Based from experience,this is a true-to-life article about the types of relatives we might encounter inside the hospital, with brief description about them. They are basically a pain in our gut, but we have to deal with them with a smile.
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The irony of the title describes something funny or annoying or whatever and true-to-life (not patient-centered though) encounters with relatives whom at their front we smile, but at their back we just want to put a label on their heads. In patients with such, we understand at our highest level of patience. But among the relatives, it just doesn't feel right. Though by being at their shoes, yes, it is very much reasonable to act with such. But hopefully, not beyond what we can't bear.
Toxic Relative
The first label is for the "Toxic Relative". There are these days when something isn't just right with our hospital duties wherein there are three NGT feedings, continuous blood transfusions, post-ICU trans-ins which we always dub as toxic. In line with this nerve-wracking duties are toxic relatives with endless requests wherein fact, they are already making us PDN's or private duty nurses. The other fact is that these relatives are just too lazy to perform their basic duties as a looker even by just feeding their loved ones. Some relatives would even question your capability of helping their relatives by judging your body frame since they are looking for bulkier personnel who are also busy.
Paranoid Relative
Next,the "Paranoid Relative" is someone who is overly reacting on their loved one's condition therefore us nurses requiring explaining this and that nuggets of facts routinely. Another example is that some relatives would also insist on such measures such as blood transfusions in their dengue-infested loved ones and we would always tell them that interventions are individualized. No two people with the same condition are alike. Physicians also experience the same upon their clinical rounds and the thing is, physicians are also annoyed by such.
OFW or Imported Relative
Another one is the "OFW or Imported Relative". He or she is someone who boasts of healthcare facilities and interventions abroad and compares it here in the Philippines. These are also relatives who do not believe in the capabilities of nurses and doctors here. We often hear them saying, "In the (insert first world country here), patients aren't intervened by such". And at the back of our minds, "Then let your relatives stay at St. Lukes or Asian Hospital if you want the vibes of international facilities."
Frustrated Nurse / Doctor Relative
Lastly,the "Frustrated Nurse/Doctor Relative" is someone who provides healthcare duties and responsibilities ahead without the consent of the nurse and the doctor. An example of this are parents with a child with soaring fever in which they are overdosing their child with antipyretics despite explaining to them the round-the-clock antipyretics given by the pediatricians. We can't just argue with them but just give them the best advice by not doing it again.
For the peace and harmony of hospital duties, we nurses still do our best and wear our smile amid these situations. Though we don't let ourselves drift emotionally into such circumstances, we just welcome every relative with their questions, misconceptions and demands with the fullest of our capabilities. Besides, we are very much immune to them ten-fold.
