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

Dear patient: Apologies from your medical student

Jennifer Chevinsky, MD
Education
March 4, 2015
1K Shares
Share
Tweet
Share

shutterstock_203129515

I am sorry that you are in the hospital. You are feeling ill. The noises are loud, people are walking in and out of rooms, and you aren’t sure of what to expect.  You are probably nervous.  This whole situation is a disturbance to your life. You would rather be at home — I can understand that. Few people want to be in the hospital. I don’t know what brought you here, but I will do my best to listen to your story.

I am sorry that I wake you up so early. I saw you sleeping; this is probably the first time you have been able to fall asleep since you got here. The nurse had to check your vitals a few hours ago. The place is unfamiliar, and you were tossing and turning for most of the night.  I quietly call your name and place my hand on your arm. This is the only chance I will have to speak with you before I meet up with the team.

I am sorry that I ask you many questions. I’ve been asking you about your poop every day. You must be getting tired of talking about it. You just answered these questions for the nurse, the resident, and the consulting physicians. I know repeating your story can get exhausting. I read their notes, but I want to hear it from you to make sure nothing is missed. I ask you what you think is happening; I want you to feel respected and heard. I have more time to sit and talk to you than some of the other members of my team, and I want to help address all of your health concerns, not just the one that brought you here.

I am sorry your privacy is limited here. There is only a curtain separating you and the other patient. You are laying there in the hospital gown, slowly pulling up your blankets. I will sit close to you and try to talk quietly, so others cannot hear our conversation. You are tucked in warmly. I ask to lift your blankets so I can do a physical exam. I will try to keep you covered. I will replace your socks and readjust the blanket just like you had it.

I am sorry that I don’t know all of the answers. You ask me when you will be able to go home. I will have to ask my attending. I enjoy talking with you about your labs and the pathophysiology of your disease, but I don’t claim to know everything. I will look it up, confer with my team, and come back to you with an answer. When we talk, I try to limit my medical jargon, but sometimes it slips in. I am working on it. I will continue to learn and increase my knowledge base so I can answer more of your questions.

I am sorry that you are in the hospital and that I woke you up early. I asked you many questions, there was limited privacy, and I didn’t have all of the answers.  You always have the right to say that you would prefer not to be seen by a student, however, if you do choose to open up to me and tell me about your pain, fears, hopes, and concerns, I pledge to be your biggest health advocate and that is something I will never apologize for.

Jennifer Chevinsky is a medical student and can be reached on Twitter @jchevinsky. She is the creator and moderator of @BioethxChat on Twitter.

Image credit: Shutterstock.com

Prev

As a mother, I'm angry at vaccine refusers. As a physician, I'm scared.

March 4, 2015 Kevin 8
…
Next

EMR horror: Please choose one

March 4, 2015 Kevin 14
…

Tagged as: Hospital-Based Medicine, Medical school

Post navigation

< Previous Post
As a mother, I'm angry at vaccine refusers. As a physician, I'm scared.
Next Post >
EMR horror: Please choose one

More by Jennifer Chevinsky, MD

  • The best medical specialty you’ve never heard of

    Jennifer Chevinsky, MD
  • Why did she want to become a doctor? Read her personal statement.

    Jennifer Chevinsky, MD
  • a desk with keyboard and ipad with the kevinmd logo

    The insufferable patient: You know the one

    Jennifer Chevinsky, MD

More in Education

  • The role of income in medical school acceptance

    Carter Do
  • Balancing tension and kindness in medical education

    Chloe N. L. Lee, MD, MPH
  • I want to be a doctor who can provide care for women: What states must I rule out for my medical education?

    Nandini Erodula
  • A chance encounter in Chicago: lessons in compassionate medicine

    Emily S. Hagen
  • Business education’s role in preventing physician practice decline

    Curtis G. Graham, MD
  • The impact of assumptions on patient communication in medical training

    Esther Covington
  • Most Popular

  • Past Week

    • Reigniting after burnout: 3 physician stories

      Kim Downey, PT | Physician
    • I’m a doctor, and I almost died during childbirth

      Bayo Curry-Winchell, MD | Physician
    • I’m tired of being a distracted doctor

      Shiv Rao, MD | Tech
    • Inside the grueling life of a surgery intern

      Randall S. Fong, MD | Physician
    • Out-of-office infusions in oncology care [PODCAST]

      The Podcast by KevinMD | Podcast
    • Balancing motherhood and medicine [PODCAST]

      The Podcast by KevinMD | Podcast
  • Past 6 Months

    • Medical gaslighting: a growing challenge in today’s medical landscape

      Tami Burdick | Conditions
    • Balancing opioid medication in chronic pain

      L. Joseph Parker, MD | Conditions
    • I want to be a doctor who can provide care for women: What states must I rule out for my medical education?

      Nandini Erodula | Education
    • Mourning the silent epidemic: the physician suicide crisis and suggestions for change

      Amna Shabbir, MD | Physician
    • Reigniting after burnout: 3 physician stories

      Kim Downey, PT | Physician
    • Misunderstandings about opioid use disorder

      Amy Baxter, MD | Conditions
  • Recent Posts

    • Out-of-office infusions in oncology care [PODCAST]

      The Podcast by KevinMD | Podcast
    • The power of business knowledge for medical professionals

      Curtis G. Graham, MD | Physician
    • Using the language of art to create work-life balance

      Sarah Samaan, MD | Physician
    • Levamisole is good for your dog, but bad for your cocaine

      Robert Killeen, MD | Meds
    • Physician autonomy and patient interactions in corporate health care

      Michele Luckenbaugh | Conditions
    • PSA screening: What you need to know [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 16 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

  • Long COVID Rare in U.S. Kids, Has Affected 7% of Adults
  • Vascular Conditions Offer No Clarity on Pollution-Dementia Link
  • FDA Staff Voice Serious Concerns About Investigational ALS Cell Therapy
  • Primary Prevention Benefits of Lowering LDL Also Apply to the Elderly
  • Doctors Should Stay Away From 'Grateful Patient' Fundraising

Meeting Coverage

  • Loneliness Needs to Be Treated Like Any Other Health Condition, Researcher Suggests
  • Stopping Medical Misinformation Requires Early Detection
  • AI Has an Image Problem in Healthcare, Expert Says
  • Want Better Health Outcomes? Check Out What Other Countries Do
  • ERS Roundup: Cell Transplant Boosts Lung Function in COPD Patients
  • Most Popular

  • Past Week

    • Reigniting after burnout: 3 physician stories

      Kim Downey, PT | Physician
    • I’m a doctor, and I almost died during childbirth

      Bayo Curry-Winchell, MD | Physician
    • I’m tired of being a distracted doctor

      Shiv Rao, MD | Tech
    • Inside the grueling life of a surgery intern

      Randall S. Fong, MD | Physician
    • Out-of-office infusions in oncology care [PODCAST]

      The Podcast by KevinMD | Podcast
    • Balancing motherhood and medicine [PODCAST]

      The Podcast by KevinMD | Podcast
  • Past 6 Months

    • Medical gaslighting: a growing challenge in today’s medical landscape

      Tami Burdick | Conditions
    • Balancing opioid medication in chronic pain

      L. Joseph Parker, MD | Conditions
    • I want to be a doctor who can provide care for women: What states must I rule out for my medical education?

      Nandini Erodula | Education
    • Mourning the silent epidemic: the physician suicide crisis and suggestions for change

      Amna Shabbir, MD | Physician
    • Reigniting after burnout: 3 physician stories

      Kim Downey, PT | Physician
    • Misunderstandings about opioid use disorder

      Amy Baxter, MD | Conditions
  • Recent Posts

    • Out-of-office infusions in oncology care [PODCAST]

      The Podcast by KevinMD | Podcast
    • The power of business knowledge for medical professionals

      Curtis G. Graham, MD | Physician
    • Using the language of art to create work-life balance

      Sarah Samaan, MD | Physician
    • Levamisole is good for your dog, but bad for your cocaine

      Robert Killeen, MD | Meds
    • Physician autonomy and patient interactions in corporate health care

      Michele Luckenbaugh | Conditions
    • PSA screening: What you need to know [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

Dear patient: Apologies from your medical student
16 comments

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

Loading Comments...