An Open Letter to Patients
Remember that healthcare workers face life challenges too
The relationship between a healthcare professional and a patient is a sacred one.
One that is never taken lightly!
Persons present to a healthcare facility requesting help because they are sick. We get that!
Many are respectful, thoughtful, and some are even thankful. While we do not expect gratitude, we certainly do not expect or welcome abuse. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), health workers all over the world are constantly exposed to violence.
Approximately 8% to 38% of healthcare workers suffer physical violence or are threatened with verbal aggression at some point in their careers.
That is unacceptable!
Here are a few words for those disgruntled and disrespectful patients —
Remember that healthcare workers are people too. People like you just trying to navigate life. They face disappointments, they get sick and they feel pain just as much as you do!
Their imaginations run wild as a direct result of “knowing” the cause of their own pains.
Consider the paper cut you present to the ER with being the end of the world, the nurse or doctor caring for you, may have cancer and just had a double mastectomy! Their parent may be ill or a family member just got diagnosed with a life-threatening illness.
Remember, we have husbands who lie, cheat, won’t work (because nurses make tons of money — not true), children who disobey, aging parents to care for, doctors’ appointments, and ALL the things you deal with as part of being human.
They are people too!
Stop threatening us with violence, calling us — bitches, racist names, telling us we are “not from here”, asking where we went to school if you hear an accent…the hospital and the nursing board did that when they decided to hire an “immigrant of color.”
Stop assuming the patient care technologist is the nurse or doctor because they are white.
For patients presenting to the ER —
- Without your identification — you cannot transact business at any other agency without an ID.
- You stated you don’t have a drivers’ license, but we saw you exit the car from the driver’s side, and you are alone.
- Do not use fake names and addresses — registration will still find you.
- Stop trying to sneak out the door to leave with the IV still in, we are legally responsible for you.
- No! You cannot just go outside to smoke, this is a “non-smoking” facility, and you are here because of chest pains and asthma.
- Yes, we are required to remove the IV before you go outside.
- No! We cannot give you narcotics for the tiny cut on your finger.
- You cannot be given pain medications without us taking your history or you are seen by a doctor.
We know that when you seek us out, you are not feeling your best. But please know that we are here for you and will always do our best to help you.
Keep in mind that healthcare is a demanding job that requires an active, critical, and empathetic mind. We treat the body and the soul and as such we attend to your physical as well as your spiritual needs.
We are tasked with your needs, the needs of your family members, the hospital administrators, various care providers and so much more.
Show some gratitude to the people who attend to your and your loved one's needs when you are unable to do so and remember that they are human with their own unique set of problems also.
Be kinder to the people who take care of you!
Remember to wear your masks … please.