5 Important Lessons I’ve Learned in Practice
Every day, the world seems to spin faster—and the health care system keeps pace. But despite modern advances, some of the essential lessons a PA or an NP can learn are rooted in “old-school” values. A seasoned clinician shares her top 5 tips from the trenches.
During the social history, I learned that he owned a trucking business. I asked what kind of trucks. He said, “Big ones!” I was more specific in my next attempt, asking, “Volvo, Peterbilt, International, or Kenworth?” He looked puzzled and said, “I see you know something about trucks.” I explained that my husband is a diesel mechanic and that we play “identify the truck” when travelling with our young sons. It turned out that my husband had worked on the patient’s truck the week before.
The dynamic of our encounter changed immediately, and we were able to schedule him for a much-needed colonoscopy. He was diagnosed with a large precancerous colon polyp, and I was relieved that our “connection” smoothed the way to getting him the care he needed.
3 Always remember that people are watching.
Nothing is truly private anymore. Social media can be a great forum for exchanging information and knowledge, but you could become the latest YouTube sensation (not necessarily in a positive way) at any time.
When a patient asks if he can record our visit to share with family, I wonder how many have done so without permission. The bottom line is that we, as health care professionals, have a high standard to live up to.
This was brought home to me in my work as a volunteer firefighter and EMT. One night I had barely finished loading a patient from a serious motor vehicle collision into a helicopter to be transferred to definitive care when my phone started buzzing. A photographer from the local newspaper—whom I didn’t even know was on scene—had snapped a picture of me in action and posted it to his online news site and social media accounts. Within 5 minutes, several coworkers had seen it and texted me. My surname across the bottom of my jacket provided a clear indication of where I was and what I was doing. I was absolutely shocked at how quickly news spread, and although nothing untoward or inappropriate was documented, it was unsettling to realize that I was “in the public eye” while I was focused on doing my job.
Continue to: That photo is now the screensaver...
