Patient asks my opinion...what's appropriate???

[jorla9903]

hi, i'm a recent graduate nurse :)) and i have a question....if a patient asks my opinion on treatment how do i go about giving it?? such as if they have a choice between surgery or hardcore meds and they ask my opinion....what is the right way to answer?

thanks in advance~!

[Jules A, MSN]

I try to really avoid giving my opinion and will turn it around to "tell me what you are thinking about each alternative" etc. so we can use it as an opportunity to discuss information rather than opinions.

[whodatnurse]

I think I would say something like:

I'm going to refrain from weighing in, but if it would help I can print off some information on abc surgery and xyz drug treatment from the [reknowned institution's] website for you to read as you consider your options. If you have any specific questions about either, I'd be happy to try to answer them for you.

[RNandRRT]

Yes, it's about giving the patient enough information about their choices so that they are able to come to the decision themselves.

[Quidam]

I would tell the patient that it is really hard to have an opinion about options when you are not actually in the position of having to make that choice for yourself. Then offer information on each option.

As much as I think I would choose this over that...I really don't know what I would choose until I am in that situation. I have found this to be true in many areas of my life...not just when it comes to health care.

[Pepper The Cat, BSN, RN]

You really need to reflect the question back to them. "What do YOU think/feel?" Or discuss the pros/cons of each.

Don't say "I would do this" - because if they do that and it doesn't work for them, they may blame you for influencing them.

[wooh, BSN, RN]

I was asked what I thought about an invasive test once. And I really didn't think it was necessary. So I told them, "Whenever a test is suggested to me, I always ask, 'How will this change the course of treatment?'" I suggested they direct that question at the doc wanting to do the test. They decided to go for it. Which was fine with me, it was their decision. I'll answer questions and if I can't, direct them to who can answer the questions, I'll reassure, but I won't make the decisions for them.

It's the classic, "And how does that make you feel?" that we had burnt into us in nursing school. "What do you think about treatment x? And how about treatment y? What's making you lean towards one more than the other?"

[Orca, ADN, ASN, RN]

I would say that it is a personal decision, and they should discuss options with their doctor. You could also add "What might be right for me might not be for you."

[getoverit, BSN, RN, EMT-P]

Whenever this happens to me, I always say "it doesn't matter what my opinion is, what are your expectations for your outcome?" then I have a better idea of where they want to be, also maybe get a glimpse into whether or not they are being unrealistic.

This way I can help to explain different options. some may be more appropriate toward achieving their goals than others. Like wooh said, it is the classic "why do you feel this way?" thing we all learned.

but the only time I've ever disagreed with a patient's family and told them so when I was asked involved a poor man with gangrenous feet and his family refused to have surgery, thinking that it was a "test of their faith" and they just wanted prayer to heal him (I'm not saying it can't work....but it wasn't and it didn't in this case).

[Katie5]

This is where therapeutic counseling comes in. The patient already is leaning towards one option but wants to hear the question being asked of him/her.

Things are sometimes put in greater perspective when the decision is thrown right back at us to make.I'd be remiss though, if I didn't point out that this is most of the time and not all the time.

[Katie5]

You really need to reflect the question back to them. "What do YOU think/feel?" Or discuss the pros/cons of each.

Don't say "I would do this" - because if they do that and it doesn't work for them, they may blame you for influencing them.

Thanks, that was the word I need- "Reflect"

[Katie5]

I think I would say something like:

I'm going to refrain from weighing in, but if it would help I can print off some information on abc surgery and xyz drug treatment from the [reknowned institution's] website for you to read as you consider your options. If you have any specific questions about either, I'd be happy to try to answer them for you.

Hmm sometimes people just wants things explained to them in layman's terms.Again, I don't know how if I'm already hyperventilating from having surgery in the first instance, you'd give me( most likely) tons of paper and expect me to read and absorb it?

Put yourself in the patient's shoes.