Unwillingly or not, we bring our personalities into our duties. We often provide care in a manner in accordance to who we are and what we believe.
We learn in nursing school to objectively provide quality care and document accordingly, no matter what are our own personal beliefs or feelings toward the patient or their situation. However, we all possess our own personalities and subjective belief systems and separation from these traits is not always easy.
If a patient is treatment compliant and shows appreciation for services rendered, then our duties can be performed relatively easily and can be the icing on the cake of our paychecks.
However, if a patient, as many are, treatment noncompliant, demanding, and responds negatively in other ways in our attempts to provide quality care, then our duties are quite the chore to perform.
Our personalities and belief systems can be an adjunct or hinderance in performing our duties in difficult situations. If we become, like the difficult patient, forward and demanding, chances areall will not bode well. All patients are victims and we can easily be interpreted by them as being the perpetrator.
We are all actors in this thing we call life. Every patient playing the victim needs a perpetrator, because it always makes us feel better if we have someone to blame for our poor station or lot in life. With some patients, and a lot of people in general, we are always going to be battling or hitting a brick wall, no matter in which manner we play the part.
What is the rationale for this aberrant behavior and how is it best approached?
Well, I've got my ideas, and wish not to give a dissertation but begin a discussion.
Do you have any ideas for the rationale for which difficult patients act?
Have you used your personality and/or belief system to therapeutically achieve a desired goal of quality care?
I mostly work Psych or Sub Abuse and I never listen to anything about a patient until I make my own assessment.
Above every thing else I approach patients assuming that it's not pleasant, even repeat customers, being there. I expect them to be anxious, angry, embarrassed and in pain from their illness or otherwise. I don't walk in their shoes and even the worst patients have a motive for their behaviors.
I always try to find out how I can make their immediate situation better. Don't want flack for this because I have found it works for me. Most of the patients are compromised by their situation and frequently by social status. This generally means that there's little manipulation going on and behaviors are more often instinctual. Motives are generally simple. So I address physical needs like food, hygiene, comfort etc for new admits. Seasoned occupiers just need perspectives changed if they are troubled.
My immediate priority is the patients safety. I honestly don't give a hoot about being liked or respected as long as the unit is quiet and no incident reports generated. Makes me objective. Nursing is a secondary aspect of my life and that really helps with not getting insulted or taking things personally. Work within the parameters of the care plan but safety first is my motto.
“I always try to find out how I can make their immediate situation better”. Your whole response, and in particular this sentence, shows that you advocate for the patient. That’s our number one job as a nurse. You sound like you’re a great nurse!
“I always try to find out how I can make their immediate situation better”. Your whole response, and in particular this sentence, shows that you advocate for the patient. That’s our number one job as a nurse. You sound like you’re a great nurse!
Thank you. I'm empathetic and I really feel for Psych patients. It has to be so scary from having a compromised understanding of their environment due to their illness. Then they are forced to engage with a roommate and staff when they just want to be alone and understand what's going on with them. I have to be careful with my initial interactions because I am a tall, hefty person and unfortunately people feel intimidated but they quickly understand that I am only interested in their well being.
I really believe that the older system of lovely grounds to de-stress in, coupled with the modern approach would be best.
PsychNurse24, BSN, RN
143 Posts
“I always try to find out how I can make their immediate situation better”. Your whole response, and in particular this sentence, shows that you advocate for the patient. That’s our number one job as a nurse. You sound like you’re a great nurse!