“In the book, “Being Mortal: Medicine and What Matters in the End,” Atul Gawande delves deep into a detailed study of aging, medicine, and mortality. In addition to this critically reflective content on end-of-life issues many individuals face, readers are drawn in through Dr. Gawande’s compelling storytelling, which borrows from his rich experiences as a surgeon while observing shifts within geriatric care treatment (Gawande, 2014). This composition intends to probe deeper into key elements present throughout the text, focusing primarily on motivations underpinning Dr. Gawande’s work, crucial contrasts he sets forward during initial chapters holding the considerable interest of the reader, an indispensable role assumed by change drivers promoting interests relating towards elder population groups; understanding gravitas surrounding discussions associated with death requiring courage on part participants involved plus recognition importance identifying sickness progression patterns moving onwards. Through the dissection of the components mentioned above keenly, the write-up endeavors presenting transformative potential found reflected across insights provided here-under specifically targeted for consumption amongst healthcare professionals, notably the nursing fraternity, paving the way refining perceptive comprehension, particularly toward offering compassionate terminal phase patient-care hold promise shaping up future practices in a beneficial manner (Gawander-2014).
Recognized for his notable input in the medical sphere, Dr. Atul Gawande is a renowned surgeon, author, and investigator of public health issues. While providing surgical services, teaching classes as a professor, and writing for The New Yorker magazine have all solidified Dr. Gawande’s influence on healthcare dialogue (Gawande, 2014). This multifaceted role combines practical clinical know-how with a thought-provoking discussion about dilemmas and moral aspects prevalent within medicine.
The core trigger prompting Dr. Gawande to author “Being Mortal” resides in the entangled interplay of healthcare and human realities surrounding aging and fatefulness. He wrestles with modern medical procedures’ inadequacies, especially when addressing end-of-life concerns for individuals (Gawande, 2014). Motivated to enhance palliative care quality, Dr. Gawande aims to stir conscious reflection on what truly signifies an honorable existence towards life’s twilight (Moyer, 2022). His drive arises from the understanding that current medicinal frameworks usually fail to prioritize people’s daily well-being over simply prolonging lives.
Dr. Gawande skillfully weaves his narrative to trigger a change in perspective concerning aging and mortality among healthcare professionals and laypersons alike. His ultimate goal is to encourage readers to have vital conversations about their last wishes, thereby equipping them with knowledge-based decision-making power. The process of composing this text serves as Dr. Gawande’s investigation of a contemplative journey toward identifying fundamental values that should steer both medical practice and patient care (Gawande, 2014). Essentially, he positions the book to challenge prevalent notions surrounding what it means to lead a rewarding life or have an honorable death.
Critical Thinking
In “Being Mortal’s” inaugural chapter, Dr. Atul Gawande cleverly juxtaposes and distinguishes elderly experiences between Alice Hobson and his grandfather, uncovering touching perceptions of the intricacy of growing old. Living in an assisted facility represents our present-day elder care system through Alice; it often sacrifices individual freedom for safety measures. Conversely, a conventional lifestyle lets Dr.Gawande’s grandfather age peacefully within the comfort of his house (Gawande, 2014). While Alice necessitates routine security procedures due to her circumstances at the institution she resides in, her emotional connection with familiar surroundings enriches her counterpart’s life.
Historical shifts in aging trends have been a significant feature of the United States. During the early 20th century, it was commonplace to find older adults cared for within their large family circles (Elder & Johnson, 2018). As social structures changed with time, by the mid-century, there was an observable move towards institutional care, such as nursing homes and assisted living facilities, driven by urbanization influences, economic adjustments, and evolving familial interactions. Recently, however, we have seen growing consensus around valuing person-centered elder care, which focuses on addressing unique needs while respecting individual autonomy in later years; this aligns nicely with Dr. Gawande’s advocacy toward holistic geriatric healthcare.
In societal evolution, a change agent denotes an entity or collective that zealously ignites and expedites alterations within ingrained procedures or systems. Such individuals embody futurological mentalities, contesting prevalent norms and instigating significant revolutions (Parratt, 2020). In his work ‘Being Mortal,’ Dr. Atul Gawande familiarizes readers with two persuasive agents of transformation who have substantially reshaped elderly care methods.
Louise Aronson, a prominent geriatrician and author, stands out for taking her advocacy past the confines of clinical work. She labors to redefine how society views old age by confronting prejudices based on one’s years and fostering an empathetic comprehension regarding senior citizens. Aronson’s literary contributions and professional initiatives establish her as an agent, prompting modification in societal perspectives about aging (Gawande, 2014).
Keren Brown Wilson joins the ranks of influential trailblazers in expanding and refining the assisted living movement. Rather than typical nursing home care, Wilson’s commitment centers on facilitating alternative solutions that value independence and tailored aid for seniors. Her tireless efforts have sparked policy modification while fostering society-wide acknowledgment regarding diverse, tailor-made support necessities for our aging community (Gawande, 2014).
These catalysts (change agents), through their unique methods and significant inputs, showcase the incredible transformative power of people who question established practices and promote breakthrough solutions in senior care. Their work is a testament to the significance of cultivating environments that respect dignity and encourage independence while focusing on an individual-focused approach to aging.
In the book ‘Being Mortal’ by Atul Gawande, courage goes beyond simple fearlessness in hazardous situations. It encapsulates a readiness to face harsh realities and steer through emotionally intense circumstances for personal or collective improvement. Particularly around end-of-life care matters, this valor represents an engagement with challenging dialogues, questioning established protocols, and standing up for the honor and wishes of those facing death (Grey, 2019).
Conducting tough dialogues in the setting of terminal care necessitates a careful blend of understanding, truthfulness, and delicate handling. Dr. Gawande underscores the significance of recognizing impending deterioration while promoting frank discussions about an individual’s wishes, apprehensions, and principles. Advocating for those facing death involves more than medical attention; it includes upholding their right to make decisions reflecting personal beliefs and ambitions (Grey, 2019).
Active listening, emotion validation, and collective decision-making constitute efficient therapeutic methods in these chats. Trust-building, sympathy-led hearing allows people to voice their worries and choices (Wilmots et al., 2020). Validating acknowledges moments’ emotional burden, hence offering solace and comprehension. Involving a terminally ill individual actively in deciding about care specifics makes certain that the chosen path reflects their values and objectives.
Dr. Gawande’s therapeutic strategies underscore the significance of a patient-focused methodology, prioritizing personal freedom and emotional health (Gawande, 2014). These tactics catalyze poignant dialogues while crafting an empathetic and made-to-measure experience for those nearing life’s finish line and their dear ones. By assimilating these healing concepts into practice, healthcare practitioners can steer challenging discussions elegantly, cultivating harmonious spaces for individuals in their twilight days.
In health sciences, the term ‘illness trajectory’ denotes the journey and progression of an individual’s medical status throughout time; this captures all stages from onset to resolution; this may conclude in healing, reaching stability, or a downward path (Kupka et al., 2021). The importance of comprehending such a sequence is vividly laid out by Dr. Atul Gawande in his book “Being Mortal,” emphasizing its crucial role in end-of-life care settings.
Throughout an illness, dialogue and advocacy are important; they impact our choices, the medical strategies we adopt, and overall care quality. Encouraging open and regular discussions about personal preferences, values, and objectives at every step results in a healthcare approach centered around individual needs (Musella et al., 2021). Advocacy turns vital by enabling individuals to voice their desires clearly while safeguarding those predilections within the structures of our health system.
In her role as a nurse, incorporating these principles necessitates their integration into an all-encompassing care strategy that is flexible to the fluctuating needs of the patient’s illness path. In early patient interactions, conversations may center around understanding personal values and preferred choices, laying the groundwork for forthcoming decisions. As treatment progresses, dialogues serve as moments to re-evaluate health goals and consider any changes hinged on disease trajectory progression.
As the last stages of disease progression near, it becomes critical to engage in empathetic and sincere dialogues regarding expected outcomes, possible procedures, and the person’s desires for their life’s closing chapter. An advocate role is essential when coordinating between the patient, loved ones, and medical professionals to ensure care fits what matters most to that individual. This comprehensive yet flexible strategy recognizes how dynamic a disease journey can be while creating a considerate space dedicated to physical ease and emotional health.
