Through the Eyes of a Patient

[JennifersHope]

I am writing a piece for our emergency newsletter. I was asked to write about "one of the diseases" I have the purpose of the newsletter is to educate the nurses and keep them abreast of some things

Instead I asked if I could write to the staff about what it is like to be a patient.. since it is for the emergency room staff I need to keep it specific to the ER..

I am having a bit of a hard time, I have to keep it short, and I don't want to sound rude to them.and I must be Professional.. I want to convey to them what it is like to be a patient in an emergency room... Most of them have never been a patient before so they only know one side of it..I am having a hard time keeping it professional and I am doing a bad job trying to say what I want.. I might have to switch and go back to teaching them about one of my diseases but I would rather not

Please help me....

So far I got no opening line..

A Journey Through the ED

Hello, My Name is Emergency Room Patient, I came to you today because I honestly believe that something is wrong with me. I am sorry I don't know you were having a bad day too... I am sort of not having the best day of my life either..I am sorry I didn't know you were "busy" I came here because I don't feel good. I know that you are busy and that you have "sick" patients to take care of but I am one of them.. I feel a little intimidated by you because I am at your mercy to help me. You are the professional, I am scared and sick.

The stretcher feels hard and this room is cold.... Here you come with a needle, what are you going to do with that needle? OUch oops you missed... I didn't move, I did drink enough fluid and my veins don't feel like they rolled to me..

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.

I have been here for hours... my IV bag is empty and my pain is great.. the stretcher is uncomfortable but I am afraid to say anything because I don't want to be labeled a pain..


Please ask me about my pain, I might be afraid to ask for something because I don't want to be labeled a "drug seeker"

I know I can't have anything to drink but my mouth is dry and my lips are sticking together, could I have something to swish with please???

Please don't talk to me like I am inconviencing you.


I know this is in need of help... HELP GUYS

 

[JennifersHope]

I am writing a piece for our emergency newsletter. I was asked to write about "one of the diseases" I have the purpose of the newsletter is to educate the nurses and keep them abreast of some things

Instead I asked if I could write to the staff about what it is like to be a patient.. since it is for the emergency room staff I need to keep it specific to the ER..

I am having a bit of a hard time, I have to keep it short, and I don't want to sound rude to them.and I must be Professional.. I want to convey to them what it is like to be a patient in an emergency room... Most of them have never been a patient before so they only know one side of it..I am having a hard time keeping it professional and I am doing a bad job trying to say what I want.. I might have to switch and go back to teaching them about one of my diseases but I would rather not

Please help me....

So far I got no opening line..

A Journey Through the ED

Hello, My Name is Emergency Room Patient, I came to you today because I honestly believe that something is wrong with me. I am sorry I don't know you were having a bad day too... I am sort of not having the best day of my life either..I am sorry I didn't know you were "busy" I came here because I don't feel good. I know that you are busy and that you have "sick" patients to take care of but I am one of them.. I feel a little intimidated by you because I am at your mercy to help me. You are the professional, I am scared and sick.

The stretcher feels hard and this room is cold.... Here you come with a needle, what are you going to do with that needle? OUch oops you missed... I didn't move, I did drink enough fluid and my veins don't feel like they rolled to me..

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.

I have been here for hours... my IV bag is empty and my pain is great.. the stretcher is uncomfortable but I am afraid to say anything because I don't want to be labeled a pain..


Please ask me about my pain, I might be afraid to ask for something because I don't want to be labeled a "drug seeker"

I know I can't have anything to drink but my mouth is dry and my lips are sticking together, could I have something to swish with please???

Please don't talk to me like I am inconviencing you.


I know this is in need of help... HELP GUYS

 

[JennifersHope]

I am writing a piece for our emergency newsletter. I was asked to write about "one of the diseases" I have the purpose of the newsletter is to educate the nurses and keep them abreast of some things

Instead I asked if I could write to the staff about what it is like to be a patient.. since it is for the emergency room staff I need to keep it specific to the ER..

I am having a bit of a hard time, I have to keep it short, and I don't want to sound rude to them.and I must be Professional.. I want to convey to them what it is like to be a patient in an emergency room... Most of them have never been a patient before so they only know one side of it..I am having a hard time keeping it professional and I am doing a bad job trying to say what I want.. I might have to switch and go back to teaching them about one of my diseases but I would rather not

Please help me....

So far I got no opening line..

A Journey Through the ED

Hello, My Name is Emergency Room Patient, I came to you today because I honestly believe that something is wrong with me. I am sorry I don't know you were having a bad day too... I am sort of not having the best day of my life either..I am sorry I didn't know you were "busy" I came here because I don't feel good. I know that you are busy and that you have "sick" patients to take care of but I am one of them.. I feel a little intimidated by you because I am at your mercy to help me. You are the professional, I am scared and sick.

The stretcher feels hard and this room is cold.... Here you come with a needle, what are you going to do with that needle? OUch oops you missed... I didn't move, I did drink enough fluid and my veins don't feel like they rolled to me..

