Angela Cox LSSYB, MSN, MSHA, MSSW
With lives at stake, common sense tells us the importance of the human element. Technology supports humans in taking care of other humans. It is a tool that does not replace the God-given ability to care. Nonetheless, the human touch in healthcare faces many obstacles and frustrations. Let me take you through my journey, starting from the trenches of nursing school, a pivotal point in my life where the battle to retain my humanity was first questioned.
Nursing School: Ready, Aim, Fire
With five healthcare degrees, I can attest that a bachelor’s in nursing was my most demanding academic journey. The road was fraught with unanticipated challenges and setbacks that forced me to question authority and myself on multiple occasions.
Being accustomed to academic success, I was quickly confronted with the harsh reality that nursing was unlike any academic field with which I was familiar. First, the lowest grade allowed in my nursing program was a C; anything lower was considered a failure. Secondly, there is no rounding in nursing school. Where most would consider an 89.9 the same as a 90, nursing didn’t. Medicine doesn’t round up, nor would the profession in healthcare. The demand for excellence was immense, and the shame of not graduating with honors still feels like a personal failure.
Managing school while working a 12-hour shift as a busy Emergency Room Social Worker led to a heart-to-heart discussion with my husband, where I was forced to prioritize my education and resign from my full-time position. Despite this, the workload remained overwhelming. With my slow reading ability, I struggled to keep up with the 300-400 pages of required reading each week and reached out to my academic advisor.
Knowing when you need help is one of the first steps in recovery, and though I knew I would succeed, I knew the importance of seeking expert guidance. However, their response was unexpected and perplexing. I was advised to skip extensive readings and focus on chapter summaries and supplemental workbooks. It was a revelation that I had not considered because I was learning how to save lives, and yet it became clear that nursing school wasn’t designed for everyone; only the academically robust could endure its regimen.
Navigating interpersonal dynamics proved equally challenging, as certain professors harbored prejudices against my social worker background. Despite this discouragement, I found myself becoming a leader, akin to the older sibling who takes on extra responsibilities to alleviate the burden of others. I didn’t mind carrying that weight; I assumed it was one reason God carried me there.
My journey underscores a broader systemic issue within healthcare where arduous training downplays individual well-being and diverse perspectives. However, with resilience and grit, I remain steadfast in advocating for compassionate patient care and improving healthcare for all stakeholders. Together, we can make it better.