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Mental health in the Emergency Department

Posted By Albany123

"Mental health in the Emergency Department"

About: Albany Health Campus / Emergency Department

(as the patient),

I presented to the Emergency Department for self-harm. While I was there the Dr asked what I’d like to do when I was older, I said I would like to do nursing because I’d like to help others. This is when the Dr pointed to the scars on my arms and said I wouldn’t be able to do nursing if I continue to self-harm and have visible scars.

This was hard to hear, it made me second guess what I wanted to do and if I’d be able to achieve it. Since then I’ve spoken to my GP and they had said it wasn’t right what the Dr said and that I would be able to pursue my goal.  

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Responses

Response from Juan Clark, Operations Manager, Operations, Albany Health Campus, WACHS Great Southern 4 years ago
Juan Clark
Operations Manager, Operations,
Albany Health Campus, WACHS Great Southern

Submitted on 20/11/2019 at 12:27 PM
Published on Care Opinion at 12:30 PM

Dear Albany123,

Thank you for sharing your story on Patient Opinion. Yes, that would have been hard for you to hear. I have no doubt that the Dr had your best intentions at heart. Nursing is a demanding profession and it is important to develop healthy ways for coping with stress. I suspect the Dr said it with the intention to discourage you from further self-harm and not to discourage you from pursuing a career in nursing. In hindsight, this may not have been the best way to support you, and I’m sorry to learn that this has caused you to second guess what you want to do.

By sharing your story with us you have given us the opportunity to appreciate the impact of the things we say. Even when coming from a place of care and concern, the things we say can sometimes be interpreted very differently. It is important for all of us to be mindful of what we say, why we say it, how we say it and under what circumstances it is said. I sincerely thank you for this reminder which I will distribute to all the WA Country Health Service staff in the Lower Great Southern.

I would encourage you not to allow this experience to deter you from pursuing a career in nursing. I would like to invite you to contact me. We can discuss your experience as well as arrange for someone to speak with you about a career in Nursing and answer any questions you might have. You can contact me on 9892 2620 or email Juan.Clark@health.wa.gov.au

Yours sincerely

Juan Clark

Operations Manager, Albany Health Campus

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