 Provided by Clinician 1
Sometimes, after meeting a patient a few times, or many times, we develop a sense of who they are, what makes them tick. We get a handle of their thoughts, their nuances, their idiosyncrasies. We think that we have figured them out.
Often, this helps us make the visit run smoothly. We know how to broach topics with a bit more ease, make things more timely. Other times, after knowing their “quirks,” we also may think we know how to get them out of the office faster. Which is helpful if your schedule is running behind or if you do not like the personality of the patient. (Yes, c’mon, admit it... we DON’T like every patient that we see. If you say you do, you either haven’t been in practice long enough, or you’re lying to yourself.)
Then, at times, we may discover something new about the person, a belief they have, or something they are passionate about, that opens up a whole new window into their personality. And we may be privileged to see them in a new light. I had two opportunities this week to do just that.
The first patient was an elderly woman in relatively good health, other than the dementia that has been progressively robbing her of her short-term memory. I had seen her only for acute issues, as she usually follows my collaborating physician for her routine care. She had mentioned a lump in her neck to him several months ago, and the resulting x-ray was normal. However, she did not have the follow-up testing that was recommended until this week. The CT scan diagnosed probable lymphoma, and it was rather progressive.
I was the provider who broke the news to her and her husband. She started to cry, but NOT because of her diagnosis, as I expected. What followed was a tearful, but joyful sharing of her faith, and her statement to me that she would not pursue treatment, that she was ready for the end. I have witnessed patients’ faith, but never as dramatically as I did in that moment. A very moving, awesome experience for me. As limited as my previous visits had been with her, it was wonderful to share this time with her.
The second patient was an older woman with chronic sinusitis. A self-described “progressive personality,” very direct and demanding, and a substitute teacher in our local district. She had already seen an allergist and ENT, and previously taken 4 rounds of long-term antibiotics, had a CT scan, sinus surgery, and was back again with another infection. We had talked about her continued smoking being a co-factor for her problems. I was mentally at my wit’s-end, not having any other options to offer to her... when she asked about my children.
I do not generally talk about my family to most patients, as I value my privacy. However, I shared a few details about their schooling and interests. In front of my eyes, she lit up and became passionate about discussing her teaching, books and interests that they may like, her “teacher secrets” for maneuvering the district, etc. I could see just how good of a teacher she must be. I looked at her with different eyes, and admittedly, new respect. I thanked her for her advice, faxed her prescriptions, and sent her back to ENT for yet another opinion.
I needed that reminder... that my preconceived notions often need a good shake-up. Remember to look behind the person’s demeanor sometimes... we may be surprised at what we might find.
 Kim Spering is a family nurse practitioner who currently works at Brndjar Medical Associates, P.C., a family practice in Emmaus, PA. Her past experience includes the fields of medical/surgical ICU, open heart/trauma ICU, labor and delivery, nursing education, nursing supervision, and as a nurse practitioner in both family practice and OB/GYN settings. She currently serves as a NP preceptor for her graduate school alma mater, DeSales University, as well as for local baccalaureate programs. She is passionate about patient education and helping patients understand that they are ultimately responsible for their own health. She also firmly believes that the public needs to be educated on the value of NPs and PAs in meeting the health care needs of the next decade and beyond. In her free time, Kim enjoys family vacations with her optometrist husband, Mark, and her two sons, Matthew and Connor.
The viewpoint expressed in this article is the opinion of the author and is not necessarily the viewpoint of the owners or employees at Healthcare Staffing Innovations, LLC.
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