Right to Know Realistic Care Alternatives

Camila Mendes

            “Cindy, you have cholecystitis, we are going to do an esophagealduedunoscopy, give you cephalosporin and flagyl, and maybe a choelcystectomy.” If your head is spinning right now, imagine how the patient feels! This is a simple example of what doctors tend to do to patients. Doctors forget that patients may not understand their terminology and need a simple explanation. When this occurs patients are left confused about what their condition is and cannot plan how they would like to receive treatment. When a patient is hospitalized, they may face several hard decisions. During these times, it is imperative that the doctor explain to the patient what their options are.

            Sometimes a patient is given false hope due to a doctor’s feelings towards a patient’s condition. For example, a patient diagnosed with lung cancer that has spread to the lymph nodes, heart, and kidneys should be told that the prognosis is not good. A doctor might instead tell a patient to not lose hope. If a doctor is not realistic with the patient, it can be very difficult for them to accept the reality of their situation. It is also more difficult for a patient to understand their current health condition if they are not given realistic options. It is important that nurses also maintain this consistency with patients. When teaching them about home care or other topics that need further education the nurse must consider what is realistic for this patient. Concerns such as the patient’s economic status, drive to improve, social support, disabilities, and mental impairments all play an important role in the nurse’s teaching plan for a patient. For example, If a patient barely earns enough money to pay for their rent, it is not realistic for a nurse to create a nutrition plan with expensive foods. It is important that patients speak to their medical care team about their questions and limitations when they feel insecure about the care plan.

            Next time you are hospitalized, remember to ask yourself if the options you are given or if the teaching you are receiving is realistic to your current conditions. Medical staff sometimes forget to break down information for patients. It is your duty as a patient to let your doctor know to break the information down for you so you may plan your care effectively and realistically. “Cindy, your gall bladder is inflamed. We will use a scope called EGD to look inside your gall bladder to understand what is causing the inflammation. We will give you some antibiotics and pain medication and if the medications do not help we may have to remove your gall bladder.” Which doctor do you prefer to have?