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.

I have been here for hours... my IV bag is empty and my pain is great.. the stretcher is uncomfortable but I am afraid to say anything because I don't want to be labeled a pain..


Please ask me about my pain, I might be afraid to ask for something because I don't want to be labeled a "drug seeker"

I know I can't have anything to drink but my mouth is dry and my lips are sticking together, could I have something to swish with please???

Please don't talk to me like I am inconviencing you.


I know this is in need of help... HELP GUYS

 

[JazzysMom]

How about somehow combining it with a combo of perspectives like.....a Nurse the patient & as a patient she says....OMG that really hurts when you dig for that vein, I guess my patients werent kidding. OR all my schooling I thought would prepare me, but as a patient I am sitting here waiting, being scared, not knowing and feeling very alone OR I am sorry slow down with the explanation. Even tho I went to school for this environement, I am a bit overwhelmed from the pain and cant really concentrate. <b><i> You get the idea...</b></i>


THis way you wont sound like a wining unknowing patient oblivious to what the ER is like etc.

 

[JazzysMom]

How about somehow combining it with a combo of perspectives like.....a Nurse the patient & as a patient she says....OMG that really hurts when you dig for that vein, I guess my patients werent kidding. OR all my schooling I thought would prepare me, but as a patient I am sitting here waiting, being scared, not knowing and feeling very alone OR I am sorry slow down with the explanation. Even tho I went to school for this environement, I am a bit overwhelmed from the pain and cant really concentrate. <b><i> You get the idea...</b></i>


THis way you wont sound like a wining unknowing patient oblivious to what the ER is like etc.

 

[JazzysMom]

How about somehow combining it with a combo of perspectives like.....a Nurse the patient & as a patient she says....OMG that really hurts when you dig for that vein, I guess my patients werent kidding. OR all my schooling I thought would prepare me, but as a patient I am sitting here waiting, being scared, not knowing and feeling very alone OR I am sorry slow down with the explanation. Even tho I went to school for this environement, I am a bit overwhelmed from the pain and cant really concentrate. <b><i> You get the idea...</b></i>


THis way you wont sound like a wining unknowing patient oblivious to what the ER is like etc.

 

[lightNlife]

That's a pretty harsh and patronizing thing you've got going there. It sounds like it's written for candy stripers and not a group of professionals who have medical training. Are you kidding with the "what are you doing with that needle" question? If you're uncomfortable speaking up with the nurses or care givers, then you really only have yourself to blame for feeling like you've been left alone on an uncomfortable stretcher.

Perhaps a better way to write would be to describe your particular condition and describe what it is that would bring you to the ER because of it. For example "I have X condition. Usually I have a temperature of X when I'm not feeling well, but I came to the ER because it's higher than usual and I'm also experiencing X symptoms, which is why I decided not to wait to go see my regular doctor." If the point of the exercise is to teach about a disease, then do just that, not the vague stuff about feeling scared and anxious. They staff has likely already been taught to keep that in mind. 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.

Good luck. Talk about the disease and not the fluff. Diseases have more concrete things to teach.

 

[lightNlife]

That's a pretty harsh and patronizing thing you've got going there. It sounds like it's written for candy stripers and not a group of professionals who have medical training. Are you kidding with the "what are you doing with that needle" question? If you're uncomfortable speaking up with the nurses or care givers, then you really only have yourself to blame for feeling like you've been left alone on an uncomfortable stretcher.

Perhaps a better way to write would be to describe your particular condition and describe what it is that would bring you to the ER because of it. For example "I have X condition. Usually I have a temperature of X when I'm not feeling well, but I came to the ER because it's higher than usual and I'm also experiencing X symptoms, which is why I decided not to wait to go see my regular doctor." If the point of the exercise is to teach about a disease, then do just that, not the vague stuff about feeling scared and anxious. They staff has likely already been taught to keep that in mind. 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.

Good luck. Talk about the disease and not the fluff. Diseases have more concrete things to teach.

 

[lightNlife]

That's a pretty harsh and patronizing thing you've got going there. It sounds like it's written for candy stripers and not a group of professionals who have medical training. Are you kidding with the "what are you doing with that needle" question? If you're uncomfortable speaking up with the nurses or care givers, then you really only have yourself to blame for feeling like you've been left alone on an uncomfortable stretcher.

Perhaps a better way to write would be to describe your particular condition and describe what it is that would bring you to the ER because of it. For example "I have X condition. Usually I have a temperature of X when I'm not feeling well, but I came to the ER because it's higher than usual and I'm also experiencing X symptoms, which is why I decided not to wait to go see my regular doctor." If the point of the exercise is to teach about a disease, then do just that, not the vague stuff about feeling scared and anxious. They staff has likely already been taught to keep that in mind. 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.

Good luck. Talk about the disease and not the fluff. Diseases have more concrete things to teach.

