Discouragement

Work has been, in a word, depressing. Discouraging. Agonizing. Draining. Exhausting. Fatiguing. Emotional.
Okay, so that's more than one word. But this is how I've been feeling. I almost cried a couple times last night..or was it this morning? I don't know. There's been talk about withdrawing on one of my patients. This is distressing in and of itself. But to top it off, this person who has had extensive trauma is getting absolutely nothing for pain or comfort. Nothing. Yet all of his vital signs are exhibiting discomfort of the most serious kind. My sorrow quickly was turning into anger, yes the MD might have had his reasons for no pain medication, but I wholeheartedly disagree with him. So I called the good 'ol resident on call for the night and painted the picture of discomfort and demanded something...anything! I got my morphine and was able to give the poor patient some rest for the night, at least as far as his vital signs exhibited. It was just so tragic, it is so tragic, and unfair, and I felt and feel so powerless. What is the point of being a nurse if we can't advocate for our patients and get results?