Project 1: Rhetorical Analysis 1

Project 1: Rhetorical Analysis

Anuhea Gampong

Arizona State University

Abstract
 Project 1: Rhetorical Analysis 2

For this essay, I break down the key points in Cara L Coleman's argument. I explain the

logical and emotional appeals within her article to prove her credibility. Coleman discuss the

care of nurses and their role of giving empowerment to parents of children with disabilities. Also

to patients in general.

Key words: Nurses, parents, empowerment

 Project 1: Rhetorical Analysis 3

Project 1: Rhetorical Analysis

In the hospital setting, nurses can play a role in empowering patients and parents of the

patients. An instructor of Pediatrics, Cara L. Coleman, wrote Empowered by Nurses, published

in August 2016 in the Pediatric Nursing, and she believes nurses can give a voice to parents of

children with disabilities. Coleman begins building her argument with her own personal

experiences. She includes emotional appeals as to why, as a nurse, its important to give care in a

certain matter. This is because nurses should know how to empathize their patient they are taking

care of.

In this article, Coleman begins with the empowerment by nurses before her child was

born also during the two months spent in the NICU (neonatal intensive care unit). She then

continues with nurses who, after childbirth, gave her a voice in who is to provide care for her

daughter. If a child has a disability or special healthcare needs, then it is crucial to empower

families to provide care themselves because while the need for care of the child may change, it is

unlikely to ever go away, (Coleman, 2016, 195). She explains that nurses who are willing to

break down the procedures of at home care to parents are important. The nurses that provide a

voice to parents of child with disabilities can give the same amount of care compared to a

licensed practical nurse. She also explains the importance of communication. The importance of

nurses empowering patients and families to partner in communication cannot be emphasized

enough, (Coleman, 2016, 194). Nurses who communicate between the parents and the issues

happening, give a sense of ease to parents. This also gives parents the right to know what is

being done for their child. In addition, nurses who learn the patient by their name instead of their

diagnosis are advocates for those people. Nurses are uniquely situated to model advocacy for
 Project 1: Rhetorical Analysis 4

care by getting to know each child by his or her name, not by a diagnosis, (Coleman, 2016,

196).

Throughout the article, Coleman is solely basing her claim on her own experience. As a

wife and mother of four children, one of which that needs constant medical attention, she uses an

emotional appeal to support her view points. She also uses her title, an instructor of pediatrics, to

prove she is credible.

Coleman tells her experience of how nurses gave her empowerment, therefore, her

emotions are reliable. The touch from some has been rough and uncaring (one nurse actually

broke Justices leg trying to force her into knee braces), but far more prevalent are both the bold

and gentle touches of encouragement, love, and empowerment, (Coleman, 2016, 193). Here it

explains her experience of different nurses. It was noted that one nurse broke Justices leg, it

makes the reader (future nurses) feel heartbroken. She goes on to say, The nurses who have

been both bold and gentle are the nurses who have empowered us and changed our lives,

(Coleman, 2016, 193). Coleman says this in the hope that upcoming nurses provide show support

and care to the patients and their parents. Coleman believes nurses who provide the right care

and have patience tend to be more successful in giving empowerment to the parents. The wall

might consist of fear and insecurity on the part of the family about their understanding their

childs health condition, or it might be a lack of belief in their ability to communicate about their

childs needs or manage the complexity of care, (Coleman, 2016, 195). Coleman uses the words

fear and insecurity due to the fact, if nurse dont give the time to teach procedures to a family

member of the patient, they may feel insecure in providing care when the time needs it. For

future nurses to be successful in aiding parents and patients, it should be common knowledge in
 Project 1: Rhetorical Analysis 5

teaching these extra steps. Especially, if the patient has home care that may not always be

reliable.

She points out the different care given from multiple nurses who have taken care of her

daughter. When we met with the home health agency to discuss the plan of care, they informed

me that they could only provide LPNs who, in our state, could not hang TPN, (Coleman, 2016,

194). She criticizes the system of the home health agency in her state. She stated her state only

receives care from licensed practical nurses who werent able to hang TPNs (total parenteral

nutrition). Coleman also explains, because they had home health care, doesnt mean nurses

should avoid teaching them procedures. When stating this, she states it in whole. Nurses who

have knowledge that their patient has home health care, doesnt mean their patients caretaker

shouldnt know some of the procedures as well. She states at times some nurses dont have

experience, proper training, or they could be lousy. If families do not know how to fully

provide needed care for their child, they are, in fact, disempowered. Families must be prepared to

assume full care when the inevitable home health situations arise: nurses who have no

experience, training, or supervision, or those who do not show up for shifts, (Coleman, 2016,

195). This would be the part where the parent or guardian steps up and give the care needed.

Towards the end of her article, Coleman gives out her titles. My professional life has

taken many unexpected turns from domestic abuse advocate, to immigration lawyer, to author

of a childrens book entitled I am Justice, Hear Me Roar (Coleman, 2010), and now instructor of

pediatrics at a medical school, teaching about patient-centered medical homes and humanism,

(Coleman, 2016, 196). She also introduced one of her written works based on her daughter,

Justice. Coleman is an instructor of pediatrics at a medical school. Her instructing is based on

patient-centered medical homes and humanism. With this information, it is proven the point she
 Project 1: Rhetorical Analysis 6

give out is credible. She has the knowledge of what she is trying to prove. Including the multiple

hours and days spent, speaking to qualified nurses. I have to thank the many nurses who have

each talked with me for hours, have helped me focus on the good in the midst of challenge, have

supported me as I made sense of heartache, and have given me the courage, especially when I

didnt think I had it, to advocate for hope and change, (Coleman, 2016, 196).

This article, gives many pointers and information on how to be successful while working

in the hospital as a nurse. For upcoming nurses, it is important to provide the right care. This

means empathizing patients and the parents. Also, being willing enough to explain at home care

procedures in case an LPN doesnt do a proper job or doesnt show up. Nurses with mentality of

wanting better for their patients, tend to get more recognition. To add on, these nurses become

strong advocates for their patient, especially when those patients cant speak for themselves.

Being in the hospital, as a patient, it gives you less authority because you dont know what's

going on. As nurses, it gives that window of having your voice be heard.

References

Coleman, Cara L. (2016) Empowered by Nurse. Pediatric Nursing, 4, 193-196

Project 1: Rhetorical Analysis 7