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What do you think are the most challenging aspects of meeting patients' needs?
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Simran’s Answer
Honestly, it really depends on the patients.
Some patients have absolutely no requests and are not challenging to work with. They are those rare patients that you look forward to going to work for.
Then there are those patients that challenge you in every possible way. But, some of them also teach you a lot.
Challenges range from language barriers to cultural differences. For example, I once had a patient that spoke a dialect of Chinese that we didn't have any interpreters for. Only the patient, his family, and a couple of family members spoke that language. So, communication with that patient was extremely difficult which posed a great difficulty for any healthcare provider.
As an ER nurse, my biggest challenge was learning to develop thick skin. Some of my patients will enter the hospital doors expecting a 5-star hotel treatment. Whereas before they were doing all their ADLs, upon entering the hospital, they will expect you to clean them, help them urinate, fetch a blanket, then a pillow, set their food a certain tray, and so on... when they can do all these things by themselves. At that point, you have to learn to establish boundaries with those patients and be direct. You are responsible for their medical care and to help them be as independent with their care as possible. So encourage that. Of course, when a patient is not able to provide care for themselves, then it is definitely warranted. But, some patients WILL take advantage of you so be wary of it. Some patients will be intoxicated to the point where they will attempt to hit you or punch you or touch you in inappropriate ways. Or, they will cuss you out. They will pick at your insecurities. Some may do this because they're completely sober and it's just their personality. Some do this because, in a hospital, they're able to express their frustrations that they may not be express elsewhere. Some patients are just intoxicated, have no idea what they're saying, and may apologize for their behavior the next day. Walk-in with no expectations. Practice safety - always try to have security, stay close to the exit, and maintain a safe distance to the patient when dealing with this situation. Don't take anything they say to heart. They're patients at the end of the day. It will help you develop a thick skin. But don't let it dishearten you. You're their nurse. Treat them as you would treat any other patient.
It can definitely be rough. I haven't even mentioned the pre-work anxiety, breakdowns, balancing your work life with personal life, HUGE learning curve, learning something new every day, and still not knowing everything... it's challenging but so so rewarding!
Some patients have absolutely no requests and are not challenging to work with. They are those rare patients that you look forward to going to work for.
Then there are those patients that challenge you in every possible way. But, some of them also teach you a lot.
Challenges range from language barriers to cultural differences. For example, I once had a patient that spoke a dialect of Chinese that we didn't have any interpreters for. Only the patient, his family, and a couple of family members spoke that language. So, communication with that patient was extremely difficult which posed a great difficulty for any healthcare provider.
As an ER nurse, my biggest challenge was learning to develop thick skin. Some of my patients will enter the hospital doors expecting a 5-star hotel treatment. Whereas before they were doing all their ADLs, upon entering the hospital, they will expect you to clean them, help them urinate, fetch a blanket, then a pillow, set their food a certain tray, and so on... when they can do all these things by themselves. At that point, you have to learn to establish boundaries with those patients and be direct. You are responsible for their medical care and to help them be as independent with their care as possible. So encourage that. Of course, when a patient is not able to provide care for themselves, then it is definitely warranted. But, some patients WILL take advantage of you so be wary of it. Some patients will be intoxicated to the point where they will attempt to hit you or punch you or touch you in inappropriate ways. Or, they will cuss you out. They will pick at your insecurities. Some may do this because they're completely sober and it's just their personality. Some do this because, in a hospital, they're able to express their frustrations that they may not be express elsewhere. Some patients are just intoxicated, have no idea what they're saying, and may apologize for their behavior the next day. Walk-in with no expectations. Practice safety - always try to have security, stay close to the exit, and maintain a safe distance to the patient when dealing with this situation. Don't take anything they say to heart. They're patients at the end of the day. It will help you develop a thick skin. But don't let it dishearten you. You're their nurse. Treat them as you would treat any other patient.
It can definitely be rough. I haven't even mentioned the pre-work anxiety, breakdowns, balancing your work life with personal life, HUGE learning curve, learning something new every day, and still not knowing everything... it's challenging but so so rewarding!
Updated
Judy’s Answer
Each patient tends to be a unique challenge. Maybe they don't want to complain or be a "bad" patient so you really have to pull it out of them by relying on facial expression, body language and caregiver reports. Or there are the chronic difficult patients that drive all the providers up the wall. In my particular field, this type of patient was not than uncommon. When the doctors and nurses dread the patient coming in, you know there will be an issue. This is where just listening is the best thing you can do for that person-everyone else has stopped! It is hard to treat this type of patient for the entire health care team. It takes time and expertise.
