by Debra Moore, RN (Nurse of the Year recipient) BrightStar Care
- You’re in charge – The patient is always in charge of his/her own healthcare. At the end of the day, no matter what your healthcare team has told you, it is up to you to make the final decision.
- Switch it up –Just because you have been with the same doctor for 20 years doesn’t mean you have to continue to see them. Take control and search for someone that is a better fit if you need a change.
- Medications aren’t always the answer – Sometimes, it’s more powerful to speak your thoughts than it is to keep everything bottled up. Rest, eating a well-balanced diet, and a good mindset can oftentimes help detour those nagging sniffles, aches and pains.
- Second Opinions Matter – Don’t be afraid to ask for that second opinion. Information is power, especially when it comes to healthcare and it is incredibly important to be armed with everything you need to make an educated decision about your health.
- Follow the rules – Following your doctors or nurse’s directions is one of the most important things you can do when it comes to your health. If you don’t understand why they want you to do something or to stop doing something – ask.
- Don’t Make Assumptions – Patients often assume that either the nurse or doctor should have known about pain that was worse than originally stated, or medication that needed a refill. As healthcare professionals, we take pride in ensuring our patients have everything they need, but we might forget to ask about a refill, or may fail to notice that you grimaced worse when we examined your right leg. So PLEASE…tell us.
- All our Patients are No. 1- A great nurse has care and compassion for all of his/her patients, which makes every patient feel like they have their own personal nurse. The greatest part about being a nurse is that despite many days having multiple competing priorities, we are guaranteed to provide patients and families genuine commitment, time, care, and the feeling of being No. 1.
