Rant

6 Please take a moment to learn about your patient. I had to give that advice to the RN caring for my very educated pharmacist father in law. Don't speak to the man like he is a moron. If she had read anything on the computer she would have known that. He doesn't require special education style discussions on his medications.
Alright, I hope you were not rude in telling her that. I understand being hospitalized is scary and emotions run high. She did not want to assume too much possibly and make the client feel she was skipping on educating him about his care based on his work history. Did she know the vital things like the reason he was there?

They didn't even take his BS until I pointed out he is diabetic. The RN took the BS then 5 different "team" members all came in and asked what it was. I told them since the EMR must be for decoration. So not impressed and I had a discussion with the physician about that. We are not talking about a patient with dementia. It's pretty safe to say a 60 yr old A&Ox4 pharmacist doesn't need you to tell him "Colace is to make your poopy squishy so it doesn't hurt your heiney". That is insulting to anyone not on a Peds unit.

"Colace is to make your poopy squishy so it doesn't hurt your heiney"I was just about to respond that as a recent patient, I didn't mind when my meds were explained to me. I was not always of sound mind while on narcs and thought it was the responsible thing for the nurse to do.HOWEVER, I changed my mind after seeing that Colace statement. That would be enough to revolt anyone over the age of 5. That's disgusting.

That was a miscalculation. Need to guage your conversation to the patient a little better than that.

I have to admit that I have oversimplified explanations to patients I did not know were nurses, doctors etc. Our medical records system does not include information about the patient's education level or profession either unless it was mentioned in a H&P or social services note, so we really would not know just by reading the chart. Even if these factors were indeed in play, I am sorry to hear about your father-in-law. I hope the hospital staff will find a way to care for your dad in a manner consistent with his needs.

I am sorry but nowhere in my pt's charts does it state what their profession or level of intelligence is? I treat all people with the same dignity and respect no matter if they have a college degree or not.

It is helpful if the PCP or other professional who knows the patient well gives the acute care staff a heads up that the patient is sensitive to or offended by specific things.

I will see your Colace and raise you a hit of Haldol (haloperidol). Which is what a neurology floor resident prescribed and a neurology nurse on that floor gave to my father, admitted for pain management work-up, when he got a little squirrelly at night. Of course, nobody tumbled to the fact that his admitting H&P stated clearly that he had PARKINSONISM (for which Haldol is completely contraindicated...) Boy, did I pitch a fit when I found that out.

The hospital I worked at does have that information. So I happen to know that they can see that. Still, last I knew it wasn't ok to act like all patients are mentally challenged or uneducated.

Even without any profession/level of education information the patients way of speaking and demeanor should clue you in that " make your poop squishy so it doesn't hurt your hiney" is not an appropriate way to relate information to this person.

Quote from CrunchRNEven without any profession/level of education information the patients way of speaking and demeanor should clue you in that " make your poop squishy so it doesn't hurt your hiney" is not an appropriate way to relate information to this person.

What happened to looking at the chart. EVERY hospital I ahve worked at or been admitted to has stated...Occupation. When they admit you the admissions person...do you work? or Are you employed? Where do you work who carries your insurance.Seriously....LOOK at the record.ANYONE who says "make your poopy squishy" is floated from peds or an idiot.I have to tell you this is what I find so offensive about hospitals today....the total lack of respect given to the patient and the assumption that everyone is inferior and need to be treated like a moron. If I see one more gum smacking, eye rolling, lip smacking, shoulder shrugging health care professional I am going to blow a gasket!!!!Remember that underneath that patient exterior lies a human being. Who is loved by someone. They are someone's mother, brother sister mother Aunt.....that they deserve respect and treat them accordingly. While they might not be Einstien, The Queen of England or Bill Gates they are NO LESS deserving or the same respect and dignity.