patient questions

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Does it annoy you when a patienct asks questions to better understand their treatment?

Specializes in Telemetry, ICU, Resource Pool, Dialysis.

I, too love it when patients are inquisitive about their own healthcare. I'll give you the same advice I give everybody...as you think of questions, write them down!!! All too often you will think of something you would like to know, and then when the doctor comes in (usually in a hurry) all those questions fly out of your head! The same goes of questions for your nurse. Write down the answers, too - so you will have answers for your family when they ask!

Another thing, there's nothing wrong with questioning medications or procedures. You have the right to have everything explained to you. If someone comes in with a bag of something for your IV, ask what it is!! I always tell patients and family "This is an antibiotic (or whatever)" and what it's for.

Good luck with your surgery!

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Specializes in Education, Acute, Med/Surg, Tele, etc.

No way! I love this part most of all! I like to have my patients understand their conditions so they can better care for themselves or loved ones! I think it is the BEST part of nursing!

I also find it a challenge to find techiques that work for each individual..whether I have to really apple and orange it, or go techical! It can be fun, and if done write...give pressure off the patient and maybe get a laugh or too!

Oh I love it! I just don't like it when family members start asking questions and already have a mind to hate me and what I say..they are the worse! But I turn them around too! ;) I am quite funny and down to earth!

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Specializes in LTC, assisted living, med-surg, psych.
Thank you all for replying.

I want to understand my own healthcare better, although the surgery does not effect my everyday life (benign tumor removal on the right orbit) but I do not want to annoy the nurses because they are so busy I sometimes feel like my questions are stupid and insignificant also.

I've said this many times, to patients, students, new nurses, and even my own kids: The only 'stupid' question is the one you don't ask! And no question is insignificant.......I tell everyone "if it matters to you, it matters to me", and any nurse who is 'annoyed' by that doesn't deserve the title. Teaching is one of the absolute best parts of this job, it's where we really get to make a difference in our patients' lives; so if you have a nurse who seems bothered by your queries, ask for another one.......you deserve to have your questions answered.

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Thank you all. It is just that my mom will probably not be staying with me (unless the surgury happens over the summer, which is unlikly, I will be 18 when I have it) and she has always told me not to bother the nurses. (she actually used to be a nurse herself like 25 years ago in london)

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