Why do nurses make the worse patients?

llg, PhD, RN · Oct 23, 2014

I don't think nurses necessarily make bad patients. My doctor thinks I am a wonderful patient and has told me so. I think it is a personal thing that varies from person to person.

That said ... I can be a horrible customer. I don't tolerate poor service very well, thinking that such incompetence isn't tolerated in my profession. "If a nurse were to do that, she'd be in big trouble"... "If a nurse were to do that, the patient would die ..." etc.

Emergent, RN · Oct 23, 2014

I've been a 'bad' patient, if by bad you mean intolerant of providers and systems that are disrespectful of my time, money, and health preferences. Like the time the Urgent Care clinic wouldn't release my daughter's x-ray directly to me so I could take it to an ortho doc outside of their system (I made a stink and got the x-ray). When a doctor sneaks a rectal exam on me after doing a Pap smear with no warning (I found a new doctor). When a doctor is disrespectful of alternative or natural approaches by pushing and lecturing to partake of diagnostic screenings that I feel the risk/benefit ratio would not be acceptable to me.

I now have a ARNP whom I love, is respectful of me, my time, and my money.

classicdame, MSN, EdD · Oct 23, 2014

Like most of us you are the Queen of De-Nial

I think we want rationales explained to us and want to think that somehow, our situation is different. Of course it is not. Be careful. A little knowledge can be a dangerous thing.

Long Term Care Columnist / Guide · Oct 23, 2014

I was never a good patient, at least not until I met my psychiatrist, and even then I wasn't all that cooperative. But somewhere along the line, I realized that I pay this man a great deal of money to tell me what to do, so I may as well try it at least. And by extension, I got better at working with my PCP as well. I'm not perfect, and I occasionally rebel against the "rules", but for the most part I do what my doctors suggest.

classicdame, MSN, EdD · Oct 23, 2014

regardless of how well I respond to their instructions, I feel it is important to give them the benefit of the doubt. Also, I feel I have the right to speak up!

AnnieOaklyRN, BSN, RN, EMT-P · Oct 23, 2014

I was a patient when I fell at work (ambulance) and broke my mandible, needed sutures etc. We know whats going on and know what medications we want or need (for pain etc, Toradol in my case), which doctors we want for follow up. Its not that we are bad patients, we are just educated on the system and know what we need or want!!

HPRN

OCNRN63, RN · Oct 23, 2014

I've had multiple surgeries in the last three years, and I am not a bad patient.

BSNbeauty, BSN, RN · Oct 23, 2014

Yeah, I agree that it does depend on the individual. Nice to know I'm not the only one. I'll do better, I promise :)

firstinfamily, RN · Oct 24, 2014

I think because we are in the field, and know what questions to ask, we require a little more than the average patient. Plus, we all know what can happen when things go south and we know enough to prevent that from happening. My PCP likes it that I ask pointed questions and also gets frustrated with me when I will not comply with what he wants me to do!! I use some herbals that he just does not agree with, but as a patient I am doing my part by discussing it with him. He is my health advisor, I am the one in control of my health!!

SubSippi · Oct 24, 2014

I won't complain about small stuff, I won't whine, I won't keep you in the room talking about my pets, I won't flip out if you're late or forget to do something because I know how busy things get.

But I will ask you a TON of questions.

Ruby Vee, BSN · Oct 24, 2014

I've had multiple surgeries in the last three years, and I am not a bad patient.

Me too. Four surgeries in three years, and I'm not a bad patient, either.

However, BEFORE I got cancer, I may have been a bad patient at times.

https://allnurses.com/general-nursing-discussion/stupid-nurse-tricks-73073.html