5 Advice for Dealing with Difficult Patients

For nurses and other healthcare professionals, a difficult patient is a way of life. It’s easy to be more understanding when you consider that many patients suffer from chronic pain, a complicated diagnosis, or mounting medical field costs.

In practical nurse school, you must learn effective and healthy ways to manage conflicts during patient care. You aim to provide the best medical care possible while de-escalating tensions and avoiding dangerous situations for patients, co-workers, and you.

These Tips Help You Deal with Angry Patients Professionally and Productively

Keep Calm

It is easy to become defensive when patients question your knowledge or judgment about their treatment plan. You must remain in control and calm when dealing with patients. Healthcare professionals and others who deal with the public need interpersonal skills. Although it is tempting to react to anger with anger, this will not serve you or your patient well. Misdirected feelings cause most cases. This could be because they are worried or uncertain about their condition.

Listen to Their Concerns

Reducing tension by listening to the patient without becoming defensive is possible. Patients can become argumentative or loud because they feel like a number. They don’t feel heard. Listen to what they are saying, then pause and speak back in your language. They will be able to tell that someone is listening. You can motivate them to change their tone. This will give you more insight into why they are unhappy, frustrated, or scared.

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Find a way to Connect with the Patient

Patients often assume that nurses don’t understand their difficult situations. You’ll earn more trust if you can connect with angry patients on a personal level. Everybody has a story. Ask them behavioral questions about their family, medical history, job postings, and interests to create a bond with them, Which you can learn the best in evening LPN programs.

It is a common practice for PN practical nurses to talk to their family members to get to know the patient and to gain some tips to win them over. The spouse, parent, or sibling can often provide the most insight into the patient’s past and present. These clues can help you to rekindle and restore your relationship after it has become sour.

Set Boundaries

All of this being said, protecting your physical safety and emotional well-being is equally important. You must set clear boundaries if your patient’s behavior becomes hostile or threatening. Explain calmly that you expect respect and will not tolerate abuse. If you cannot speak, ask your colleague to take over temporarily. Once the patient is calm, you can return.

All of Their Concerns

The patient ultimately wants a solution. Sometimes the solution you provide may differ from what they expect or want. Nonetheless, it is your responsibility as a nurse to offer the best course of treatment, given your knowledge, abilities, and competence. Sometimes, there is no cure. Sometimes, the talented team is still looking for a diagnosis and may wait for more diagnostic tests and lab results.

The patient may complain about another worker or long waiting times for their medication. Their meals can also be cause for contention. There are many reasons why patients get upset. They may be more open to understanding if you assure them that you care about the situation and are trying to solve it.

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How to Protect Yourself From a Combative Patient

There is a fine line between an aggressive patient and a dangerous one. Predicting what they will do is impossible, so it is best to be in a safe environment and take precautions. If you feel like you cannot reason with the patient or they seem aggressive, you should contact security. If you feel attacked, get to safety and wait for medical help.

If necessary, call the police. You can report the incident just like any other workplace incident according to your company policies and local reporting guidelines. Do not accept violence as part of your nursing job. You’ll notice some days are more complex than others as a nurse. You can be affected by a complex patient’s mood, patience, and even your love for nursing homes.

You can win even the most challenging patient with compassion and an open ear. This will help you regain your passion for healthcare, which inspired you to become a licensed practical nurse. If a patient’s disruptive behavior becomes dangerous, you should take immediate measures to protect yourself and others.