When professor of English literature Theresa Brown, PhD, BSN, RN decided to become an oncology nurse, she suddenly found herself juggling seemingly-impossible patient expectations. And when she later was diagnosed with breast cancer herself, she was forced to confront the paradoxes of a healthcare system that demands so much of its practitioners yet provides insufficient support for them. She recounts these revelations in her recent book, Healing: When a Nurse Becomes a Patient. A frequent contributor to the New York Times, Theresa is also the author of several bestselling books detailing her experiences helping patients through some of the most devastating moments in their lives. Over the course of our conversation, Theresa shares her unusual journey to nursing, the daily struggles she encounters caring for the sickest patients in the hospital, and what her experiences as a cancer patient have taught her about finding solace in the midst of our imperfect healthcare system.In this episode, you will hear about:Theresa’s path from English professor to oncology nurse - 2:07What “whole person care” means to Theresa - 5:54A day in the life of an oncology nurse - 11:26How Theresa managed the emotional stress of working with seriously ill patients in such a prolonged and often intimate way - 18:47The high risk of moral injury in the nursing profession - 34:34Theresa’s experiences when the tables were turned and she became a cancer patient herself - 38:53Theresa’s practical advice for leading with kindness with patients - 44:43Theresa Brown is the author of several books about her experiences in nursing, including: The Shift: One Nurse, Twelve Hours, Four Patients’ Lives (2016) and Critical Care: A New Nurse Faces Death, Life, and Everything in Between (2011).You can follow Theresa Brown, RN on Twitter @TheresaBrown.Visit our website www.TheDoctorsArt.com where you can find transcripts of all episodes.If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe, rate, and review our show, available for free on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. If you know of a doctor, patient, or anyone working in health care who would love to explore meaning in medicine with us on the show, feel free to leave a suggestion in the comments or send an email to info@thedoctorsart.com.Copyright The Doctor’s Art Podcast 2023