if you work in the medical field you'll have to deal with a difficult patient
sooner rather than later unfortunately this is inevitable and is part of the job whether they're
angry uncooperative or just plain in a bad mood knowing how to handle these types of patients can
make all the difference in the world and that is the topic of this video the tips that i'm
going to share on dealing with difficult patients will be helpful for nurses respiratory therapists
doctors or anyone else who works in the hospital setting so if you're ready let's get into it
when encountering a patient who's being difficult the first thing you need to do is take a deep
breath the patient is most likely experiencing a lot of stress or anxiety and simply just taking
it out on you it's important to remain calm no matter how difficult the situation may be
so now let's discuss what you can do to handle these types of patients
first and foremost try to empathize with the patient it's important to remember that
they're going through a tough time and most likely they're just taking their frustration out on you
because you're the closest person to them if you can manage to see things from their perspective
it'll be a lot easier to reason with them and de-escalate the situation number two let the
patient tell their story sometimes all patients want is to be heard in many cases they just need
to vent and let everything out if you can let them tell their story without interruption just listen
to what they have to say and try to understand where they're coming from this is often one of
the simplest but most effective ways to deal with the patient who's being difficult number three
stay calm cool and collected this one is easier said than done but it's important to try to remain
calm during difficult situations such as this if you let the patient see that they're getting to
you it'll only make the situation worse they'll know that they have the upper hand and they'll
continue to act out it's important to keep your emotions in check and remain as calm as possible
this can be difficult but it's a crucial part of dealing with difficult patients number four don't
take it personally when a patient has taken their frustration out on you it actually doesn't mean
they don't like you as a person their issue is likely not about you but the situation they're in
if you can approach the situation with this mindset it'll be a lot easier to deal with
disgruntled patients in an effective manner number five try to connect with the patient on a
personal level if you can establish a connection with a patient it'll be easier to understand
where they're coming from and what they're going through and after they begin acting out
it'll be much easier to disarm the situation if you've already established a connection
in this case they're more likely to trust you and hear what you have to say number six never argue
agitated patients may attempt to maneuver you into an argument and while you're entitled to
your own opinion it is imperative that you do not engage in a heated argument with a patient
this will only escalate the situation and make it more difficult to manage rather than clarifying
why they aren't getting what they want just simply apologize and let the patient know that
you're doing everything in your power to help them whatever you do just avoid getting into
an argument as it'll only make matters worse number seven is to set boundaries you always
want to do your best to help a patient in need but you must do so within a set of boundaries
never let a patient push you around sometimes they'll ask for things just to see if they can
actually get away with it other times they may try to take advantage of your kindness and ask for
things that are unreasonable in either case it's important to set boundaries and don't back down
if you do the patient will only continue to take advantage of the situation number eight keep your
levels of stress to a minimum if you're dealing with stress and personal issues while on the job
it'll be a lot more difficult to sympathize with patients who are giving you a hard time that's why
it's important to try to keep your stress levels to a minimum we all have things that we're dealing
with in our personal lives and that's normal however it's important to try and leave those
things at the door when you clock in for your shift this can be difficult but it's something
that has to be done number nine is to control your body language your body language says a lot
even if you're not saying anything at all nonverbal communication is a very powerful tool
that's why it's important to be aware of your body language when you're interacting with patients
because they can pick up on even the smallest of cues if you're tense they'll know it if you're
uncomfortable they'll be able to sense it and if you're not really listening to what they're saying
they'll definitely be able to tell so it's important to try to keep your body
language in check remain calm and relaxed even if you're feeling the exact opposite on the inside
and number 10 is to ask for help if you're having a hard time managing a
patient don't be afraid to ask for help there's no shame in admitting that you need assistance
in fact it's actually a sign of strength it shows that you're willing to do whatever it
takes to provide the best care possible for the patient and chances are if you're struggling
with a patient someone else on the staff has probably dealt with a similar situation before
so don't be afraid to ask for help because it's better to get some assistance than to
try to handle the situation on your own and i would love to know do you have any tips
on dealing with difficult patients if so be sure to let us know down in the comment section below
and if you want to support the channel be sure to like and subscribe i would greatly appreciate it
and there should be some other helpful videos popping up on your screen right about now that
i think you'll enjoy and just a quick reminder we're not doctors this video is for informational
purposes only thank you so much for watching have a blessed day and as always breathe easy my friend