The Concept of Narrative Medicine, Essay Example

The concept of narrative medicine is significant in evaluating patients effectively and in determining the most feasible course of treatment. Narrative medicine encompasses a number of factors that include empathy, holistic, education, and research (Charon, 2001). For this narrative experience, I am describing an empathetic approach that I employed to inform a patient that she has been diagnosed with Human Papilloma Virus (HPV).

It was during my OB/GYN rotation at Sound Shore Hospital. The hospital, which is located in New Rochelle, New York, is known to have many female patients coming in from time to time. It was there that  I met a 40-year-old female who in a prior visit had an annual physical and a pap smear. During her follow up visit she was informed that her HPV test had come back positive for Human Papilloma Virus. Instantly, this married mother of two assumed the worse, that her husband had been unfaithful and the loving marriage and life she thought she had was a facade.

I found myself playing both patient and therapist, as she emptied out the doubts she had on me about her marriage,Specifically the concerns she felt for her children if their father left her for another woman. She even asked me if I thought she should get a divorce. As she clenched the medical table tightly with tears in her eyes looking at me for answers, I told her, “that is not for me to answer dear, but I am here to listen.” I felt her pain without knowing her prior to this visit, and I think she was aware of the compassion I had for her and her situation, because she began to open up to me and the tears left her eyes.

This experience made me tap into my emotional side and  recognize the importance of listening to patients. In this instance, I was able to acquire important knowledge regarding the needs of this patient and gain experience with her situation. Overall, this experience provided me with much insight regarding the response to a diagnosis, no matter the severity, and how it could lead to devastating consequences or other problems.

This experience has taught me that even as a medical clinician, I am still a human being and instances where patients are faced with the darkest aspects of their humanity, someone to talk to and a shoulder to cry on can be as valuable as proper treatment for their conditions. Through my appointment with this patient,  I learned how to communicate  with compassion, and I was able to ask her questions and to provide information regarding her current state that might have otherwise worsened her mood without her feeling like she was dealing with the issue alone. I also learned how to address her response to the diagnosis and the realization that her family life was in turmoil.

Much of the information I had to provide required competency and diligence on her part and I learned how to balance the delicate line between doctor and friend through touching on subjects that are highly sensitive with someone who is deeply distraught. This process supported my growth and development as a compassionate person and to be successful in treating my patients using these emotional resources. I also realized that quality of care cannot be compromised and time must be taken with all patients, regardless of the circumstances. Therefore, a delicate balance must be achieved between these different needs as a means of achieving quality care efficiently. I learned that patients have many emotional responses to medical news; therefore, patience is required to address these concerns effectively.

In sum, my experience in the OB/GYN clinic with the HPV patient was highly productive, and it demonstrated my ability to exercise compassion and empathy for this patient. I was able to gain a well-rounded experience by communicating with her in an empathetic manner, and it was enlightening for me on many levels, as it provided me with greater insight regarding a patient’s needs and expectations while visiting the clinic. This experience also shed some light on communication with different health care professionals from the medical assistant who handed me the results to the physician who asked me to convey the results to the patient must be successful in order to achieve the desired results in treating patients. Finally, my experience with this patient resulted in my own emotional development as I truly put myself in her shoes and experienced pain that could have easily been my own. This has made me more empathetic towards my patients but other individuals as a whole.