Expert nursing tips: How to deal with a fearful patient
August 31, 2009 by admin
Filed under Medical & Healthcare Jobs
Understanding and Dealing With Patient’s Fears
Patients can become fearful at any time, for many different reasons. Dealing with a frightened patient often takes compassion, care and concern on the part of registered nurses, as well as other medical personnel and family members. Sometimes fear is not easy to deal with.
A frightened patient’s situation can suddenly become very volatile, intense and complex.
It can also be unpredictable in nature. The patient’s fear may be justified, if it is grounded in something real or legitimate. It may also be rooted in that which imagined or associated with a panic attack.
How you respond to your frightened patient, as a registered nurse is extremely important! What you say or do as a professional health care giver, may also help to resolve a potentially serious, critical situation…
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First I would like to give you some history, at age 4 I had a nurse bend 3 needles in my arm and break a 4th off in the same arm, this was in the 50s. the nurse then slapped me several times becasue I was crying and upset and didnt want her to stick me again. The needle that was broken off in my arm had to be cut out with out pain killers. Now from this let me say that I have a very strong fear of all female nurses. Yes I know that this is unrealistic, and I fight it very hard. I do not fear needles I am a diabetic so I am use to needles. Now when a female nurse has to work with me I am very apprehensive and if they respond with anger I become very angry, I have even refused to stay in an ER because of it. I have attempted to explain this to the nurses with no success, and have even been yelled at and threatened with them withholding treatment, this is why I have left. My question is WHY ARE THERE SO MANY NURSES TODAY THAT THINK THEY ARE GODS INSTEAD OF ANGLES. there are many out there that understand and will take the time to address these fears but most just ignore it and try force to get what they want to do done. Is this lack of training or just the attitude I am a nurse and you will do what I say, type thing? Please address this I am sure I am not the only one out there with this fear. I know it is not the WHITE COAT SYNDROM becasue I dont fear Doctors male or female, it is just the nurses.