Ignorant Stupid Patients

Nurses Relations

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:angryfireWhy do the patients that do not pay for any healthcare complain and gripe the most? It irritates me when a patient is on Medicaid and expect to be treated like they are at the Ritz Hotel. "GRRRR"!!!! It seems like a vast majority do not want to accept responsibility for their own actions. Perhaps if they paid for some of their healthcare, they would be more willing to be compliant with their treatment plan.

I had a pt. today post op with a BKA. She already had a previous BKA a year ago. I walk into the pt's room and the family has brought in 6 Snickers bars. Ok, your BS is 600, you just came from surgery 2 days ago, you have no legs, you weigh 600 lbs. and you are in the process of eating 6 Snicker bars at once!!! I have tried to educate the pt. and the family and I feel like I am banging my head against the wall.

She told me, "Honey, it's ok for me to have Snickers. I know how to control my blood sugar." UMMM, NO YOU DON'T!!!! You would not be in this situation. If she was responsible for a portion of her medical bill, then I think she would be more compliant. Since there is no incentive to change, these populations continue making poor choices. It is SO frustrating!

Specializes in Emergency Dept. Trauma. Pediatrics.
Maybe its just me because I'm a student nurse... but why can't patients be ignorant in general ? Rich patients can be ignorant and non-compliant too you know... Just my 0.02 student nurse cents.

It's not just you, people with ins. can be just as stupid and ignorant. Stupidity and ignorance isn't reserved for just the poor no matter how many assumptions are made.

Specializes in Community, OB, Nursery.

Yep - stupidity frustrates me to no end. But let me tell you, it is not just people on Medicaid, nor is it even mostly people on Medicaid. I have been a nurse 8 years now (which, in the grand scheme of things, is not very long) and have seen illiterate farmworkers who took more pride in their health than some of the 'VIPs' I've taken care of. Of course, neither stupidity/ignorance/whatever you want to call nor intelligence it is a function of a person's insurance status, race, religion, etc. - it is a function of being human. There are stupid people and intelligent, conscientious people everywhere you go.

Specializes in Rehab, Infection, LTC.
It's true that I don't know the experiences behind this woman and what led her to be 600 lbs. However, I feel so frustrated when you teach, teach,teach, and teach some more and they do not respect their health or their bodies. I just feel like it is a waste of taxpayer money that could be better spent elsewhere.

sometimes you have to learn to just accept a person for who they are and where they are in their life and not where WE think they should be.

Specializes in Emergency Dept. Trauma. Pediatrics.
I have to agree. I hate the customer service aspect we are now having to do. I am sorry I am a nurse to take care of you and your health problems not KISS YOUR ASS. I think we need to make it a three strikes and your out. I hate this behaviour. It takes away from the patients who really need us and want us.

What do you mean by 3 strikes and your out? Out of what?? (serious question here, I am trying to understand what you are proposing)

the whole situation may be aggrivating, i agree- but i disagree and think that you are stereotyping people. Not all poor people, or people that qualify for assistance think that staying at a hospital is like the Ritz. Im sure the hospital is the last place they want to be! And she has a RIGHT to refuse any thing she wants, including your teaching. And while it may be detramental to her health, its HER health, her legs that had just been amputated- and all you can do is try to get it through to her and her family. I cant imagine being in the hospital for that and maybe that has something to do with her being controlling and wanting help, she has no legs to do it herself! And yeah maybe she wasnt complient with everything at that moment, but as a previous poster said, you dont know what led up to this amputation- maybe she was complient or maybe theres an underlying problem where she doesnt care about what she eats, shes already lost so much, whats left? I just think, althought hings can irritate you, it shouldnt be things that dont have to do with your care- noone is better than anyone, no matter how much money, how many cars and houses a person has....we all come in the same way and go the same way!

Drama is not what I am seeking nor do I have my "drama spoon" in the pot. It just really disturbs me that someone can be that closed minded.

Specializes in Med-Surg/home health/pacu/cardiac icu.

I do not have a problem with people receiving Medicaid. It is a good program and a good safety net. I have had to use it in the past. There are some providers that do not provide good care and service. That is really pathetic. I do treat my patients with compassion.

However, I do use the term "ignorant" when they do not have knowledge of how to control their BS. Repeated education has not worked. When a person has been educated, and understands the treatment, but still refuses to comply with treatment, this is my definition "stupidity." If you know that you have lost your limbs but continue with out of control eating, there are certain repercussions.

Repeating the same action over and over, and expecting a different result is "stupidity."

Specializes in Emergency Dept. Trauma. Pediatrics.
Drama is not what I am seeking nor do I have my "drama spoon" in the pot. It just really disturbs me that someone can be that closed minded.

Ummm is this in response to my signature??? If so, it's just that, my signature, it's not directed at any specific person.

Specializes in Emergency Dept. Trauma. Pediatrics.
I do not have a problem with people receiving Medicaid. It is a good program and a good safety net. I have had to use it in the past. There are some providers that do not provide good care and service. That is really pathetic. I do treat my patients with compassion.

However, I do use the term "ignorant" when they do not have knowledge of how to control their BS. Repeated education has not worked. When a person has been educated, and understands the treatment, but still refuses to comply with treatment, this is my definition "stupidity." If you know that you have lost your limbs but continue with out of control eating, there are certain repercussions.

Repeating the same action over and over, and expecting a different result is "stupidity."

Where is the correlation though between stupidity,ignorance and medicaid?? Your initial post brought medicaid into this blaming that for the ignorance and stupidity.

Someone in your Pt. situation might just feel defeated and feel like it's a matter of just living out their life now, they might feel like nothing they can do can make much of a change. I don't know, I am not 600 lbs. with no legs so I can't presume to know what is going on in their minds. But they are people none the less and they deserve to be treated as such.

Specializes in Rehab, Infection, LTC.
I do not have a problem with people receiving Medicaid. It is a good program and a good safety net. I have had to use it in the past. There are some providers that do not provide good care and service. That is really pathetic. I do treat my patients with compassion.

However, I do use the term "ignorant" when they do not have knowledge of how to control their BS. Repeated education has not worked. When a person has been educated, and understands the treatment, but still refuses to comply with treatment, this is my definition "stupidity." If you know that you have lost your limbs but continue with out of control eating, there are certain repercussions.

Repeating the same action over and over, and expecting a different result is "stupidity."

then why do you keep doing it?

Specializes in Med-Surg/home health/pacu/cardiac icu.

I would never presume to know what the patient is feeling and thinking. I treated the patient as I would treat any other patient, with respect and dignity.

I did not blame medicaid for the stupidity and ignorance. Stupidity and ignorance are seperate from the Medicaid issue.

However, I do believe there is a connection between accountablity, and paying for your own health care services.

I, personally, am more willing to be compliant when I pay for my own meds and treatments. I know that if I do not control my diabetes, I will have to pay for my own surgeries, should I need them. If I knew that someone else will pay for this medical treatment, I am less willing to be compliant. If I know that someone else is footing the bill, I would eat as many Snickers as I want to.

Specializes in Med-Surg/Pediatrics, Maternity.

These types of patients can be frustrating. But without the patients we would not have a job. As the nurse we are educated and it is our job to educate our patients. We need to stop judging our patients and making assumptions about our patients. Our own assumptions can get in the way of caring for the patient. When you have a patient like this take the time to talk to them and see what they know. Set up a teaching plan. The patient still may not listen but at least you cared and did your job. If we became the patient what assumptions would be made about us?

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