Nursing

Interview with a nurse.

Presenter: Welcome to today's episode of medi-chat. Today we will be continuing our series
on the different professions in health care and we are joined by Mary Jones, a staff nurse
from Birmingham Hospital. Hello Mary.

Mary: Hello, thank you for having me on the program.

P: Thank you for joining us. Now to get us started, could you tell our listeners a little bit
about why you became a nurse.

M: Well, I always wanted to work in health care and nursing seemed like a good fit for me. I
originally planned to train as a midwife, but I decided that I liked the variety of treating and
dealing with different kinds of patients.

P: What do you mean by a good fit?

M: I like working with people and being a nurse allows me to interact with a lot of patients in
one day. I also feel like I am making a difference as I am giving direct care

P: I imagine it is quite demanding working so closely with patients.

M: Yes, it can be but it is also very rewarding when you get to help a patient from the time of
admission right through until when they are discharged.

P: Yes, that must give you a great feeling. But what are your actual duties? How do you help
patients?

M: Ha, that would be a very long answer as every day is different but my main duty is
assisting doctors and monitoring patients. This may be collecting specimens from patients or
administering medicine which was prescribed by the doctor.

P: You mean giving out pills and tablets?

M: Well, that is part of it - but often medication is through an intravenous drip, so I have to
place the needle in the patients arm and make sure that the drip is flowing properly.

P: I see. So which duty do you enjoy most?

M: Actually, it may sound strange but I think I like to educate patients more than anything
else. We get a lot of patients who end up in hospital as a result of poor lifestyle, so as well as
treating them my personal challenge is to show them how to avoid a return trip. It is really
satisfying when someone says something like: 'Ok, I'll stop smoking'.

P: Does that happen very often?

M: Unfortunately not, I do seem to spend most of my time drawing blood or changing
dressings. You know, the routine stuff.

P: And what about the worst part of the job?

M: That is easy, being in the room when the doctor informs the patient or their family that the
condition is terminal. My charge nurse said that it gets easier with time, but I still find it very
distressing.

P: Yes, I can imagine. So I assume you need to be quite strong emotionally to do your job.

M: Definitely.

P: Are there any other important characteristics that a potential nurse should have?

M: Yes, as we spend a lot of time around patients who are going through a hard time - a good
bedside manner is essential. You must remember that these are people with feelings. You also
need to be decisive as you often have very little time to choose the correct response to a
patient's situation.

P: It sounds very difficult.

M: It is, and actually that is something that does annoy me - a lot of people just don't realize
how hard it is to be a nurse and in fact doctors sometimes look down on us.

P: Well, I for one appreciate the work done by nursing professionals. The last time I was in
hospital I was fortunate enough to have a very good nurse, and it really did make the whole
experience much less frightening. Thank you for telling us about your job.

1. Who is joining the current episode of medi-chat?

2. What is the motivation of Mary Jones to become a Nurse?
3. What the nurse should do, before give the medication through an intravenous drip?
4. What is the favorite job of the nurse during her duty?
5. What is the worst part of a job as a nurse?
At the pharmacy
A dialogue between a pharmacist and a customer:

Pharmacist: Good morning. How can I help you today?

Customer: Hello. Can you fill a prescription?

Pharmacist: Certainly. I see that you need several items - let me check if we have them all. I
will be right back.

Pharmacist: Well, Mr. Jones we have most of the items but I see that your doctor prescribed
you brand name antibiotics and we only have the generic variety, will this be ok?

Mr. Jones: Um, what's the difference?

Pharmacist: The drugs are actually the same, both varieties use the same active ingredients
and are taken in the same manner. The only real difference is the cost, the generic are much
cheaper.

Mr. Jones: That sounds good. Oh, but what about side effects of the generic one?

Pharmacist: The side-effects are the same with both drugs; the most common one being
drowsiness. Of course, you should read the instructions before taking and pay close attention
to the contraindications as this drug has a few.

Mr. Jones: Ok, so I will take the generic antibiotics and what about the other items?

Pharmacist: We have the eye-drops, the anti-inflammation suppository and the liniment. I
must say that this seems like an unusual combination of treatment.

Mr. Jones: Ah, well you see it is not just for me. The prescription is from our family doctor
and covers me, my wife and our son.

Pharmacist: Now I see. Ok, so I just need to tell you a little about these drugs. May I ask who
the liniment is for?

Mr. Jones: That's for me.

Pharmacist: Ok, well this is a transdermal liniment which means you need to apply it to the
area and the active ingredient is absorbed into your bloodstream

Mr. Jones: Ok, and it should only be applied to a small area of skin?
Pharmacist: Yes, that is correct. Just follow the instructions on that. Now, the eye-drops -
these are topical...

Mr. Jones: You mean they may be unsafe?

Pharmacist: You would be surprised how often people try taking them orally.

Mr. Jones: I assure you that I know how to use eye-drops.

Pharmacist: Right, sorry I didn't mean to cause offense. Anyway, the suppositories are a little
more unusual. Are these also for you?

Mr. Jones: Absolutely not. They are for my wife.

Pharmacist: Ok, well please tell her that she must follow the dosage instructions on the box
and if at any time she starts to feel numb, she should discontinue the treatment.

Mr. Jones: Of course.

Pharmacist: So that's everything from the prescription. Is there anything else I can do for
you?

Mr. Jones: Yes, I need something for a blocked nose and do you have anything to help the
immune system cope better?

Pharmacist: There are several options for boosting the immune system but as you don't have a
prescription it will have to be an over-the-counter remedy. I would recommend 'rescue
remedy'

Mr. Jones: What is it?

Pharmacist: It is a tincture of alcohol and herbs.

Mr. Jones: So it is natural?

Pharmacist: Yes, and it is very good. I use it on my daughter during the flu season.

Mr. Jones: Ok, that sounds good.

Pharmacist: And for the blocked-nose, of course a nasal spray to clear the nose and maybe a
vitamin C dietary supplement as well.

Mr. Jones: That would be good, but it's for my son and he cannot swallow tablets.

Pharmacist: No problem, these are effervescence tablets so they dissolve in water.

Mr. Jones: Perfect. How much will that be?

Pharmacist: 49.92 with tax.

1. What are the differences between generic and brand medicine?
2. How to use the liniment?
3. How to use the suppositories?
4. What is the suggestion of the pharmacist when, she could not give the blockednose
and immune system booster?
5. How much the price of vitamin C tablets?