Through the Eyes of a Patient

[Jem]

<a target=_blank class=ftalternatingbarlinklarge href="http://au.movies.yahoo.com/The+Doctor/movie/871/


It the link does not work here is the web address:
[L=http://au.movies.yahoo.com/The+Doctor/movie/871.
]http://au.movies.yahoo.com/The+Doctor/movie/871.
">The Doctor starring William Hurt</a>
I hope this helps you Jenn. I will keep your endevor in prayer.

 

[sue35]

I think this idea is wonderful! Doctors and nurses are so often taught about diseases but never about how to treat the person, just how to treat the disease. I don't care how many other more important patients are in the ER, they still should treat each person with sympathy. So many times I have gone there, not looking "sick", and they are doing so many things to me without telling me exactly what they are doing and treat me like I am a waste of their time. I think ER doctors and nurses are the worst about this.

I don't have much to add, just that I especially liked where you said you were scared. You don't have to be shot or bleeding to be scared.

Good luck and in my experience this is exactly what the nurses need. Let's be honest, they aren't going to remember a thing about specific symptoms in one newsletter, but they will remember this. I would rather have a nurse who maybe didn't know everything about my disease but was caring towards me anyday

 

[sue35]

I think this idea is wonderful! Doctors and nurses are so often taught about diseases but never about how to treat the person, just how to treat the disease. I don't care how many other more important patients are in the ER, they still should treat each person with sympathy. So many times I have gone there, not looking "sick", and they are doing so many things to me without telling me exactly what they are doing and treat me like I am a waste of their time. I think ER doctors and nurses are the worst about this.

I don't have much to add, just that I especially liked where you said you were scared. You don't have to be shot or bleeding to be scared.

Good luck and in my experience this is exactly what the nurses need. Let's be honest, they aren't going to remember a thing about specific symptoms in one newsletter, but they will remember this. I would rather have a nurse who maybe didn't know everything about my disease but was caring towards me anyday

 

[sue35]

I think this idea is wonderful! Doctors and nurses are so often taught about diseases but never about how to treat the person, just how to treat the disease. I don't care how many other more important patients are in the ER, they still should treat each person with sympathy. So many times I have gone there, not looking "sick", and they are doing so many things to me without telling me exactly what they are doing and treat me like I am a waste of their time. I think ER doctors and nurses are the worst about this.

I don't have much to add, just that I especially liked where you said you were scared. You don't have to be shot or bleeding to be scared.

Good luck and in my experience this is exactly what the nurses need. Let's be honest, they aren't going to remember a thing about specific symptoms in one newsletter, but they will remember this. I would rather have a nurse who maybe didn't know everything about my disease but was caring towards me anyday

 

[scabaskiblio]

Jennifer: I really like your idea. I think writing from the perspective of a patient is a very interesting idea. Have you thought about writing it in the form of a short story, though? Usually a piece of writing written from a hypothetical perspective is much more interesting if you can give some really gripping specific details. Give the patient a name and a scenario. Say his name is Ralph and he has a high fever and stomach cramps. Maybe he got food poisoning or has appendicitis. It could be anything, but the more concrete and specific the better. Let the readers empathize with how scared and helpless he feels by describing it in detail. Let the readers see that if he acts irrationally or rudely to the nurses, or asks too many questions, etc. it is because he is frightened and is dependent on them for their knowledge and help. It really helps when you are trying to get people to see things from another perspective to make it as real and specific as possible. You already have a first person 'interior monologue,' and I would stick with that, you just need to flesh it out a little. If you want help with writing, just PM me.

 

[scabaskiblio]

Jennifer: I really like your idea. I think writing from the perspective of a patient is a very interesting idea. Have you thought about writing it in the form of a short story, though? Usually a piece of writing written from a hypothetical perspective is much more interesting if you can give some really gripping specific details. Give the patient a name and a scenario. Say his name is Ralph and he has a high fever and stomach cramps. Maybe he got food poisoning or has appendicitis. It could be anything, but the more concrete and specific the better. Let the readers empathize with how scared and helpless he feels by describing it in detail. Let the readers see that if he acts irrationally or rudely to the nurses, or asks too many questions, etc. it is because he is frightened and is dependent on them for their knowledge and help. It really helps when you are trying to get people to see things from another perspective to make it as real and specific as possible. You already have a first person 'interior monologue,' and I would stick with that, you just need to flesh it out a little. If you want help with writing, just PM me.

 

[scabaskiblio]

Jennifer: I really like your idea. I think writing from the perspective of a patient is a very interesting idea. Have you thought about writing it in the form of a short story, though? Usually a piece of writing written from a hypothetical perspective is much more interesting if you can give some really gripping specific details. Give the patient a name and a scenario. Say his name is Ralph and he has a high fever and stomach cramps. Maybe he got food poisoning or has appendicitis. It could be anything, but the more concrete and specific the better. Let the readers empathize with how scared and helpless he feels by describing it in detail. Let the readers see that if he acts irrationally or rudely to the nurses, or asks too many questions, etc. it is because he is frightened and is dependent on them for their knowledge and help. It really helps when you are trying to get people to see things from another perspective to make it as real and specific as possible. You already have a first person 'interior monologue,' and I would stick with that, you just need to flesh it out a little. If you want help with writing, just PM me.

