Observation of the day

Bubbles · Oct 17, 2013

Sounds like you had some demanding patients. I know what you mean, but logically this is probably an example of a 'glittering generality' and should be avoided. Better not to put people in boxes!

loriangel14, RN · Oct 17, 2013

I learn something new at work every day. Sometimes it's medical, sometimes it's about people, but not a day goes by that I don't learn something.
My observation of the day is: almost across the board, the sickest patients are the nicest and most patient, whereas the least sick are usually the most rude and demanding.
What's yours?

Oh yes, I agree. I have one patient that is dreadfully sick and yet she is always smiling and rarely rings.

lisa74 · Oct 17, 2013

I must say, I have to agree with you R!XTER. It's the patients who have patient airways, nil problems breathing and are ambulant who are the most demanding. Yet the really sick ones are the ones who reluctantly use the call bell because "you're so busy" and you always have to check if they need something.

kaela_v · Oct 17, 2013

I work in L&D and my patient aren't normally 'sick' (unless you consider pregnancy and illness). Most of the time, the louder and more demanding they are, the closer they are to delivery and the more they need my help.

I do however get many, many moms who come in being loud and groaning and aren't actually in labor lol!

amoLucia · Oct 17, 2013

My observation of the day is: almost across the board, the sickest patients are the nicest and most patient, whereas the least sick are usually the most rude and demanding.
What's yours?

I think this too but I wonder further... were the nice pts always that way like BEFORE their illness, or did they become that way AFTER? Like did the illness rearrange their lives' priorities?

On the reverse, were the rude/mean pts that way before illness? Or were they just not able to 'make lemonade out of the lemons' that life now gave them?

I really DO wonder.

I never got around to reading that old book "When bad things happen to good people'. Maybe now's the time...

I attribute the anger phase of Grief & Grieving to fit in here somewhere.

smoup · Oct 17, 2013

I have noticed this in the ER for sure. There was actually a patient who said her toothache was more important than a person having a heart attack.

R!XTER · Oct 17, 2013

I think this too but I wonder further... were the nice pts always that way like BEFORE their illness or did they become that way AFTER? Like did the illness rearrange their lives' priorities? On the reverse, were the rude/mean pts that way before illness? .[/quote']
Yes! I wonder about this all the time!! Also it makes me so sad when I see patients who are so sick and so sweet at the same time. It just breaks my heart. So sometimes I wonder if God made this person sick because they can handle it with grace. Like if the guy next door screaming at us because he's waiting too long to have his toothache looked at was this sick he wouldn't be able to handle it you know?

MECO28, BSN, RN · Oct 17, 2013

There often appears to be a direct correlation between number of allergies listed and level of pain-in-the-butt-ness. (I am making a huge sweeping generalization, please take this in the lighthearted manner it was written in). :-)

MECO28, BSN, RN · Oct 17, 2013

(I'm mainly talking about people who list ridiculous things like "oxygen" or "Vitamin C" in their allergy lists...)

canigraduate · Oct 17, 2013

I have noticed that, when pain is involved, drama is inversely proportional to age.

Examples (true):

17 year old lap appy - "I can't BELIEVE I have to sit up by myself!!!! I just had an operation!!! I need PAIN MEDICINE!! If you touch me, I'll SCREAM!!!"

98 year old who fell, broke her hip, who refused morphine and would only take Tylenol, and is waiting to be put in traction - "Oh, I'm fine, honey. Go see your other patients, I'm sure they need you more."

finn55 · Oct 17, 2013

I've been a nurse, and lately, a patient after my femur fracture gone wrong. I made a point of saying 'Thank you' whenever I was helped or medicated or whatever. It goes a heckuva long way. It's a tough job under the best of situations, so why not recognize it as such? I meant my 'thank you's sincerely.