tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10246967.post4366863574955788283..comments2024-02-22T04:07:33.179-05:00Comments on Nurse Keith's Digital Doorway: Not KnowingKeith "Nurse Keith" Carlson, RN, BSN, NC-BChttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03581947410641941224noreply@blogger.comBlogger1125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10246967.post-24176731205153091342007-07-05T10:17:00.000-04:002007-07-05T10:17:00.000-04:00I see that no comments have been submitted on this...I see that no comments have been submitted on this one. Can I take a guess about why that would be?<BR/><BR/>If you admit that you don't know, that is "transparency". Transparency and humility open you to criticism, at the least and to blame and ultimately litigation, at the worst. (Although a recent poll discussed on another medical blog, Unintelligent Design a few months ago, I think, demonstrates that when it comes to litigation, patients become more understanding and less likely to sue when transparency is demonstrated by their healthcare professional. However, lawyers typically advise against transparency.)<BR/><BR/>So we may go on pretending--that is our public personna, anyway. It is a game we play. <BR/><BR/>Students and newbies struggle with whether they should ask a question, thus admitting to not-knowing--which may make them appear stupid. Of course, they SHOULD ask. It is smart to ask, because it is a failsafe for the patient's safety. (I, myself, work with students as well as at the bedside.) Better to risk embarrassment than risk the patient's well-being. <BR/><BR/>This is a wonderful post, because it is a back-to-basics kind of thing, that we may compromise because we have gotten so enmeshed in playing the game. IMHO.<BR/>Chris and VicAnonymousnoreply@blogger.com