I Am Not a Number - A patient’s view
Walking into a hospital or healthcare facility is extremely hard for many people. It does not rank high on our list of things we like to do. It is especially hard if once we’re there we are treated as just a number. More often than not we spend the majority of our time with the nurse on staff and only a few moments with an actual doctor. This means that nurses play the longest and most important role in our healthcare experience.
Patients come into the setting already nervous and on edge because they know something is wrong. Their anxiety level is already at its max at this point. It is important that nurses understand this, and compassion for their patient is a must. We tend to expect it and when it is not delivered we end up leaving our medical visit disappointed and sometimes even more depressed then when we arrived.
The nurse on staff can be the most efficient nurse possible but never fulfill the needs of his or her patient. Many times people have experienced coldness from their nurse that leaves a sour feeling with them. That feeling may affect the patient for a long term. Maybe the patient will decide because of that experience that they will never go back. Where does that leave the patient now?
There may be many reasons for the nurse’s behavior.
- Burnout
- Lack of Training
- Work Overload
- Trouble at Home
- Distractions
A Smile May Make a Difference
Whatever the reason is for the nurse’s lack of sensitivity to their patient, a solution to the problem must be found. Patients are not numbers and they deserve consideration. Patients desire quality care and a smile. We want to feel that we are important to you and that we made the right decision by coming to your facility.
Nurses play such an important role in our medical experience that we tend to remember them. Your bedside manner could make all the difference. Patients tend to be more open about their problems if they feel they have made a friend of their nurse. Even if that friendship only last the length of the patients visit.
If patients have become just another number it may be time to ask “why”. Burnout happens often because of the workload a nurse is expected to manage on a day to day basis. Do not be afraid to ask for help if you need it. Stopping to take a moment to get to know your patient may make all the difference. It may inspire you on the job as well as make your patient feel comfortable in an already stressed induced situation.
