By using this site, you agree to the Privacy Policy and Terms of Use.
Accept
Health Works CollectiveHealth Works CollectiveHealth Works Collective
  • Health
    • Mental Health
    Health
    Healthcare organizations are operating on slimmer profit margins than ever. One report in August showed that they are even lower than the beginning of the…
    Show More
    Top News
    physical health
    5 Ways Playing Games Can Improve Neural and Physical Health
    September 9, 2022
    Reasons For Hair Loss and Its Treatment
    Reasons For Hair Loss and Its Treatment
    February 16, 2022
    healthcare organization
    5 Actionable Strategies For Healthcare Organizations
    August 15, 2022
    Latest News
    Beyond Nutrition: Everyday Foods That Support Whole-Body Health
    June 15, 2025
    The Wide-Ranging Benefits of Magnesium Supplements
    June 11, 2025
    The Best Home Remedies for Migraines
    June 5, 2025
    The Hidden Impact Of Stress On Your Body’s Alignment And Balance
    May 22, 2025
  • Policy and Law
    • Global Healthcare
    • Medical Ethics
    Policy and Law
    Get the latest updates about Insurance policies and Laws in the Healthcare industry for different geographical locations.
    Show More
    Top News
    The Latest Numbers on Exchange Enrollment
    January 20, 2014
    conversational AI in healthcare
    How Conversational AI is Making Healthcare More Patient-Centric
    July 24, 2024
    create tracking metrics HIS
    Create Tracking Metrics for ICD-10 Preparation
    February 18, 2014
    Latest News
    Let Your Lawyer Handle the Work Before You Pay Medical Costs
    July 6, 2025
    Top HIPAA-Compliant Messaging Apps for Healthcare Teams
    June 25, 2025
    When Healthcare Ends, the Legal Process Begins: What Families Should Know About Probate and Medical Estates
    June 20, 2025
    Preventing Contamination In Healthcare Facilities Starts With Hygiene
    June 15, 2025
  • Medical Innovations
  • News
  • Wellness
  • Tech
Search
© 2023 HealthWorks Collective. All Rights Reserved.
Reading: Tips for Dealing with Difficult Patients
Share
Notification Show More
Font ResizerAa
Health Works CollectiveHealth Works Collective
Font ResizerAa
Search
Follow US
  • About
  • Contact
  • Privacy
© 2023 HealthWorks Collective. All Rights Reserved.
Health Works Collective > Policy & Law > Medical Ethics > Tips for Dealing with Difficult Patients
Medical EthicsWellness

Tips for Dealing with Difficult Patients

Michael J Jones
Michael J Jones
Share
5 Min Read
Tips for Dealing With Difficult Patients
SHARE

Tips for Dealing With Difficult PatientsIn an ideal world, your patients would all be polite and pleasant. Unfortunately, that’s not always the case. If you work in healthcare, it’s inevitable you will have to deal with difficult patients.

Tips for Dealing With Difficult PatientsIn an ideal world, your patients would all be polite and pleasant. Unfortunately, that’s not always the case. If you work in healthcare, it’s inevitable you will have to deal with difficult patients. From the patient who is cursing you to patients who are impossible to please, you’re likely to see it all.

It’s important to remember that people are often not at their best when they are sick in the hospital. They may be scared, confused, and depressed. While you don’t expect your patients to be the life of the party, some people are more than just unpleasant. There are several things to remember when dealing with difficult patients that may make the situation easier.

The Non-Compliant Patient

More Read

How Acupuncture Helps Cure Infertility and Aid in Pregnancy
How Patient Portals Are Changing The Digital Healthcare Landscape
The Hidden Epidemic of Nursing Home Abuse
Common Causes of Leg Pain that Might be Causing You Problems
11 Healthy ways to put your body into shape

Some patients refuse treatment, sneak out to smoke, or are uncooperative. Non-compliant patients are frustrating because they are not doing what they need to get better. However, it’s important to remember that patients have rights, even if that involves making bad choices.

