Treat all patients the same

merlee · Oct 17, 2011

I think you've taken this a bit too far. What I was taught was not to compare a detox patient with a hospice patient but to disregard the payor source.

All detox patients should be treated the same regardless of payor source. All diabetics, or all CHF patients, should be treated the same.

The issue here is to give the same level of care.

Yes, there are some stereotypes in certain cultures, and we need to be aware of them. We also need to know when certain cultures or beliefs may interfere with what we think is the best care.

Hope this makes it more clear.

Good Morning, Gil · Oct 17, 2011

This was supposed to come across as more of a light-hearted post than anything lol, but...I think we are both saying the same thing. I agree...one should give the same level of care to all patients regardless of their background, likeability, or ability to pay, as you mention, but not treat them the same. So, we give the same high quality care to all, but demeanor needs to change depending on the situation. For instance, you wouldn't walk into a patient's room with all smiles if they're a terminal wean. However, you would do that if they had been in the ICU for months and just got up and walked to the BSC for the first time. I agree that we need to be aware of stereotypes; I just find humor in the irony of the competencies. We probably just don't have the same sense of humor.

Kiwidanni · Oct 17, 2011

You can treat patients equally well without treating them 'the same'. No two people are the same, thus no two people will ever be treated the same. But that doesn't mean they are inequal, and I guess that's what the "treat patients all the same" idea is getting at.

AgentBeast, BSN, RN · Oct 17, 2011

I think the point is to provide each and every patient with the highest level of care possible irregardless of anything else . You certainty can't treat every patient in the same manner. Every patient is unique.

DizzyLizzyNurse · Oct 17, 2011

You know how everyone says this, and maybe it's just because it's the PC thing to say, but it really isn't true. You can't treat all patients the same, just not possible. I think what is meant by this is: "don't judge/stereotype someone, and then give them the cold shoulder."
It really wouldn't be appropriate to treat a detox and end of life patient the same lol. I am a very kind and compassionate nurse, even to the patients that make it more difficult to be that way, but you really need to be assertive and firm and set limits with certain patients. I guess what should be said is that we should be respectful and provide excellent care to all despite their background. I guess I'm just being annoying with semantics lol, but treating all patients the same would not be advisable. Wouldn't we then be ignoring their "individuality?"
Oh, and what always makes me laugh are those mandatory cultural competencies. Firstly, you're not going to make someone culturally competent in a computer module. Secondly, they say in the module "don't stereotype or judge people based on gender, race, ethnicity", but then give a list of stereotypes for each ethnicity lol. Native Americans are stoic with pain, hispanics treat illness with hot/cold therapies, etc, etc. Oh, the irony.

:yeah: :yeah:And apparently all nurses are of white, European decent because they never list any customs for them. What if a Hispanic nurse who wasn't from this country took care of a white, European descent person? They wouldn't know how they respond to pain or what their customs are when someone dies.

*Joking of course, but it's kinda true you know. :lol2: :lol2:

Hay Nars, RN · Oct 17, 2011

I treat all my patients like a human being. They are sick for the time being, just a bump in the road, and will be back out in a bit. I get very good feedback from all my patients. (=

Good Morning, Gil · Oct 17, 2011

lol, dizzylizzy. Actually, the modules I have seen actually do mention European Americans. They say something to the effect of "european americans are babies when it comes to pain, and expect everything to be done right away." In other words, they are demanding. Hmm....that goes against everything I have ever seen; I really don't understand why stereotypes exist.

DizzyLizzyNurse · Oct 18, 2011

lol, dizzylizzy. Actually, the modules I have seen actually do mention European Americans. They say something to the effect of "european americans are babies when it comes to pain, and expect everything to be done right away." In other words, they are demanding. Hmm....that goes against everything I have ever seen; I really don't understand why stereotypes exist.

Isn't that most patients?

CaLLaCoDe, BSN, RN · Oct 18, 2011

Sorry. If I have a kindly old lady who greets me with my first name and shares her life stories; Well, I will be more apt to give her better care than the grumpy, loud-mouthed meth addict down the hall who is refusing care!!!

xtxrn, ASN, RN · Oct 18, 2011

Part of the therapeutic interaction with a detoxing patient would be to set limits and boundaries; with a EOL patient, the focus is on comfort and helping them achieve their EOL plan- apples to oranges.

xtxrn, ASN, RN · Oct 18, 2011

Sorry. If I have a kindly old lady who greets me with my first name and shares her life stories; Well, I will be more apt to give her better care than the grumpy, loud-mouthed meth addict down the hall who is refusing care!!!

Is it really "better" care, or are you taking cues from them as to the amount of interaction they want from you? :confused: