Skip to content
  • About
  • Contact
  • Contribute
  • Book
  • Careers
  • Podcast
  • Recommended
  • Speaking
  • All
  • Physician
  • Practice
  • Policy
  • Finance
  • Conditions
  • .edu
  • Patient
  • Meds
  • Tech
  • Social
  • Video
    • All
    • Physician
    • Practice
    • Policy
    • Finance
    • Conditions
    • .edu
    • Patient
    • Meds
    • Tech
    • Social
    • Video
    • About
    • Contact
    • Contribute
    • Book
    • Careers
    • Podcast
    • Recommended
    • Speaking

Experiencing the professionalism of nurses and medical residents

Ryan Madanick, MD
Physician
August 4, 2011
24 Shares
Share
Tweet
Share

Today I became a patient.  If you follow me on Twitter, then by now you know what happened.  Yes, I am embarrassed by what happened, but I’ll relinquish my HIPAA right to privacy for this moment.

This afternoon I swam nose-first into the sidewall in the pool.  (I haven’t been swimming in awhile and I forgot to bring goggles, so I wasn’t really looking.  Laugh all you want …)  It didn’t hurt all that much, and I wouldn’t have even noticed any issues for a little while if blood hadn’t come gushing out.  Jane, the lifeguard at the Y, was very helpful in getting me settled on the side of the pool while I held pressure.  After holding the icebag on it for 10 or 15 minutes, I was able to palpate the bridge of my nose, and then it hit me.  There was a dent in the side and a small bulge on the opposite side.  Yep, I had broken my nose.

With two little kids, I didn’t want my wife to have to bring them to the ER, so I drove home, grabbed some books, and headed to the ER at the hospital where I work.  I figured I’d be there all night.  I mean, a broken nose is nothing compared to the typical emergency room traffic.

I parked in my usual lot and walked toward the ER.  By a stroke of luck, I ran into an ENT colleague on my way in (he was heading home for the day).  When I told him I was heading to the ER for what I thought was *laugh* a broken nose, he took a quick look and agreed.  He gave me a quick rundown of what could be done, since I really didn’t know.

I was triaged and put into a room within 15 minutes.  Within the next 15 minutes, a financial representative and 2 nurses had come in, none of whom really had any idea that I work at the hospital.  As the second nurse was getting all of my information, 3 ENT residents (a 4th year, a 3rd year, and an intern) walked in.  If I wanted my nose reset, they offered to do it right there with local anesthesia, or I could have waited a few days and had it done under sedation in the OR.  I was a bit nervous about having my nose reset without sedation, but I decided to go ahead and get it done while I was there.

As they told me, the local anesthesia was definitely the most uncomfortable part.  It was not a fun experience by any means, but it was only a few minutes.  By the time the anesthetic had fully numbed my bridge and septum we were ready.  Less than a minute later it was done.  All I felt was a pop, as if I had cracked my knuckle.  I expected much worse.

Within three hours I had left the ER.  Three hours?  It is quite possible that I set a record for fastest overall ER visit and successful management of a nasal fracture.  Maybe it was just a slow day in the ER, but it was more than just the rapidity of my treatment that impressed me.

They engaged me as a participant in the decision-making and treated me like a person, not a like a guinea pig, which we have probably all seen.  Whenever I was uncomfortable the 4th year ENT resident stopped to ask me how I was.  He took the opportunity to teach the intern what should be done at key steps [If you have never been a patient when one doc is teaching a junior doc about your condition, it is quite interesting!]. Everything about his bedside manner was what I would expect from a seasoned doc.  The entire team of health care professionals impressed me.

With everything we hear about the lack of professionalism in the current state of medicine, it was quite a comforting experience to witness firsthand the professional comportment of the nurses and the residents.  Although I have no idea if this was the same way that every patient gets treated, I hope it is.

Ryan Madanick is a gastroenterologist who blogs at Gut Check.

Submit a guest post and be heard on social media’s leading physician voice.

