TO ERIC: I got in a really serious vehicle accident not long ago. Among other things, I was knocked out. The first thing I remember is waking up in the hospital, not understanding what was happening, and being asked if I wanted anything to help with the pain by a nurse. “No,” I replied. The nurse then shouted, “He’s a tough guy; doesn’t want any pain meds,” as she emerged into the hallway. Later during my two-week hospital stay, I was told that I was attempting to be tough. I’ve never had a high pain threshold, and I’m not even sure how to react to that.
Absence of Pain
TO PAIN: There was obviously a misunderstanding there. The nurse had a duty to treat you with dignity and consideration. And if your response was worse than you’ve described it, you might not have been quite yourself because you also experienced a head injury. Particularly when it comes to pain management, empathy and open communication are crucial.
In certain medical circumstances, many patients discover that their pain is minimized or underreported. Research has indicated that women, non-white individuals, and the elderly are disproportionately undertreated for pain. Therefore, having a friend or loved one by your side to act as an advocate and spokesperson might be beneficial.
In the opposite direction, empathy is also required. A startling 81.6 percent of nurses reported experiencing workplace violence in 2023, according to a poll by National Nurses United, the largest organization of registered nurses in the country. It’s important to keep in mind that nurses and other medical professionals are there to treat our suffering, not to add to it, when we visit a hospital or urgent care center on our worst days. They also put in a great deal of work, frequently for far less money than they deserve. It’s time to bring in a loved one or another staff member if a patient isn’t feeling heard or appreciated.
Questions can be sent to R. Eric Thomas at [email protected] or by mail at P.O. Box 22474, Philadelphia, PA 19110. Subscribe to his weekly newsletter at rericthomas.com and follow him on Instagram.)
Tribune Content Agency, LLC in 2025.
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