 

[Debi]

I think you are right on target in addressing this aspect of nursing care. I've been in the ER as a patient, and you've hit on most of the key issues from the patient's perspective. Mine have been:

fear
panic
gratitude
relief (that they will be able to address your emergency and therefore your fear and panic)
hopelLESSness
hopeFULness
embarassment
worry
confusion
abandonment (why don't they check on you at least every 15 -30 minutes?)
anger (at yourself for being sick, at them for any number of things)

I think it's important to convey that the patient's mind runs amok when he or she is in the hospital - bouncing between positive and negative emotions. The nurse is probably the only person in the ER with the training and ability to bring some measure of sanity to the experience. The nurse can be the glue that helps the patient hold it all together. That makes the nurse a very powerful force, and the nurse should use that force in a positive, contributory manner. I would think it would give the nurse a great sense of satisfaction to make such a difference in a person's life, to be able to give not only technical expertise, but emotional support.

Thank you for taking this topic on. It is near and dear to my heart.

Debi
54 w/cf

 

[Debi]

I think you are right on target in addressing this aspect of nursing care. I've been in the ER as a patient, and you've hit on most of the key issues from the patient's perspective. Mine have been:

fear
panic
gratitude
relief (that they will be able to address your emergency and therefore your fear and panic)
hopelLESSness
hopeFULness
embarassment
worry
confusion
abandonment (why don't they check on you at least every 15 -30 minutes?)
anger (at yourself for being sick, at them for any number of things)

I think it's important to convey that the patient's mind runs amok when he or she is in the hospital - bouncing between positive and negative emotions. The nurse is probably the only person in the ER with the training and ability to bring some measure of sanity to the experience. The nurse can be the glue that helps the patient hold it all together. That makes the nurse a very powerful force, and the nurse should use that force in a positive, contributory manner. I would think it would give the nurse a great sense of satisfaction to make such a difference in a person's life, to be able to give not only technical expertise, but emotional support.

Thank you for taking this topic on. It is near and dear to my heart.

Debi
54 w/cf

 

[Debi]

I think you are right on target in addressing this aspect of nursing care. I've been in the ER as a patient, and you've hit on most of the key issues from the patient's perspective. Mine have been:

fear
panic
gratitude
relief (that they will be able to address your emergency and therefore your fear and panic)
hopelLESSness
hopeFULness
embarassment
worry
confusion
abandonment (why don't they check on you at least every 15 -30 minutes?)
anger (at yourself for being sick, at them for any number of things)

I think it's important to convey that the patient's mind runs amok when he or she is in the hospital - bouncing between positive and negative emotions. The nurse is probably the only person in the ER with the training and ability to bring some measure of sanity to the experience. The nurse can be the glue that helps the patient hold it all together. That makes the nurse a very powerful force, and the nurse should use that force in a positive, contributory manner. I would think it would give the nurse a great sense of satisfaction to make such a difference in a person's life, to be able to give not only technical expertise, but emotional support.

Thank you for taking this topic on. It is near and dear to my heart.

Debi
54 w/cf

 

[JennifersHope]

Thanks so much for the supportive posts and all the PM'S I got. I feel the same way as most of you. Anyone can google, lookup, or scan into our system any disease, symptom or etc..but It is very hard to teach compassion, tact, wisdom, and understanding.

As long as I work as a nurse, those will be my goals..

I stink as a writer but have a pretty big heart. I never want my patients to experience neglect, fear or any harm that I can prevent.

I love you ideas.. I love the link...I am to tired to work on this tonight but I will for sure be working on this tomorrow.

 

[JennifersHope]

Thanks so much for the supportive posts and all the PM'S I got. I feel the same way as most of you. Anyone can google, lookup, or scan into our system any disease, symptom or etc..but It is very hard to teach compassion, tact, wisdom, and understanding.

As long as I work as a nurse, those will be my goals..

I stink as a writer but have a pretty big heart. I never want my patients to experience neglect, fear or any harm that I can prevent.

I love you ideas.. I love the link...I am to tired to work on this tonight but I will for sure be working on this tomorrow.

 

[JennifersHope]

Thanks so much for the supportive posts and all the PM'S I got. I feel the same way as most of you. Anyone can google, lookup, or scan into our system any disease, symptom or etc..but It is very hard to teach compassion, tact, wisdom, and understanding.

As long as I work as a nurse, those will be my goals..

I stink as a writer but have a pretty big heart. I never want my patients to experience neglect, fear or any harm that I can prevent.

I love you ideas.. I love the link...I am to tired to work on this tonight but I will for sure be working on this tomorrow.

 

[JennifersHope]

<div class="FTQUOTE"><begin quote><i>Originally posted by: <b>lightNlife</b></i>

. I'm sorry to be the one to tell you this, but in the ER there really are exceptionally more important things than a person who feels lonely, scared and generically "sick." Patients who arrive unconscious or bleeding, for example, automatically get first priority when the triage nurse makes the assignments.



