What I Wish My Patients Knew

I’ve been working in the walk-in clinic for 6 weeks now, and I have learned so much more about life and medicine. Over the last week or so, I have left work thinking there are so many things that I wish my patients knew. So, I’m writing them down and sharing them with you, because at one point, we have all be a “patient,” and there are so many things that you never even realize about the people who are taking care of you. Now, we aren’t all the same, so I can’t speak for everyone else, but here’s my list so far…

1. You are prayed for daily. You are prayed for on my way to work, before I ever start my day. Sometimes, you are prayed for as you are telling me why you’re in the clinic that day. There are times when my heart just breaks for you as you tell me the stories of your lives, and I can’t help but ask God to send you a hug from Heaven. You are prayed for after I’ve gone home for the day. When you tell me dates of surgeries and procedures, I write them down, and you are prayed for.
2. You are loved, simply because you are you, and you walked into my room that day. Simple as that. There are never too many patients to be loved. Sometimes, all you need to know is that you have a place to come for help when you need it. We will always be there if you even if you just need to hear the words, “It’s going to be ok.”
3. When you cry, I am fighting back tears, because my heart breaks daily over how tough you have it sometimes. I have patients who have lost hope, who are in so much pain both physically and emotionally, who seem to have been kicked every time they are down, who are lonely, who have lost absolutely everything, and who are terrified that they are about to die, and they cry. When I reach for their hand, I am swallowing big gulps, because all I want to do is to take all of those burdens away.About two weeks ago, I took this little 86 year old lady’s face in my hands as we were waiting for EMS, and said, “I know you’re scared, but you’re in the right place, and we are going to take care of you. It’s going to be ok.” For her, I was strong. When I stepped outside her room, it was all I could to keep tears from falling.
4. I lay awake at night wondering and hoping that I did my best for you that day and that I didn’t miss anything that could make you feel better. I am still learning new things every day, and there have been many nights that I have tossed and turned, hoping that you’re ok, that what I did for you was what is best for you.
5. Not every chief complaint is equal. You may have had to wait for an hour to see me for ten minutes, but I promise you that when it’s you who needs an hour, that’s what you’ll get. If you need me to take an hour to help you with your medicines or to stabilize your blood pressure or to get you to the right tests and get to the right specialists, I promise you I will do that. But on the day that you only need 10 minutes, that’s all I have to give, because there is someone else who needs the hour.
6. My life dream is literally spending my days seeing you and taking care of you. I have worked hard for many countless hours and shed blood, sweat, and tears to have the opportunity and privilege to listen to your problems and find a solution for them. Imagine the thing that you would stop at nothing to achieve and to be able to do. My “thing” is being able to be your PA.
7. My goal is to always treat you as if you were my family member. I hope that when my mom and dad, or my grandmama and papaw go to their medical appointments, that they are treated like family. I hope that I always make you feel like you are important, that you are heard, and that you are cared for like I would take care of my own people.
8. I am human too. I am not perfect, and I surely don’t know everything, but what I don’t know, I’ll be honest and tell you. I’ll find out how to get the answers or find someone else who does. I don’t always run on time, I don’t always remember to have a positive attitude, and I do get emotional about things during my day.
9. Google doesn’t have all the answers, and you can’t believe everything you read on the internet. Google didn’t go to PA school, and no website can tell you as much as the patient sitting in front of you. Words are only words on a page. We don’t always do everything “by the book,” because our patients are almost never “by the book.”