Deep Down Dark: The Untold Stories Of 33 Men Buried In A Chilean Mine

A reflection of the ordeal of 33 miners trapped for sixty-nine days in Chile (Tobar, 2015). A huge chunk of rock blocked the men 200 feet below the surface. It was not until 17 days that the first point of contact was established. Tobar explores the feelings, fears, and attitudes of the men through a carefully thought and crafted tone. As a result, the miners learn to work together and seek the solace of God in solidarity. Their unity can be used as an example of how collaboration in the nursing industry to help improve patient care. Faced with a fearful moment and uncertainty, effective teamwork is necessary to mitigate the risk. Therefore, the book demonstrates how fear and necessity demand effective collaboration in nursing to reduce risk and improve patient care.

Concepts of Ethical, Legal, and Spiritual Insight of Patients and Healthcare

The story of the 33 men expresses various ethical, legal and religious concepts related to healthcare practice. The law defines various minimum requirements and standards for a practicing nurse. Likewise, control over critical industries like mining is governed by laws. For instance, the emergency food supply in the mine could not even feed more than 25 men for two days. Only ninety-three packages of cookies and eighteen cans of tuna were available to be shared among the 33. Furthermore, the emergency exit system was poor and the shafted designated for escape lacked the climbing ladders. Therefore, there are clear violations of law and professional requirements which exposed the miners to unprecedented risk.

Ethics is a discipline concerned with the rights and wrongs of decisions. In the nursing practice, ethics represent an essential tool that guides their practice and also accord professionals some responsibilities. It took five hours before the initial collapse was reported to authorities. Family members of the trapped miners have turned away upon inquiry about their loved ones. When the miners realize that they could belong together, they forge a relationship governed by rule to maximize the chances of survival. The poor working condition that the employees are exposed to reveal the perception of the mine owners regarding the safety and affairs of workers. They worked in a poor environment characterized by seating, injuries, and could have been trapped by death.

Lastly, the religious concept is revealed extensively during their stay. The collapse of the mine rendered the miners helpless and subsequently revealed their anxieties about lurking in the darkness, the isolation and expectation of death. As a result, one miner encouraged them to seek solace in God. They even developed a habit of saying grace each day around the time they shared their meal. There was a mixed display of faith and hope of survival amid the lingering fears of death. Religion is an important concept in nursing practice because it develops togetherness and needs to collaborate by having a unity of direction.

Ethical Duties of the Registered Nurse

Nurses have specific ethical duties and concerns to put into consideration during practice as outlined in a standard code or informed by historical practices (Olson & Stokes, 2016). First, they are expected to respect the dignity and value of both the patients and colleagues. Therefore, nurses should treat and care to serve the patient without regard to their personal attribute or prevailing medical condition. Then, they are expected to throw all of their commitment towards patients and work. In that case, they must work closely with the patient to ensure they provide care that maximizes the patient emotional, psychological and social well-being. Moreover, ethics require registered nurses to be honest, practice integrity and adhere to professional responsibilities. For that reason, they are expected to be open and strive to grow as a professional. Finally, nurses have a duty of care to always endeavor to improve the care and health of patients. These ethical principles help the professional attain the best skills that enable them to improve the level of patient care.

Self-Reflection

This book reveals a lot about religion and spirituality. Religion is based on mystery and unknown which introduces fear. Its mystery shrouds from the imagination of death and the afterlife. Faced with the impossible chances of survival, the 33 miners seek solace from God through prayers and petition. We are told that whenever the sound of drilling dwindled, a feeling of hopelessness and desperation engulfed them. In fact, Tobar compares the experience with a miracle (2015). An interview with Omar reveals that there was a feeling that divine intervention led to their ultimate rescue which was beyond any imaginable odds. Therefore, sometimes spirituality helps give people hope when faced with circumstances beyond human capability.

During the research, Deep Down Dark reveals the mystery and desperation that can hit people facing a defining situation. However, despite the fear and anxiety facing the 33 miners during their 69-day stay, it is their collaboration and strive for survival that stood out. They developed the character of saying grace hoping for divine intervention and solved problems that emerged amicably. For that reason, practicing nurses can learn to effectively collaborate based on the account of the 33 miners.