Sorry this is really bugging me. To use your words.. I am sorry to be the one to tell you this, if you were a nurse, and you were my nurse, I would request a different one... I am fully aware of the way an ER triages patients. I triage patients all the time. I am not talking about, Taking someone who is having a minor medical issue for immediate care over someone having an MI or a Stroke.. which by the way I am a newer nurse and capable of taking care of both of those patients...

I am saying, and the point I am trying to make is, once you have solved the Crisis, for the love of God, please use some compassion, common sense and treat patients as if it was their mother, father, son, or daughter....

I hate to bring this up, but from what I understand you follow a Christian faith, how about some of the fruits of the Spirit thrown in there??? No one is perfect, most of the nurses I work with, especially in my ER are more compassionate that I could ever ask for.. I love the team of pp I work with.. and anyone of them could be my nurse any day....

 

[JennifersHope]

<div class="FTQUOTE"><begin quote><i>Originally posted by: <b>lightNlife</b></i>

. I'm sorry to be the one to tell you this, but in the ER there really are exceptionally more important things than a person who feels lonely, scared and generically "sick." Patients who arrive unconscious or bleeding, for example, automatically get first priority when the triage nurse makes the assignments.



Sorry this is really bugging me. To use your words.. I am sorry to be the one to tell you this, if you were a nurse, and you were my nurse, I would request a different one... I am fully aware of the way an ER triages patients. I triage patients all the time. I am not talking about, Taking someone who is having a minor medical issue for immediate care over someone having an MI or a Stroke.. which by the way I am a newer nurse and capable of taking care of both of those patients...

I am saying, and the point I am trying to make is, once you have solved the Crisis, for the love of God, please use some compassion, common sense and treat patients as if it was their mother, father, son, or daughter....

I hate to bring this up, but from what I understand you follow a Christian faith, how about some of the fruits of the Spirit thrown in there??? No one is perfect, most of the nurses I work with, especially in my ER are more compassionate that I could ever ask for.. I love the team of pp I work with.. and anyone of them could be my nurse any day....

 

[JennifersHope]

<div class="FTQUOTE"><begin quote><i>Originally posted by: <b>lightNlife</b></i>

. I'm sorry to be the one to tell you this, but in the ER there really are exceptionally more important things than a person who feels lonely, scared and generically "sick." Patients who arrive unconscious or bleeding, for example, automatically get first priority when the triage nurse makes the assignments.



Sorry this is really bugging me. To use your words.. I am sorry to be the one to tell you this, if you were a nurse, and you were my nurse, I would request a different one... I am fully aware of the way an ER triages patients. I triage patients all the time. I am not talking about, Taking someone who is having a minor medical issue for immediate care over someone having an MI or a Stroke.. which by the way I am a newer nurse and capable of taking care of both of those patients...

I am saying, and the point I am trying to make is, once you have solved the Crisis, for the love of God, please use some compassion, common sense and treat patients as if it was their mother, father, son, or daughter....

I hate to bring this up, but from what I understand you follow a Christian faith, how about some of the fruits of the Spirit thrown in there??? No one is perfect, most of the nurses I work with, especially in my ER are more compassionate that I could ever ask for.. I love the team of pp I work with.. and anyone of them could be my nurse any day....

 

[lightNlife]

You asked for help and suggestions with the writing and the subject. I chose to offer constructive criticism on your original post. You chose to take it personally and responded by criticizing me personally. Lovely.

If what I said bugs you personally, then address it with me personally via PM instead of throwing it on the forums.

Not to worry; In the future I'll refrain from responding to you.

 

[lightNlife]

You asked for help and suggestions with the writing and the subject. I chose to offer constructive criticism on your original post. You chose to take it personally and responded by criticizing me personally. Lovely.

If what I said bugs you personally, then address it with me personally via PM instead of throwing it on the forums.

Not to worry; In the future I'll refrain from responding to you.

 

[lightNlife]

You asked for help and suggestions with the writing and the subject. I chose to offer constructive criticism on your original post. You chose to take it personally and responded by criticizing me personally. Lovely.

If what I said bugs you personally, then address it with me personally via PM instead of throwing it on the forums.

Not to worry; In the future I'll refrain from responding to you.

 

[Emily65Roses]

I do agree with Lauren's main point. The way the speech is currently written, at least, has a condescending air to it. I imagine it wasn't intended, but that's the way it sounds for the time being.

Whether you choose to teach about the disease or the emotional aspect is up to you... but either way, I'd write it a little differently. Let me see if I can find an example...

Okay:
<div class="FTQUOTE"><begin quote>Please don't leave me in a room by myself for to long.. I don't feel good, please remember, and I am scared and anxious..I would like to know what is going on, even if you don't have the test results back yet.. Please talk to me and tell me.</end quote></div>
While this is important information because the doctors and nurses should have good beside manner, it's not up to them to keep us company. Especially if the ER is like ERs usually are, and even remotely busy. That's what family and friends are for. If you're really that lonely, call up a friend. Most sensible friends would come visit someone in the ER.

You see what I'm saying? Talking about the emotional side isn't a bad idea, I'd just give it a rewrite.