When Your Patient Wants To Talk Politics

Nurses General Nursing

Updated:   Published

politics-not-allowed-to-talk-about.jpg.1a81fa9183f44bff2cce16b7f23a4317.jpg

I guess this could apply to any part of life, but just curious how everyone handles it when your patient wants to talk about politics. I typically try to redirect the subject back to the care I am providing, but sometimes you have to stay in a room for one reason or another and they just won’t stop. So does anyone have any good tactics since this is a topic that just won’t go away?

I wish the patient I had today wanted to talk about politics, instead of laying out a flow of polyester tacky pick-up lines.

I just told him "I'm here to do a job, thank you"

5
Up Vote Up Vote ×

OMG that might be the only thing worse!

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Psych (25 years), Medical (15 years).
On 1/10/2021 at 12:42 PM, DesiDani said:

I wish the patient I had today wanted to talk about politics, instead of laying out a flow of polyester tacky pick-up lines.

Not to get off topic, DesiDani, but could you give an example?

Where any like, "You must be a PE because you take my breath away!"

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Oncology, ID, Hepatology, Occy Health.

I think it all depends what the patient is getting at.

If somebody is just looking for an argument that's not particularly constructive and I try to veer off the subject.

I've had very interesting discussions about politics with patients, some of whom I've agreed with and some of whom I haven't. If it's done in the spirit of an intellectual discussion where you respect each other's views it can be a pleasant diversion for the patient, and give you more of an insight into their personality. I think you can judge where it's going, the same with any discussion that's not directly related on whatever topic, social, religious etc. One particluar patient who comes back to us is always reading something politically orientated and has enlightened me with his interesting views on liberalism, the economy etc.

I never give too much of my personal opinions away as it remains a professional relationship, however if the patient wants to discuss something and it's done with maturity and respect, fine by me. I will however call out racist, xenophobic, homophobic, sexist hate speech just as I would anywhere else. One patient when I worked in the UK once ranted to me about dirty foreigners and how it was them that brought all the infectious diseases possible  into the country (if he'd bothered to look at my name badge he'd  have seen my father's very un-British family name!) I told him quite politely why I disagreed with him, from a professional background having worked in infectious diseases. He actually listened and told me later on that I'd made him consider things differently. That was extremely rewarding. 

Would I get into a Macron vs. Le Pen or a Trump vs. Biden cat fight with a patient? No, never. Use your judgement and it's usually OK.

 

 

5
Up Vote Up Vote ×
2 hours ago, Davey Do said:

Not to get off topic, DesiDani, but could you give an example?

Where any like, "You must be a PE because you take my breath away!"

I'm called to help pull up a patient that is not in my run.

Me: "Hi DesiDani I'm just going to help Soandso pull you up"

Patient: "Oh hi, what's your name?

Me: "DesiDani"

Proceed to help coworker fix up the patient's covers.

Patient in rapid fire: "What sign are you?" "Where are you from?" "Are you married?" "You look beautiful" "Can I talk to you?"

Me: "Ummm, I'm here to do my job sir. Thank You" 

Me bolting out of there

Patient was about 40ish.

Yeah, I was not impressed or amused.

I've seen this happen to female doctors as well.  A woman shouldn't have to deal with being "picked up" at work. Yet it happens. To put it into perspective let's say a woman went to get her car repaired. The mechanic happened to be a male. While the mechanic is telling her what is wrong with her car, she blatantly ignores him and proceeds to tell him cheesy pick up lines. The male mechanic tries to stay the course, because the shop is busy, they are short staffed, and customers are waiting. Never mind that, the disrespectful female  only focus is not in her car's repair estimate but to bless (sarcasm) the male mechanic with lame attempts to be cute. By the way telling such a person that you are either dating or married does not matter to them. The female customer finally "GOES AWAY"

That is just a taste of what women have to face around the world.

2 hours ago, Davey Do said:

Not to get off topic, DesiDani, but could you give an example?

Where any like, "You must be a PE because you take my breath away!"

I'm called to help pull up a patient that is not in my run.

Me: "Hi DesiDani I'm just going to help Soandso pull you up"

Patient: "Oh hi, what's your name?

Me: "DesiDani"

Proceed to help coworker fix up the patient's covers.

Patient in rapid fire: "What sign are you?" "Where are you from?" "Are you married?" "You look beautiful" "Can I talk to you?"

Me: "Ummm, I'm here to do my job sir. Thank You" 

Me bolting out of there

Patient was about 40ish.

Yeah, I was not impressed or amused.