“Being Mortal” conveys priceless knowledge that profoundly impacts my upcoming responsibilities as a nurse. The tome highlights the necessity of emphasizing life quality and patient independence, sculpting different aspects of my nursing belief system (Neil, 2019).
Primarily, the importance of transparent dialogue and collective decision-making has been emphasized. Viewing the patient as an engaged contributor in their healthcare process, I will give top precedence to comprehensive conversations about therapeutic choices, disease outcome predictions, and final-stage-of-life inclinations. This cooperative method ensures that the patient’s viewpoint is acknowledged, nurturing a feeling of possession and authority over their medical journey.
In addition, the book accentuates the importance of an all-round perspective on patient care. Aside from clinical actions, it has enlightened me to value healthcare’s emotional, psychological, and societal facets. This comprehensive insight will lead my approach to customizing care plans that cater to physical ailments and consider a person’s mental health and personal principles.
In ‘Being Mortal,’ the significance of being responsive in medical care shines through. As a future nurse, I will remain alert to fluctuations that occur within disease progression and attend closely to the realigning needs of patients as they navigate their health journeys. Infusing adaptability into healthcare plans while incorporating continual scrutiny protects against stagnation, instead maintaining patient-centric treatment despite shifts in status or personal preferences.
The deep insights I have gleaned from the book have significantly altered my understanding of mortality, transforming it from an inevitable conclusion to a vital chunk of human existence. The importance placed on patient-focused care and frank discourse has shed light on the possibility of a respected and meaningful life’s culmination. This outlook, firmly embedded in teachings from “Being Mortal,” will steer me as a nursing professional, sculpting my dedication towards empathetic, personalized treatment that transcends mere medical procedures to respect each person’s autonomy and dignity.
Conclusion
“Being Mortal” profoundly impacted our upcoming medical nursing practices. It spotlighted the fundamental concepts of patient-focused care, potent dialogue, and flexibility to adapt to varying health circumstances. The book refurbished our grasp over mortality by underlining dignity’s significance, self-determination, and impactful relations in terminal phase caring services. As budding nurses, we deeply commit to sympathetic custom-made healthcare that respects each individual’s odyssey. This altering effect is stretched beyond clinical involvements, shifting our viewpoint about human life while emphasizing the importance of compassion within medicinal services.
References
Elder, G. H., & Johnson, M. K. (2018). The life course and aging: Challenges, lessons, and new directions. In Invitation to the life course (pp. 49–81). Routledge.
Gawande, A. (2014). Being mortal: Medicine and what matters in the end. Metropolitan Books.
Grey, J. S. (2019). Awakening to Mortality: End-of-life as Rite of Passage and Pathway to Transformation (Doctoral dissertation, Harvard University).
Kupka, R., Duffy, A., Scott, J., Almeida, J., Balanzá‐Martínez, V., Birmaher, B., … & Kapczinski, F. (2021). Consensus on nomenclature for clinical staging models in bipolar disorder: a narrative review from the International Society for Bipolar Disorders (ISBD) Staging Task Force. Bipolar disorders, 23(7), 659-678.
Moyer, E. (2022). Cherish: Encouraging End-Of-Life Planning Through Visual Communication and Interaction (Doctoral dissertation, Iowa State University).
Musella, A., DeVitto, R., Anthony, M., & Elliott Mydland, D. (2021). The importance of shared decision-making for patients with glioblastoma. Patient preference and adherence, 2009-2016.
Neil, M. C. (2019). Curating the Nation: Gender, Class, and Empire at the 1908 Franco-British Exhibition (Doctoral dissertation, University of Houston).
Parratt, J. (2020). So, We Live, Forever Bidding Farewell: Assisted Dying and Theology. Sacristy Press.
Wilmots, E., Midgley, N., Thackeray, L., Reynolds, S., & Loades, M. (2020). The therapeutic relationship in Cognitive Behavior Therapy with depressed adolescents: A qualitative study of good‐outcome cases. Psychology and Psychotherapy: Theory, Research, and Practice, 93(2), 276–291.Top of Form
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