Do not attempt to adjust your computer
screen, we have taken control… You are now traveling through another dimension
of healthcare, a dimension not of passing meds and cleaning bed pans, but of the
mind; a journey into a bewildering land of your own medical care. Next stop,
the TwiNurse Zone!
Do nurses really make the worst
patients? What happens when we’re on the
other side of the bed and receiving rather than giving care? Well,
we can’t speak for everyone because there are so many different personalities
and cultures in nursing that it’s unfair to generalize about all nurses; however,
from what we have seen, it’s a very different feeling being on the other side…
Consider Nurse Able, once an
able bodied nurse capable of tackling everything that the medical world could
throw at her, but now she finds that she herself has become… the patient. Will her medical training really make her
experience better, or will she find that her greatest challenge is not one of
the body, but of the mind… Come with us
as we explore some of the common myths about nurses on the other side of the
bed through Nurse Able’s journey into the TwiNurse Zone.
Myth #1 – Knowing everything will make it better
“Does my nursing expertise make
everything better? Ha, sometimes it seems like it just makes everything
worse! No sooner do I feel a slight
twinge in my mid back than I think I have a kidney infection. Or, I have a side ache in my RLQ and I start
checking for rebound tenderness just to make sure I’m not having an attack of
appendicitis. I even once had a doctor
tell me to stop examining myself when I was describing the symptoms I was
having! So, yes it’s nice to understand
all the medical jargon and how the medical world works, but sometimes it’s just
more nerve wracking knowing all the possible things that could be going wrong. It’s times like that when I have to remind
myself that God’s ultimately in charge and that I need to trust His plan for my
life, even if I do end up with a massive kidney infection that leads to multi-organ
failure that leads to being stuck on dialysis for the rest of my life.
(Exaggerated, I know… but once you’ve seen some of the strange things that
people go through, you’ll never be the same).”
Myth #2 - You
understand everything that the doctor is saying
“Understand everything? Not quite… When I’m with a patient as a nurse,
I can understand where the doctor is coming from and what they’re trying to
explain. But, for some reason, when it
comes to my own body or that of my family, all reason, training and logic seem
to fly out the window. Sometimes, I just
go senseless; suddenly I have no idea how to take care of myself or of my
family.
“Half the time, I debate about
whether or not to share that I’m a nurse because I really wish they’d just
explain everything as if I didn’t know anything! But, then again, I want the more in depth explanation
because it’s my body, so I need to know exactly how everything works. It’s hard, but at times like that, I’ve
realized that I just need to swallow my pride and admit that no, in fact, I don’t
know everything there is to know about medicine. Things are just different on the other side
of the bed, especially when you are receiving treatment in an area that is not
your specialty.”
Myth #3 - You’re
always judging the actions of other healthcare professionals
“Judging? That’s just a harsh term, but I guess I
understand a little where that one came from.
Since I’m a nurse, I know there’s a reason that certain things are done
the way they are, and I need to stand up for myself or my family if things are
not being done correctly. I try to keep
my mouth shut out of respect and understanding that some people practice
differently, but when someone is endangering my health by not being careful or
performing a test incorrectly (which might mess up the results that the doctor
is looking for…), I speak up.
“It’s not about wanting to feel
superior, but about wanting to make sure things are done right. If you don’t know how things are supposed to
be done, then you don’t know to question.
But I’ve had nurses as patients and they have made me feel incredibly
nervous. Just inserting an IV, I’m
praying that I get it right away so that I don’t have to make them feel any
worse! So, yes, in a way I’m watching
what is done, but I’m also trying to go about it with an understanding of what
it’s like to be the nurse performing the care.”
Myth #4 - Advocating
for yourself should be a breeze
“Well, yes and no. I have cringed about calling the doctor many
times regarding issues with my own body because I don’t want to bother them
unless it’s absolutely necessary. As a patient,
I really tried not to bother the staff, and I almost even felt guilty to press
my call light for help! After all, I’m
one of those who will heplock my own IV or apply pressure to my own arterial
bleed if you give me half a chance!
However, it does help to have a medical background because you have a
better understanding of the seriousness of different concerns and when it
really is important to stand up for yourself or your family member.”
Nurse Able, an able bodied nurse who experienced the disabling
effects disease can have on the nursing mindset. Nurse Able, a wise professional who took the
experience of being a patient to look closely at the life on the other side of
the bed in the TwiNurse Zone.
Medical Morals to Remember –
·
When teaching a nurse, perhaps start by asking
them what they know first instead of assuming that they understand everything
that’s going on with them. Then, adjust
your teaching plan from there.
·
When you’re the patient, treat your nurses with
understanding, but don’t be afraid to bother them if you need help or have a
question about the treatment you’re receiving.
·
Consider having someone else at your side to
help you advocate for yourself and to ask the questions that need to be asked.
·
Give 100% of your patience, kindness and passion
to everyone in your care, whether nurse or not, because you never know when it
will be you or your family member on the other side of the bed.
Have you ever been
there? Do nurses really make the worst
patients? What morals have you learned
from your experiences either taking care of nurses or being the patient?