Prev

What is the best type of infant thermometer?

August 4, 2011 Kevin 2
…
Next

Should Lipitor go OTC? A cardiologist says yes, an internist says no

August 4, 2011 Kevin 11
…

Tagged as: Emergency Medicine

Post navigation

< Previous Post
What is the best type of infant thermometer?
Next Post >
Should Lipitor go OTC? A cardiologist says yes, an internist says no

More by Ryan Madanick, MD

  • a desk with keyboard and ipad with the kevinmd logo

    Medical educators: A subtle difference in wording makes a difference

    Ryan Madanick, MD
  • a desk with keyboard and ipad with the kevinmd logo

    We need an evidence-based, randomized trial on gun control

    Ryan Madanick, MD
  • a desk with keyboard and ipad with the kevinmd logo

    How to get started on Twitter: A primer for doctors

    Ryan Madanick, MD

More in Physician

  • Revealing America’s expansion: the dark truth of Native American suffering and unjustified abuses

    Anonymous
  • From journalism to medicine: Unveiling the untold stories of patients’ medical conditions

    Veronica Bonales, MD
  • A mentor’s legacy in medicine, leadership, and embracing evidence-based care

    Arthur Lazarus, MD, MBA
  • Breaking free from restrictive covenants to combat burnout

    Raya E. Kheirbek, MD
  • From medical student to intern: Discovering a deeper connection with patients

    Johnathan Yao, MD, MPH
  • A physician’s typical day, as envisioned by a non-clinician health care MBA: a satire

    Jennifer Lycette, MD
  • Most Popular

  • Past Week

    • Is chaos in health care leading us towards socialized medicine? How physician burnout is a catalyst.

      Howard Smith, MD | Physician
    • Boxing legends Tyson and Foreman: powerful lessons for a resilient and evolving health care future

      Harvey Castro, MD, MBA | Physician
    • A physician’s typical day, as envisioned by a non-clinician health care MBA: a satire

      Jennifer Lycette, MD | Physician
    • The tragic story of Mr. G: a painful journey towards understanding suicide

      William Lynes, MD | Physician
    • The rising threat of lung cancer in Asian American female nonsmokers

      Alice S. Y. Lee, MD | Conditions
    • Decoding name displays in health care: Privacy, identification, and compliance unveiled

      Deepak Gupta, MD | Physician
  • Past 6 Months

    • “Is your surgeon really skilled? The hidden threat to public safety in medicine.

      Gene Uzawa Dorio, MD | Physician
    • Revolutionize your practice: the value-based care model that reduces physician burnout

      Chandravadan Patel, MD | Physician
    • Breaking the cycle of racism in health care: a call for anti-racist action

      Tomi Mitchell, MD | Policy
    • Unveiling the hidden damage: the secretive world of medical boards

      Alan Lindemann, MD | Physician
    • An inspiring tribute to an exceptional radiologist who made a lasting impact

      Kim Downey, PT | Conditions
    • Proactive risk management: a game-changer in preventing physician burnout

      Howard Smith, MD | Physician
  • Recent Posts

    • A revolution in patient empowerment: Working together to save our medical system [PODCAST]

      The Podcast by KevinMD | Podcast
    • Revealing America’s expansion: the dark truth of Native American suffering and unjustified abuses

      Anonymous | Physician
    • Unlock financial freedom: The physician’s guide to lucrative multifamily syndications and wealth accumulation

      Pranay Parikh, MD | Finance
    • From Moscow Mule to the opioid crisis: Unveiling the tragic legacy and urgent solutions

      Osmund Agbo, MD | Meds
    • From journalism to medicine: Unveiling the untold stories of patients’ medical conditions

      Veronica Bonales, MD | Physician
    • Unlocking resilience: a powerful journey from trauma to transformation [PODCAST]

      The Podcast by KevinMD | Podcast

Subscribe to KevinMD and never miss a story!

Get free updates delivered free to your inbox.


