Hi All......
I know we've all had it....but at the moment I'm quite sick of some of the sexual harrassment I've received from patients whilst on clinic.
At the moment, we have one elderly, homeless aboriginal man who is a care awaiting placement - so really....he's not even entitled to receive physio, however as our ward is very quiet....I've been asked to see him regarding his chest care. He does have a mental illness, and he can be quite incoherent at times, has a huge PMH, but has presented with an exacerbation of COPD.
Anyway - I'm not quite comfortable stating exactly what happened with this pt when I saw him yesterday.....but I'm just angry and appalled that there are people like him, that try to take advantage of every system that's out there...then abuse staff! It's not just sexual harrassment he dishes out....he's very verbally abusive, yells the most colourful language at staff...can be really bossy - and just plain rude. I really really try not to judge people who are in hospital and just try to think that their lives have certain circumstances that we probably don't know about and can't possibly understand.....but I can not stand this pt!! I really really do not like his nature and attitude I don't like that our hospital system is forced to take care of people like him.
I feel like it's a bit of a cop out to tell my supervisor that I don't want to see him.....but I'm going to because there's no way I'm going to have contact with this man again.....and I realise that through his actions and perhaps cultural differences....I'm unable to provide optimal physio treatment for this pt. BUT I'm sooooo angry with this man, for thinking that he can just say and do whatever he likes just because he's in hospital.........and I really wish sometimes that we could be 'people' instead of 'professionals' when it comes to pts and I had the nerve to tell some pt's what I think! (it might be in language he understands.....but it might be 'unprofessional' as well :))
Hopefully he gets a placement over the weekend.
Mads
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2 comments:
Hi Mads,
your situation sounds really the pits-my husband comes home and tells me there are patients like that and I'm glad to say I've not seen many of them. What I have done on different occasions when I had behaviour that I considered unacceptable was talked to the nursing coordinator about what hte nurses are doing to handle the pt behaviour and together made a plan with the coordinator eg rang the clinical psychology or the aboriginal liason staff department to get some advice and input. I see a lot of comments in the blog about not being able to refuse to treat-and I believe we do have the right to refuse to treat ie pass the patient on to someone else or put in place a contract so that the patient follows certain behaviors and in exchange we agree also to do this. I have also rung up the union at times to find out my rights, and have taken the issue to the consultant. The clin psychs have advised on behavour management of of pt. You are entitled not to be harrased-this patient is infringing your rights and you do not have to accept it. It is appropriate for this to be dealt with. Good on you for raising it, regards Steph
Thanks for your thoughts Steph - really appreciate the ideas for what to do regarding patients like this :)
Madeleine
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