Shots in Arms

Abstract

In this narrative medicine essay, a psychiatrist describes her volunteer role during the COVID-19 pandemic—administering vaccinations in a high school cafeteria.

Desde otra perspectiva: la medicina narrativa y las narrativas de los proveedores de salud durante la pandemia de COVID-19

“…However, the experience of nurses, physicians, or other healthcare professionals working in COVID-19 departments is not the only setting from which to observe the effect of narratives in medicine in today's pandemic settings. The literature provides other examples, including that of two no-longer-young physicians, a retired family doctor and a psychiatrist, called by U.S. health authorities to become vaccine physicians (Crowe, 2021;Kronmal, 2021). Their contributions tell of the hope reborn in patients with the vaccine administration to the population, even thanks to the closeness of those administering it.…”

“…In one case, joyful narratives of connection with people imbued with hope were reported (Crowe, 2021). In the other case, the self-ironic narratives of a psychiatrist who felt unconnected to the administration of intravenous drugs and who did not feel like a hero but rather compared herself to a teenager who, as a small job, put clients' groceries in bags, at the supermarket (Kronmal, 2021).…”

Untitled

“…However, the experience of nurses, physicians, or other healthcare professionals working in COVID-19 departments is not the only setting from which to observe the effect of narratives in medicine in today's pandemic settings. The literature provides other examples, including that of two no-longer-young physicians, a retired family doctor and a psychiatrist, called by U.S. health authorities to become vaccine physicians (Crowe, 2021;Kronmal, 2021). Their contributions tell of the hope reborn in patients with the vaccine administration to the population, even thanks to the closeness of those administering it.…”

“…In one case, joyful narratives of connection with people imbued with hope were reported (Crowe, 2021). In the other case, the self-ironic narratives of a psychiatrist who felt unconnected to the administration of intravenous drugs and who did not feel like a hero but rather compared herself to a teenager who, as a small job, put clients' groceries in bags, at the supermarket (Kronmal, 2021).…”