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Diamonds are Made Under Pressure
DIAMONDS ARE MADE UNDER PRESSURE Milford 0.Rouse, M.D. All of us, consciously or unconsciously, yearn
plexes of colleges within universities striving to take the best from the many disciplines of solve some vital problem or to play an im- organized knowledge. Today’s knowledge in portant role in something lasting. any profession is so broad and deep, so exAs operating room nurses, you might tensive and precise, that no one professional sometimes feel that your day-to-day work can grasp it all. We have arrived at the age of does not have lasting significance. The fact specialization and, therefore, we find ouris that every patient whose health has been selves greatly dependent on teamwork and the restored in your operating room carries with knowledge of other professionals. him to a more productive life a portion of Experience is very important in your proyour professionalism, knowledge and dedica- fession as it is in mine. But it is not enough tion. without continuing education. Just a few decYou help the professional climate in which ades ago there was only a handful of highly the surgeon, anesthesiologist, and operating educated women in the United States. Today, room technicians you train blend their pro- United States women receive 36 per cent of fessional skills and judgment to bring quality all Bachelor degrees, 31 per cent of all Mastechnique to the operation at hand. ter’s degrees and 11 per cent of all Doctoral Some define a profession as a self-selected, degrees. In fact, the pressure for keeping UP self-disciplined group of individuals who of- in any walk of life is so great that some fer themselves to the public as possessing a educators tell us babies born this year will special skill derived from education, experi- have to be completely re-educated five times ence and attitude and who are prepared to in their lifetime to adjust to the changes cornexercise that skill primarily in the interests of ing in our society. others. The high professional status of an What’s even more important is a profesoperating room nurse is self-evident. sional attitude and an inner conviction to do Today, all of the health care professions the best possible job for patients in your are facing change. We all must provide more care, whether it be in the operating room or efficient methods of health care to keep up anywhere else. with the mushrooming population and the inThe basis of this responsibility was stated creasing demand of patients for more quality many years ago. Luke, who was himself n services. But the added pressure and change physician, reports to us these words of Christ: are good because sociological change reflects “For unto whomsoever much is given, of him growth. shall much be required.” (Luke, 12:48\ The change in education in recent decades Much is required of us by others, and we has moved us from the one room local school- should demand much of ourselves, because house run by one teacher to today’s huge com- of all that we have been given. We have been given the privilege of citizenMilford 0. Rouse, M.D., is President of the Ameriship in a nation whose standard of living can Medical Association. Dr. Rouse is also a Diploinate of gastroenterology of the American Board of and whose way of life are the envy of most Internal Medicine and a Fellow of the American people throughout the rest of the world-a College of Physicians. to make a significant contribution to help
AORN Journal
nation which grants a degree of freedom of action, freedom of thought, freedom of speech, freedom of suffrage and freedom of religion unsurpassed anywhere in the world, and unequaled in the vast majority of nations. We did not create these things. But it is our obligation now to maintain them and to strengthen them so that we may continue to enjoy their blessings that they might be equally available to generations that follow. Happiness is a state in which we are allowed to strive for meaningful goals. M y prayer is that people in the health care field will always be mature enough to want to stay unsatisfied so as to learn and experience more and more. I like the prayer by Peter Marshall: “When we long for a life without trials and work without difficulties, remind us thal oaks grow strong in contrary winds and diamonds are made under pressure.” Our inner conviction tells us what is professional and what we should strive for. It is the motivating force that keeps us achieving-
becoming more educated, and gaining more experience and being satisfied only with greater accomplishments. We humans are the only class of God‘s creatures that laugh and weep. And only humans can tell the difference hetween how things are and how they ought 1 0 be. You wear many hats other than just your nursing cap. You are an inspiration to physicians who have responsibility for human life. You are a morale builder for all those about you. And you are envoy for all of the nursing profession wherever you are known or identified by your work. Sometimes you may question why you are called upon to give so much of yourself. Perhaps the following words by an anonymous writer may help you answer that question: “What we give, we keep, for it is in giving that we are enriched. What we keep, we lose, for in keeping we are limited to ourselves. And when we die, all that we are, is what we have given.’’