 

[robert321]

hey what if you did it from the perspective of an er nurse that gets hurt/sick and goes to the er? because they would know both sides of what goes on then and it would be easier to convey the point. I watched a movie once about a guy that was an @$$ of a doctor and then got cancer and had to learn how his being an ass hole effected the patiants and the other things that go in the hospitol, like having an iv, being "ignored", having to wear one of those hospitol gowns that leave your butt hanging out. things like that.

 

[robert321]

hey what if you did it from the perspective of an er nurse that gets hurt/sick and goes to the er? because they would know both sides of what goes on then and it would be easier to convey the point. I watched a movie once about a guy that was an @$$ of a doctor and then got cancer and had to learn how his being an ass hole effected the patiants and the other things that go in the hospitol, like having an iv, being "ignored", having to wear one of those hospitol gowns that leave your butt hanging out. things like that.

 

[robert321]

hey what if you did it from the perspective of an er nurse that gets hurt/sick and goes to the er? because they would know both sides of what goes on then and it would be easier to convey the point. I watched a movie once about a guy that was an @$$ of a doctor and then got cancer and had to learn how his being an ass hole effected the patiants and the other things that go in the hospitol, like having an iv, being "ignored", having to wear one of those hospitol gowns that leave your butt hanging out. things like that.

 

[JennifersHope]

I appreciate your responses

Lightinlife. I know that what I wrote needs help. I choose not to teach about a disease. I chose to teach about the emotional side of being a patient, ANyone can teach something about a disease, but not anyone can teach the patients side of a story. THis is something that I am passionate about and something that I am teaching about. I don't care what disease it is. I care about nurses being sensitive, compassionate and who have good skills.

TO be honest, I thought your post was a "little harsh" I am looking for help in conveying something, I aked for help here because, most ppl on here have followed what I have been through as a patient.. and I would like input to put something in a creative way.

If anyone has something creative that they can help me with. sticking to the topic I chose, I would appreciate it.

Jennifer

 

[JennifersHope]

I appreciate your responses

Lightinlife. I know that what I wrote needs help. I choose not to teach about a disease. I chose to teach about the emotional side of being a patient, ANyone can teach something about a disease, but not anyone can teach the patients side of a story. THis is something that I am passionate about and something that I am teaching about. I don't care what disease it is. I care about nurses being sensitive, compassionate and who have good skills.

TO be honest, I thought your post was a "little harsh" I am looking for help in conveying something, I aked for help here because, most ppl on here have followed what I have been through as a patient.. and I would like input to put something in a creative way.

If anyone has something creative that they can help me with. sticking to the topic I chose, I would appreciate it.

Jennifer

 

[JennifersHope]

I appreciate your responses

Lightinlife. I know that what I wrote needs help. I choose not to teach about a disease. I chose to teach about the emotional side of being a patient, ANyone can teach something about a disease, but not anyone can teach the patients side of a story. THis is something that I am passionate about and something that I am teaching about. I don't care what disease it is. I care about nurses being sensitive, compassionate and who have good skills.

TO be honest, I thought your post was a "little harsh" I am looking for help in conveying something, I aked for help here because, most ppl on here have followed what I have been through as a patient.. and I would like input to put something in a creative way.

If anyone has something creative that they can help me with. sticking to the topic I chose, I would appreciate it.

Jennifer

 

[JennifersHope]

<div class="FTQUOTE"><begin quote><i>Originally posted by: <b>robert321</b></i>

hey what if you did it from the perspective of an er nurse that gets hurt/sick and goes to the er? because they would know both sides of what goes on then and it would be easier to convey the point. I watched a movie once about a guy that was an @$$ of a doctor and then got cancer and had to learn how his being an ass hole effected the patiants and the other things that go in the hospitol, like having an iv, being "ignored", having to wear one of those hospitol gowns that leave your butt hanging out. things like that.</end quote></div>


THat sounds wonderful ROber,, Where did you get that video?

 

[JennifersHope]

<div class="FTQUOTE"><begin quote><i>Originally posted by: <b>robert321</b></i>

hey what if you did it from the perspective of an er nurse that gets hurt/sick and goes to the er? because they would know both sides of what goes on then and it would be easier to convey the point. I watched a movie once about a guy that was an @$$ of a doctor and then got cancer and had to learn how his being an ass hole effected the patiants and the other things that go in the hospitol, like having an iv, being "ignored", having to wear one of those hospitol gowns that leave your butt hanging out. things like that.</end quote></div>


THat sounds wonderful ROber,, Where did you get that video?

 

[JennifersHope]

<div class="FTQUOTE"><begin quote><i>Originally posted by: <b>robert321</b></i>

hey what if you did it from the perspective of an er nurse that gets hurt/sick and goes to the er? because they would know both sides of what goes on then and it would be easier to convey the point. I watched a movie once about a guy that was an @$$ of a doctor and then got cancer and had to learn how his being an ass hole effected the patiants and the other things that go in the hospitol, like having an iv, being "ignored", having to wear one of those hospitol gowns that leave your butt hanging out. things like that.</end quote></div>


THat sounds wonderful ROber,, Where did you get that video?

 

[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.

 

[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.