Find jobs at
Careers by KevinMD.com

Search thousands of physician, PA, NP, and CRNA jobs now.

Learn more

View 2 Comments >

Founded in 2004 by Kevin Pho, MD, KevinMD.com is the web’s leading platform where physicians, advanced practitioners, nurses, medical students, and patients share their insight and tell their stories.

Social

  • Like on Facebook
  • Follow on Twitter
  • Connect on Linkedin
  • Subscribe on Youtube
  • Instagram

CME Spotlights

From MedPage Today

Latest News

  • New Antiviral Option for CMV Prophylaxis After Kidney Transplant
  • Infant RSV Vax Heads to FDA for Review
  • Is Getting Test Results Online Right Away a Good Idea? Yes, Patients Say
  • Residency Application System Cuts Section on Hobbies and Interests
  • Workplace Harassment, Cyber Incivility High for Minority Groups in Academic Medicine

Meeting Coverage

  • Phase II Study: Bispecific Oral Drug Tops Leading JAK Inhibitor for RA
  • Closing the Diversity Gaps in Urologic Oncology Leadership
  • Certain NSCLC Patients May Be Able to Stop Immunotherapy at 2 Years
  • No Survival Benefit With Immune Checkpoint Inhibitor Rechallenge in Metastatic RCC
  • Happy Sleep, Happy Couple?
  • Most Popular

  • Past Week

    • Is chaos in health care leading us towards socialized medicine? How physician burnout is a catalyst.

      Howard Smith, MD | Physician
    • Boxing legends Tyson and Foreman: powerful lessons for a resilient and evolving health care future

      Harvey Castro, MD, MBA | Physician
    • A physician’s typical day, as envisioned by a non-clinician health care MBA: a satire

      Jennifer Lycette, MD | Physician
    • The tragic story of Mr. G: a painful journey towards understanding suicide

      William Lynes, MD | Physician
    • The rising threat of lung cancer in Asian American female nonsmokers

      Alice S. Y. Lee, MD | Conditions
    • Decoding name displays in health care: Privacy, identification, and compliance unveiled

      Deepak Gupta, MD | Physician
  • Past 6 Months

    • “Is your surgeon really skilled? The hidden threat to public safety in medicine.

      Gene Uzawa Dorio, MD | Physician
    • Revolutionize your practice: the value-based care model that reduces physician burnout

      Chandravadan Patel, MD | Physician
    • Breaking the cycle of racism in health care: a call for anti-racist action

      Tomi Mitchell, MD | Policy
    • Unveiling the hidden damage: the secretive world of medical boards

      Alan Lindemann, MD | Physician
    • An inspiring tribute to an exceptional radiologist who made a lasting impact

      Kim Downey, PT | Conditions
    • Proactive risk management: a game-changer in preventing physician burnout

      Howard Smith, MD | Physician
  • Recent Posts

    • A revolution in patient empowerment: Working together to save our medical system [PODCAST]

      The Podcast by KevinMD | Podcast
    • Revealing America’s expansion: the dark truth of Native American suffering and unjustified abuses

      Anonymous | Physician
    • Unlock financial freedom: The physician’s guide to lucrative multifamily syndications and wealth accumulation

      Pranay Parikh, MD | Finance
    • From Moscow Mule to the opioid crisis: Unveiling the tragic legacy and urgent solutions

      Osmund Agbo, MD | Meds
    • From journalism to medicine: Unveiling the untold stories of patients’ medical conditions

      Veronica Bonales, MD | Physician
    • Unlocking resilience: a powerful journey from trauma to transformation [PODCAST]

      The Podcast by KevinMD | Podcast

MedPage Today Professional

An Everyday Health Property Medpage Today
  • Terms of Use | Disclaimer
  • Privacy Policy
  • DMCA Policy
All Content © KevinMD, LLC
Site by Outthink Group

Experiencing the professionalism of nurses and medical residents
2 comments

Comments are moderated before they are published. Please read the comment policy.

Loading Comments...