“Nurse Simpson wanted in the OR”
Drcpmber 1967
47
plexes of colleges within universities striving to take the best from the many disciplines of solve some vital problem or to play an im- organized knowledge. Today’s knowledge in portant role in something lasting. any profession is so broad and deep, so exAs operating room nurses, you might tensive and precise, that no one professional sometimes feel that your day-to-day work can grasp it all. We have arrived at the age of does not have lasting significance. The fact specialization and, therefore, we find ouris that every patient whose health has been selves greatly dependent on teamwork and the restored in your operating room carries with knowledge of other professionals. him to a more productive life a portion of Experience is very important in your proyour professionalism, knowledge and dedica- fession as it is in mine. But it is not enough tion. without continuing education. Just a few decYou help the professional climate in which ades ago there was only a handful of highly the surgeon, anesthesiologist, and operating educated women in the United States. Today, room technicians you train blend their pro- United States women receive 36 per cent of fessional skills and judgment to bring quality all Bachelor degrees, 31 per cent of all Mastechnique to the operation at hand. ter’s degrees and 11 per cent of all Doctoral Some define a profession as a self-selected, degrees. In fact, the pressure for keeping UP self-disciplined group of individuals who of- in any walk of life is so great that some fer themselves to the public as possessing a educators tell us babies born this year will special skill derived from education, experi- have to be completely re-educated five times ence and attitude and who are prepared to in their lifetime to adjust to the changes cornexercise that skill primarily in the interests of ing in our society. others. The high professional status of an What’s even more important is a profesoperating room nurse is self-evident. sional attitude and an inner conviction to do Today, all of the health care professions the best possible job for patients in your are facing change. We all must provide more care, whether it be in the operating room or efficient methods of health care to keep up anywhere else. with the mushrooming population and the inThe basis of this responsibility was stated creasing demand of patients for more quality many years ago. Luke, who was himself n services. But the added pressure and change physician, reports to us these words of Christ: are good because sociological change reflects “For unto whomsoever much is given, of him growth. shall much be required.” (Luke, 12:48\ The change in education in recent decades Much is required of us by others, and we has moved us from the one room local school- should demand much of ourselves, because house run by one teacher to today’s huge com- of all that we have been given. We have been given the privilege of citizenMilford 0. Rouse, M.D., is President of the Ameriship in a nation whose standard of living can Medical Association. Dr. Rouse is also a Diploinate of gastroenterology of the American Board of and whose way of life are the envy of most Internal Medicine and a Fellow of the American people throughout the rest of the world-a College of Physicians. to make a significant contribution to help
AORN Journal
nation which grants a degree of freedom of action, freedom of thought, freedom of speech, freedom of suffrage and freedom of religion unsurpassed anywhere in the world, and unequaled in the vast majority of nations. We did not create these things. But it is our obligation now to maintain them and to strengthen them so that we may continue to enjoy their blessings that they might be equally available to generations that follow. Happiness is a state in which we are allowed to strive for meaningful goals. M y prayer is that people in the health care field will always be mature enough to want to stay unsatisfied so as to learn and experience more and more. I like the prayer by Peter Marshall: “When we long for a life without trials and work without difficulties, remind us thal oaks grow strong in contrary winds and diamonds are made under pressure.” Our inner conviction tells us what is professional and what we should strive for. It is the motivating force that keeps us achieving-
becoming more educated, and gaining more experience and being satisfied only with greater accomplishments. We humans are the only class of God‘s creatures that laugh and weep. And only humans can tell the difference hetween how things are and how they ought 1 0 be. You wear many hats other than just your nursing cap. You are an inspiration to physicians who have responsibility for human life. You are a morale builder for all those about you. And you are envoy for all of the nursing profession wherever you are known or identified by your work. Sometimes you may question why you are called upon to give so much of yourself. Perhaps the following words by an anonymous writer may help you answer that question: “What we give, we keep, for it is in giving that we are enriched. What we keep, we lose, for in keeping we are limited to ourselves. And when we die, all that we are, is what we have given.’’
“Nurse Simpson wanted in the OR”
Drcpmber 1967
47