I think my hardest patient to treat was the ones that I knew were going to die the first time I met them. This was not because they were dying at that time but because that had incurable disease that would likely progress rapidly. The worse time I ever had was when I had to teach a 21 year old college student (she looked like a 16 yr. old cheerleader) and her parents about the treatment she would be getting. She had stage 4 lung cancer and we were giving her the chemo (in her hometown) recommended by MD Anderson where she was going to continue visits due to her rare situation. She only lived 6 months. Just to try and keep my expression neutral and act normally required untapped acting skills while still trying to be honest and truthful. To see the looks on her parents' faces and not burst out crying was hard. Of course, they already knew the situation but I was trying to prepare them for what was ahead. I did have to have a good cry when she left. I was better on subsequent visits. Her last few months of life were mainly in Houston at MD Anderson and I was glad because I didn't know if I could keep it together while she was dying. I have done it many times with my adult patients but having children near her age was my undoing.
There are many different types of challenging patients. Experience really helps but building the best relationship you can with them goes further than medical interventions. If you truly care about them and they can see it, that is most of the battle. Judy
I think my hardest patient to treat was the ones that I knew were going to die the first time I met them. This was not because they were dying at that time but because that had incurable disease that would likely progress rapidly. The worse time I ever had was when I had to teach a 21 year old college student (she looked like a 16 yr. old cheerleader) and her parents about the treatment she would be getting. She had stage 4 lung cancer and we were giving her the chemo (in her hometown) recommended by MD Anderson where she was going to continue visits due to her rare situation. She only lived 6 months. Just to try and keep my expression neutral and act normally required untapped acting skills while still trying to be honest and truthful. To see the looks on her parents' faces and not burst out crying was hard. Of course, they already knew the situation but I was trying to prepare them for what was ahead. I did have to have a good cry when she left. I was better on subsequent visits. Her last few months of life were mainly in Houston at MD Anderson and I was glad because I didn't know if I could keep it together while she was dying. I have done it many times with my adult patients but having children near her age was my undoing.
There are many different types of challenging patients. Experience really helps but building the best relationship you can with them goes further than medical interventions. If you truly care about them and they can see it, that is most of the battle. Judy
Updated
Sandra’s Answer
Hi Jessica,
The most challenging aspects of meeting patient needs are not being able to meet their needs in a timely manner, lack of supplies/items to satisfy their needs, and communication problems that can delay meeting patient needs. This answer may seem to be simple and obvious due to the commonalities associated with it; however, meeting patient needs is an ongoing problem that occurs within all healthcare settings such as acute, primary, secondary, and tertiary care environments that have no one-way approaches to address the problem. It seems that addressing the micro-level of meeting patient needs should be addressed by starting at the institution, followed by addressing the issues at the macro level; I hope this answer helped, and good luck with your career.
The most challenging aspects of meeting patient needs are not being able to meet their needs in a timely manner, lack of supplies/items to satisfy their needs, and communication problems that can delay meeting patient needs. This answer may seem to be simple and obvious due to the commonalities associated with it; however, meeting patient needs is an ongoing problem that occurs within all healthcare settings such as acute, primary, secondary, and tertiary care environments that have no one-way approaches to address the problem. It seems that addressing the micro-level of meeting patient needs should be addressed by starting at the institution, followed by addressing the issues at the macro level; I hope this answer helped, and good luck with your career.
Updated
Corin’s Answer
There is two parts to patient care:
1) Meeting patient needs from an objective perspective - This includes scheduled and as needed (PRN) medications, treatments, and on occasion telling them the things they can and can't do
2) Meeting patient needs from a subjective perspective - This includes providing them with some sense of normalcy when they are in the hospital setting. This includes things like allowing visitors, decorating the room if allowed, allowing them to have food from home, keeping a routine, etc...
I think the hardest part of this dance is finding the balance between the objective and the subjective. Things on the subjective list may not mesh well with things on the objective list, but in reality, a patient needs a balance between both to get well holistically.
1) Meeting patient needs from an objective perspective - This includes scheduled and as needed (PRN) medications, treatments, and on occasion telling them the things they can and can't do
2) Meeting patient needs from a subjective perspective - This includes providing them with some sense of normalcy when they are in the hospital setting. This includes things like allowing visitors, decorating the room if allowed, allowing them to have food from home, keeping a routine, etc...
I think the hardest part of this dance is finding the balance between the objective and the subjective. Things on the subjective list may not mesh well with things on the objective list, but in reality, a patient needs a balance between both to get well holistically.
Updated
Darleana’s Answer
Not knowing if they will allow you to help them. Not knowing how their mood will be. Or if they are gravelly ill not knowing if you will cry with them.