What is “respect?” What does that word mean?
It makes me think of the twin concepts of “rights” and “responsibilities” and how they work together. Patients always have “right of refusal,” for instance, and I honor that- but it is necessary- mandatory, I should say- that it be informed refusal. It becomes my responsibility to inform the person of risks and benefits of possible choices, and the patient’s responsibility to make an informed choice. At times I find myself in the role of “translator” from more technical medical language into words closer to a person’s typical vocabulary, something I enjoy greatly (as a nurse and a lover of language in all its forms).
The reasons for refusal can be surprising. With open communication, these can be discussed openly, and new possibilities found– and that is a part of my nursing role too- to relay these to the physician, in order to find the solution most acceptable to the patient. We’re working as a team.
More information about the seven core features of a patient-centered medical home can be found here.
Tags: Family Medicine, nurse, Nursing, Patient-Centered Medical Home, PCMH, rights and responsibilities