I've seen this happen to female doctors as well.  A woman shouldn't have to deal with being "picked up" at work. Yet it happens. To put it into perspective let's say a woman went to get her car repaired. The mechanic happened to be a male. While the mechanic is telling her what is wrong with her car, she blatantly ignores him and proceeds to tell him cheesy pick up lines. The male mechanic tries to stay the course, because the shop is busy, they are short staffed, and customers are waiting. Never mind that, the disrespectful female  only focus is not in her car's repair estimate but to bless (sarcasm) the male mechanic with lame attempts to be cute. By the way telling such a person that you are either dating or married does not matter to them. The female customer finally "GOES AWAY"

That is just a taste of what women have to face around the world.

1
Up Vote Up Vote ×

Now men are getting a taste of it too, thanks to a few overly flirty homosexual male patients. We had to reassign males because this one patient would not let up. From what I was told the patient was pretty crass only towards male staff.  

A male being sexually harassed by another male is still sexual harassment. Still in a devilish way I couldn't help to think "Finally men, get a taste of what women deal"

2
Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Oncology, ID, Hepatology, Occy Health.
2 hours ago, DesiDani said:

 

A male being sexually harassed by another male is still sexual harassment.

Agree, and so is a man being sexually harrassed by a woman.

In a past life I was an occupational health nurse for a large international organisation. A woman came for a blood test and I told her to take a seat and roll up her sleeve. I turned round from preparing my tubes and she had slipped off her one-piece dress and was stripped to bra and knickers. I was alone that morning so couldn't go and get a colleague to take over or witness. I told her that wasn't necessary and she could put her dress back on as I only needed her arm with the sleeve rolled up. 

Being openly gay, with an openly gay manager I had confidence in, I was quite confident that if there were any forthcoming allegations against me they probably wouldn't be taken seriously, however I felt very, very uncomfortable with her all the same.

When I recounted the incident later to our occy health doctor (male, heterosexual) he found it all a big joke and said he wished he'd been there. Therein lies the bigger problem - people not taking this issue seriously.

I realise women put up with this garbage all the time and what happened to me once happens frequently to many women over a lifetime.

 

2
Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in ICU.

I actually just agree with them no matter who they’re talking about or what they say ?. It’s hilarious to me. Here are a few of my favorite responses:

”Oh wow I hadn’t heard that, so crazyyyy.” 

“Yeah I’m not a big fan, either.”

”Is that right? Oh wowww, yeah that’s so weird.”

”Oh no I don’t like that either.”

”People are just going to do what they’re going to do,” or another favorite, “yeah it is what it is.”

If they probe me for more of an opinion I just tell them I need to read up on the issue more and not sure I have a strong opinion. This policy hasn’t failed me in 6 years of working with patients.

4
Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Mental health, substance abuse, geriatrics, PCU.

For me it depends on the setting, in inpatient psych I may allow the person to vent a little bit or set limits depending on the patient, situation, and motivation of the conversation

When I work medical, due to customer satisfaction results being shoved down our throats I would feign doe eyed captivation while listening to their bull crap and doing whatever I needed to complete in the room. I don't argue, agree, or correct, I'm just a passive validating drone. Heck, I don't even correct patients when they get my gender wrong anymore, I just go with it so I can get my job done ?

2
Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in kids.

I always say

"Welp, my momma always told me to never discuss politics and religion or money at the table...and I do the same at work!"

2
Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Psych (25 years), Medical (15 years).
12 hours ago, DesiDani said:

Now men are getting a taste of it too

Too bad for us men.

In my four decade career, I never had to deal with a flirtatious female.

Not once.

I figured it was because women don't have hormones and never behave inappropriately.

1
Up Vote Up Vote ×
10 hours ago, DavidFR said:

Agree, and so is a man being sexually harrassed by a woman.

In a past life I was an occupational health nurse for a large international organisation. A woman came for a blood test and I told her to take a seat and roll up her sleeve. I turned round from preparing my tubes and she had slipped off her one-piece dress and was stripped to bra and knickers. I was alone that morning so couldn't go and get a colleague to take over or witness. I told her that wasn't necessary and she could put her dress back on as I only needed her arm with the sleeve rolled up. 

Being openly gay, with an openly gay manager I had confidence in, I was quite confident that if there were any forthcoming allegations against me they probably wouldn't be taken seriously, however I felt very, very uncomfortable with her all the same.

When I recounted the incident later to our occy health doctor (male, heterosexual) he found it all a big joke and said he wished he'd been there. Therein lies the bigger problem - people not taking this issue seriously.

I realise women put up with this garbage all the time and what happened to me once happens frequently to many women over a lifetime.

 

Oh I believe you. A gay man being sexually harassed by another gay male is still the same. Same for lesbians too. Such complaints are not taken seriously by lgbt

Up Vote Up Vote ×
+ Add a Comment