Reflections on Salt Water

There is immense power in the sharing of stories and nursing is a profession that thrives on stories. We talk all day and sometimes all night to people and their families, sharing stories of lives well lived, people well loved and hopes for the future.  It is important that we share these tales to find out what makes people tick and how we can best help them. Talking things through also helps some to share the burden of caring. It is possible to hear amazing stories, there is something in everyone's life that is special or unusual or amazing. Some stories involve travel... Lived patient experience tells us what we are actually achieving compared to what we hope to achieve. Books such as Michael Rosen's Many different kinds of love shines a light on what we do and how it looks from the other side. One of the bits that stopped me in my tracks was when he says about 'whatever it is they do when they look at you for half a minute then write something down'. (Respiratory ra...