Reacting to Unexpected Situations
I've been in A&E for a couple of weeks now and you can never predict who or what is going to come through the door next. It could pretty much be anyone from any background with anything wrong with them, you can't foresee every possible situation you might have to deal with.
What happens when its not something clinically relevant but it surprises you nonetheless. For example, what if a patient, during the middle of a consultation says something unexpected. What if they go on a 5 minute racist rant about the state of 'our' country? How do you react to something like that? Particularly as a medical student but even as a doctor or nurse. You can't possibly sit there and agree, at the same time you can't really challenge the persons views, that isn't what you're there for. So, do you just sit there politely and let them rant until they can rant not more? Do you look at your shoes, at the patient, at the wall? Do you make your excuses and leave? Is there a difference if your patient is a 30 years old or 90? Male? Female? What about afterwards when you have to present the case to a senior and the only seniors around are of a different race? Do you warn them of the patients beliefs? Do you pretend you'd not heard anything? Do you go for an early lunch?
Being a doctor is about much more than dealing with clinical situations.
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