Whilst treating a patient this week I learnt the benefit of being polite but firm with patients. I was seeing a lady who was 3 days post C- section to give her some post natal education. She was complaining of mod pain however refused pain medication as she preferred more natural remedies. This pt also had a very interesting PMH and the nursing staff had warned me that she could be very difficult and wouldnt do anything she doesn’t want to.
So the first time I went to see her, I tried extra hard to be nice and build some rapport with her so that she would be compliant. Which meant that I let her brush her hair, put on some hand cream, helped her walk very slowly to the toilet etc. However this meant that I had already spent 15 minutes with her before id even started my education. She was extremely friendly with me and listened to my advice and asked questions. By the time Id finished, an education that should have taken a maximum of 25 minutes had taken just over 45 mins.
From this I learnt that whilst building rapport with the patient is essential, we still have to be in control of the treatment session because our time is very precious, especially next year when it would have been just me on the ward.
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