Why Ask When You Don't Want the Answer?

As a Registered Nurse I see a lot of things in the hospital. I have taken care of many people over the years but there is one thing that really annoys me…noncompliance. If you’re not quite sure what that means it’s simply not doing what you’re told. Every day people pour into emergency rooms, urgent care centers, and doctor’s offices to find out what’s wrong with them. That’s all fine and they should continue to do that but it’s useless if they don’t listen to what the doctors and nurses have to say and put it into action.

I have heard too many patients say that they feel better so they’re fine and want to go home. It’s understandable that they want to go home but just because they feel better doesn’t mean that they are better. So many want doctors and nurses to make them feel better but don’t’ care as much about fixing the problem that caused the illness in the first place. If you only treat the symptoms and not the problem there will be many more trips to the doctor for the same or corresponding reasons. If you don’t want answers and solutions then don’t ask the questions and don’t complain when you don’t get better or when you keep getting sick.

A few of the most common offenders are smokers, diabetics, and those with heart troubles. Smokers won’t/can’t quit, diabetics won’t eat right and take their medications as they should along with many other things, heart patients won’t lay off the salt and deep fried foods along with other heart-stopping foods and all three of these groups fail to change their lifestyle to improve or at least maintain their health. That may sound harsh, and it may be harsh but I’m being honest which is something that many of these patients of which I speak are not. They are not honest with their health care providers who are there solely to help but cannot do so without the cooperation of the patients themselves.

This has been a rant by your friendly neighborhood nurse. There is much more to say on this and similar subjects but I’ll save that for another rant.