscionable to understand his patients and along the way, he managed to understand himself more deeply. What really touched me is the way that he communicate to persons with AIDS and listened to their stories. The benefit was not only for the patients. Verghese, himself benefited greatly from such an experience. If I were in his situation, I office have stuck to the tried and accepted way of dealing with AIDS patients without going the extra mile for them. The pattern of Dr. Verghese is worthy emulating. What he did transcended culture, social norm s and stereotypes and eventually empowered the persons with AIDS. He was very brave in move the questions he was asking himself. More than just providing them with health care services, he connected with them as a friend would. That is one thing that I could certainly use in my own medical career. Patients should not be seen as just one disease to be treated after another. Rather, the dynamics of human relationships and narratives should be utilized to the full.Implications to Advanced Nursing Practice Narratives and stories are important means of connecting with a person and developing relationships with them. With the example shown by Dr. Verghese, narrative should be a part of the delivery of health care so that they will not only be treated for their medical condition but their treatment could be hastened with the sharing of stories and listening to the concerns of the patients. This may entail additional work for doctors but it is also worth pursuing because of its good effect s to the patients and to the doctors and nurses. Nurses tend to interact with patients more. As such, they need to learn how to interact efficaciously with their patients and share stories and narratives. It does not have to be very deliberate or contrived. Rather, it should be as graphic as possible so as to encourage better interaction. Nurses who provide care to patients in the hospital has to engage the assistance of family members too because they can greatly help in the treatment of the medical condition of the patients. Furthermore, as the family members and the patient interact more, they can be drawn closer together. Some nurses already practice this kind of meaningful interaction with patients. Yet as the need for nurses to engage in narratives and stories, they have to learn how to do this.ReferenceVerghese, A. (1994). My Own Country A Doctors Story. New York Simon and Schuster.