Im a BAD patient

Published

Specializes in Med/Surg, Home Health.

Its funny how a nurse can explain things to patients, but when it comes to ourselves that exact same info just cant seem to register in our head that it also applies to us. I feel like an idiot. I woke up in PAIN and KNEW why, but freaked out and called the doc to have the same info explained to me again. Im a BAD BAD patient. I guess its true that nurses makes the worst patients.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

NO! Doctors do! LOL!

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in LTC Family Practice.

:yeahthat:

Doc's are the worst

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Hospital Education Coordinator.

it's that loss of control. We panic. Hope all is well now.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in school nursing, ortho, trauma.

happens to the best of us.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Emergency, CCU, SNF.

It's crazy...it is the loss of control, I think. I actually left AMA, told the docs to kiss my a$$! In my defense though, I was in a hospital 3000 miles from home, after four days, they weren't sure what was wrong with me and I hadn't been in a hospital for almost thirty years, except to have my kids! Oh well, I'm sure they were happy I was gone! Lol!

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Gerontology, nursing education.

It's very scary to be a nurse and a patient. You know everything that can go wrong, from an injection or IV start gone bad to surgical complications to the pathophysiology of a condition for which you might have some of the symptoms. You think of patients you've had who maybe had something similar done and you don't remember the uncomplicated recoveries. You remember the worst case scenarios.

At least, that's what happened when I had my most recent surgery. I think I dealt with the lack of control by trying to control my fear and anxiety. I rarely rang my call light, cooperated with all the procedures and tried not to complain. I think I may have inadvertently made a few staff nervous because they knew I had taught nursing, so a couple acted as if I was grading them. The ones who seemed nervous actually hurt me more, like when starting an IV or doing a blood draw. Same thing happened in the ER when I went back for a complication from my surgery. Dang, those IVs hurt!

When I had to have an abdominal CT with oral and IV contrast, I did complain a bit because the IV media hurt. I apologized to the tech and said I was going to say a couple of words that a minister's wife probably should not utter aloud and then I let 'em go. @^&*$@^&%!!! That contrast media HURT!

When I see my PCP (a PA) about routine health matters, I can be a bit of a pain in the backside because I usually have done some sort of reading about my concerns and then end up suggesting the appropriate course of action. Maybe I am a bad patient, too!

It really is much better to be on the other side of the bed, as a nurse rather than a patient.

Hope you're feeling better soon, Chenoaspirit!

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in LTC, Med-SURG,STICU.

I make a very bad pt. I am the same way. Somewhere in the back of my mind I know the info, but somehow it just does not apply to me.

I have to agree with a few of the posters doctors do make the worst pts. However, the worst is a kid or a spouse of the doctor. The doctor spouse or parent is just a pain every time.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in NICU.

I'm about to be a very bad patient. I'm due to give birth to my second child in the next 6 weeks. Had planned a midwife assisted home birth (yes, even as an NICU nurse I still think it's the best way!) but due to complications I'm being forced to deliver with an OB in the hospital. Trouble is, I don't believe their reasons for calling me high risk are legit... anyway, I just hope they don't call security and call me "combative" just because I'm educated and opinionated!!!;) The doc at least is a bit forewarned, I just feel sorry for the nurses who have to put up with my demands!

Up Vote Up Vote ×

you know you're a bad patient when the director of social services comes to your room, because the other sw's give up on me...

AND a team of doctors applauds you (me) as i'm finally discharged from the hospital.

*sigh*

(do i win?)

leslie:behindpc:

Up Vote Up Vote ×

As I was discharged from the ER last Friday, the attending Dr.exclaimed Finally!!!! as I walked out! I looked back to see if he would at least laugh it off so I would think he was just teasing...But guess what? He was DEAD serious!

LOL

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Med/Surg, Home Health.

OMG, you guys made me laugh. Im so glad Im not the only one! And btw, I left AMA once too right before my colon surgery. I had requested IV Reglan as pre op drug and the nurse pushed it too fast (Im guessing anyway) because I got that rare side effect where you feel like a caged lion and just had to get out of there. I yanked out my IV and left, only to have to go back the following week. Needless to say, they didnt listen to me again if I asked for a specific drug, lol. This surgery just scared me. Ive never had my spine messed with.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
+ Join the Discussion