A Brief Summary Of Brain On Fire

Brain on Fire is a remarkable example of the frightening horrors most people endure in health care when symptomatology and diagnostic tests remain inconclusive for a definitive diagnosis. Susannah Cahalan suffered from a rare autoimmune disease, at that time, and her story was well portrayed in a series of events that drove her to madness until one doctor was able to unlock the puzzle and provide her and her family with answers. A summary of her disease progression will be discussed briefly. Susannah’s initial symptoms were ill-defined and it all started out with a set of marks on her arm that drove her to believe that her house was infested with bedbugs despite reassurance from an exterminator. Her symptoms then progressed into feelings
On a positive note, most of the nurses that Susannah encountered were genuinely nice and they placed her safety above all else. During one of her outbursts at the hospital, the nurses made sure to position her guardrails to make sure that they are in place, ensuring that her safety is the priority. In fact, Susannah even mentioned that she had a few unforgettable nurses who really took great care of her. One of her favorite nurse, Edward, was particularly therapeutic in his communication skills as well as patience by keeping his voice under control when she inadvertently slapped away a needle during a blood draw. In addition, nurse Edward placed her safety above his by stating, “You can really get hurt and maybe hurt me. But it’s going to hurt you a lot more” (Cahalan, 2012, pg. 126). This is exactly the kind of nursing care that really improved her morale and her experience with health care. On the other hand, there were also times when the role of nursing really derailed from her clinical course. For example, a nurse offhandedly questioned if Susannah had always been so slow, based on her symptoms of catatonia and speech problems. This comment was particularly haunting for Susannah as well as her family members as it may have been perceived as insensitive or worse, derogatory. Furthermore, one nurse even threatened Susannah’s father that if she does not behave herself then she would be removed form the unit and be placed in a place that does not have the same level of care, insinuating that Susannah would be institutionalized in a psychiatric ward. This kind of communication is extremely unprofessional and should never be part of nursing’s code of conduct as well as