Question

Topic #4: The Difficult Patient In the lesson, you read the story about, The Difficult Patient Reflect on a clinical experience where you cared for a "difficult patient?" Include a description of the experience of the encounter. Delve into your emotions such as peace, confidence, happiness, joy, gratitude, inspiration, frustration, anger and/or uncertainty, as well as insights into interprofessional care and the impact of emotions on nursing practice. How did this encounter contribute to your professional development? How might this experience change your nursing practice?

Answer 1

difficult patients are patients with a wide range of behavioral problems. they are mainly violent, verbally rude, manipulative, demanding, and exploitative to the doctor. difficult patients are classified in to different categories like -

• resistant - they are angry and defensive.
• somatized - they have histories of multiple vague complaints display signs and symptoms of anxiety, depression, and personality disorders.
• manipulative - they use guilt, rage, and threats of legal action to get what they desire.
• frequent flyers

a useful approach is needed to deal with difficult people. some of the approaches that I have used to deal with a patient with unreasonable demands is to set limits. the best way to deal with manipulative patients is

• to let them tell their story
• find opportunities for empathy
• look through patients view
• to acknowledge the situation

when I encountered difficult patients then I engaged them in conversation, avoided arguing and defensive postures.

it is very much difficult to handle or to deal with difficult people because it is normal that the doctor gets angry and frustrated. coping techniques that doctors should develop are-

• relaxation before the encounter of the patient
• Resigning oneself to the situation - that's life and this is part of the profession
• Artificial use of emotions and behaviors

in this working profession, it develops very strong patience and calmness that also reflects in the personal and social life.