JOURNAL 1 & 2 4
Journal 2
Part A (problematic patient/family or staff situation)
As a nurse, it feels awkward and is also disturbing to abandon a patient who is in dire
need of care that you can provide. In my last shift, I happened to experience this kind of
scenario. I received a patient who had been involved in a fatal accident whereby he was hit by a
car while trying to cross the 15 freeway. The 31-year-old female patient had her liver physically
injured and was diagnosed of liver laceration grade 111. Additionally, the patient had an open
wound. Unfortunately, the patient was very aggressive and combative as well. She gave no
chance for medication. On touching her, she would scream very loud. Even after leaving the
room and coming back later she would still behave aggressively and yell at the top of her voice
on seeing us.
Part B (personal thought/feelings resolution and learning)
The charge nurse directed my preceptor and me to leave the patient’s room after
observing how difficult it was to provide medication and care to the patient. This troubled me
seeing that I was abandoning a patient who needed urgent attention. If the liver was left
unattended, the health of the patient would deteriorate and possibly lead to other complications.
This is owing to the fact that the liver plays a broad spectrum of roles in the body including
digestive, detoxification and hormonal regulation functions among others. I felt it not fit to watch
the patient undergo more suffering and possible complications thereafter. From the look of the
patient, I concluded that she must have been traumatized something that made her aggressive and
scream at our sight.
Part C