Reflecting on a Challenging Patient Interaction

 

During one of my regular shifts in the Medical-Surgical ward, I encountered Mrs. Smith, a patient known for her particularly assertive demeanor. I was met with resistance as I entered her room to administer her evening medications. She questioned the necessity of each drug, casting doubt on my professional judgment. Initially, I felt a rush of defensiveness, my immediate instinct being to assert my knowledge and the doctor’s recommendations. But I paused, taking a deep breath, recognizing the importance of patient autonomy and their right to understand their care.

Rather than reverting to a purely clinical explanation, I sat beside Mrs. Smith and discussed her concerns. I inquired about the root of her hesitancy, which revealed a recent incident where she had suffered side effects from a prescribed medication at another facility. This incident left her feeling vulnerable and distrustful. By understanding this context, my perspective shifted from viewing her questions as challenges to my competence to seeing them as her way of seeking safety and assurance.

Upon reflection, this situation underscored the significance of effective communication in nursing. It reminded me of Schön’s “reflection-in-action” model as I adapted my real-time approach based on Mrs. Smith’s feedback. Considering the workload and time constraints nurses often face, dismissing her concerns would have been easy. However, the brief moment I took to understand her concerns resolved her immediate anxieties and built a foundation of trust for our subsequent interactions.

I’ve since carried this experience, ensuring I always prioritize patient communication, even facing challenges. Patients like Mrs. Smith have taught me that behind every question or concern is a story, and by taking the time to listen and understand, I can provide care that is not only clinically effective but also emotionally supportive.
In this reflective essay, the writer reflects on a challenging patient interaction and discusses what they learned. The essay begins with an introduction that provides an overview of the experience and states the essay’s main point. The body paragraphs explore the experience in detail, providing specific examples and reflecting on its impact on the writer’s personal and professional growth. The conclusion summarizes the essay’s main points and provides a final reflection on the experience.