What You Can Do: Your job is to educate and offer the prescribed treatment. You can’t force therapy, treatment, or medications. You can make sure your patient understands the need for medical care and the consequences for refusing. In these situations, it’s important to document everything thoroughly.

The Overly Needy Patient

It’s normal for patients to use their call button and require assistance, but some patients call for help for every little thing, which can make it difficult to get your work done.

What You Can Do: Try to figure out what the problem is. Maybe your patient is bored, lonely, or a little scared. Never ignore a patient, even if he or she appears to be overly needy. Instead, after you have provided care and there is nothing else the patient needs from you, consider offering books, a movie, or a visit from the Chaplin or therapy dog.

The Know-it-All

You know the type – the patient who corrects everything you do. While a  patient should be involved in his or her care, the know-it-all patient can be misinformed and try to micromanage his/her care. These types of patients may question everything you do, and still want it done their way.

What you can do: Try not to get upset when a patient challenges you. Calmly reassure the patient and explain what you are doing. Providing information and not getting defensive may gain your patient’s trust.

The Angry Patient  

Some patients are never happy. Eventually, you may run into a rude patient who is mad at the world. Even if you are doing your best to help this type of patient, it may never be good enough.

What you can do: Speak calmly, and don’t get caught up in an argument. You won’t win, and you’ll only make things worse. Do your best to diffuse the situation and show empathy. Let your patient know you are concerned about how he feels.  Keep in mind, if a patient seems combative or is becoming increasingly hostile, it’s time to get assistance. Don’t hesitate to call security.

A Few More Tips

Lastly, there are a few additional things to keep in mind when you are caring for difficult patients.

Listen to your patient’s concerns: If your patient is upset, listening to what he/she has to say may ease tensions. Sometimes people just what to know they are understood. You may find an easy fix to the problem.

Communicate clearly: When patients are upset, it’s easy for them to misunderstand something. Now is not the time to use medical jargon or skirt the issue. Be sensitive to language and cultural barriers, and speak in terms your patient will understand.

Take a deep breath: It’s human to get frustrated when you have difficult patients. It’s also easy to take things personally when a patient is rude, but it’s also helpful to keep perspective. Remember, you walked into the hospital voluntarily; you weren’t brought in on a gurney. Your patient is probably having a lot worse day than you are. So take a deep breath, and try to cut your patient a little slack.

TAGGED:patient carephysician-patient communication
Share This Article
Facebook Copy Link Print
Share

Stay Connected

1.5kFollowersLike
4.5kFollowersFollow
2.8kFollowersPin
136kSubscribersSubscribe

Latest News

car accident lawsuit
Let Your Lawyer Handle the Work Before You Pay Medical Costs
Policy & Law
July 6, 2025
women dental care
What Is a Smile Makeover and How Much Does It Cost?
Dental health
June 30, 2025
HIPAA-Compliant Messaging Apps
Top HIPAA-Compliant Messaging Apps for Healthcare Teams
Global Healthcare Policy & Law Technology
June 25, 2025
recovering from injury
Rebuilding After Injury: Path to Physical and Emotional Recovery
News
June 22, 2025

You Might also Like

SpecialtiesWellness

6 Often Overlooked Women’s Health Issues And How To Identify Them

August 19, 2019
white vegetables and nutrition
Wellness

Should You Avoid White Vegetables?

October 5, 2013

85 Year Old Surgeon Gets 3 Years Probation in Death of Patient Under Going Cosmetic Surgery

February 16, 2011
Health Ailments
Health careWellness

Staying Healthy Despite Digital-Age Health Ailments

May 17, 2018
Subscribe
Subscribe to our newsletter to get our newest articles instantly!
Follow US
© 2008-2025 HealthWorks Collective. All Rights Reserved.
  • About
  • Contact
  • Privacy
Welcome Back!

Sign in to your account

Username or Email Address
Password

Lost your password?