All nurses
will have a patient that is embarrassed, and it can originate from a variety of
reasons and conditions.
Some of the most common embarrassing
conditions are-
- Gas, beyond the normal amount passed by everyone on a daily basis. On average, a person should expel gas 14
times per day. Some patients report releasing gas up to 75 times per day, this
is not normal. For a patient coming to a
medical office or hospital, this can be quite embarrassing to discuss. In addition, as the patient is probably
uncomfortable with the discussion, their intestines can tense, which in turn
releases more gas, creating even more embarrassment. Try to be professional, yet keep the mood
light by saying something like, you can't do anything we don't see every day,
etc. Making the patient feel as though this is something you see often, and you
understand, can put the patient at ease.
- Sexual problems are often very difficult for males or females to discuss. A male patient may be in the office due to
erectile dysfunction, however 8 out of 10 find it difficult to discuss. Regardless of male or female, just ask
pertinent questions as usual, and again, letting them know you are a professional,
and see similar problems on a regular basis.
- Depression,
this is a very common condition, yet many still find it embarrassing. Some people view asking for help for
depression, as weak. Assuring the
patient, it takes strength to know when to ask for help, may help ease some of
their discomfort. A patient that is
depressed for more than 1 month is most likely going to be prescribed
medication to treat their condition, and even getting the prescription filled
can be embarrassing for some patients.
- Skin
ailments, such as a fungal or yeast infection can cause a patient to feel unclean
and uncared for. The fact is an overgrowth of yeast can develop for a number of
reasons, and a fungal infection is very similar. Anyone who works out, or sometimes for no
reason at all, can develop a skin condition such as a fungus. Ringworm can be contracted from animals, or
being outdoors, and despite what people think, it's not a worm, it's a very
common fungus. Camping, gardening, or
working with pets makes people more prone to contract ringworm.
When you
sense uneasiness and embarrassment in your patient, try to put their mind at
ease. You are a professional medical
worker, and you are in your position to help, and never judge. Most embarrassing conditions patients have,
are actually very common, and odds are you have worked with others in the same
condition. Putting the patient at ease
when discussing their symptoms will encourage them to be more forthcoming with
symptoms, etc., and ultimately make the visit more productive.
There are
specialties in the medical field that you would work with patients who often
have embarrassing medical conditions, such as urologist that treat sexual
problems, or a GI physician that may treat gas, bloating, constipation or
diarrhea. Many times, by the time the
patient has reached a specialist in this field, they are tired and frustrated,
and may be more willing to discuss the issue, just to finally
obtain help.
Put
patients at ease. Treat their visit like
any other medical visit, and assure them they are not unique in their
condition. Taking information from the
patient as usual, making sure to make eye contact, not doing so can make them
feel you are uncomfortable discussing the issue at hand. The attending physician can not actually
treat the patient properly unless they all have information regarding the
problems. As the nurse to the patient,
you are the first step in verbalizing what they came to seek treatment
for. The level of comfort you provide
the patient can carry over to the physician and make for a much more productive
visit. People are different, and
experience different levels of comfort, and different levels of
discomfort. Be patient and
understanding. It can make the visit go much better, and make the patient feel
much more comfortable.
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