You can learn a lot about a patient by understanding what motivates them. For patients trying to lose weight, it could be getting small enough to get the three clicks secured on the roller coaster or a 120 pound journey to freedom.
For those trying to quit smoking for good, it could be to save a pet from smoking related cancer or to keep from getting those nasty diseases seen on the new graphic cigarette box warnings.
For the romantic folks out there, there is always the power of love that keeps a patient going, even if it means indefinite pain and suffering. The oldest married couple I have ever been honored to grace their presence had been together for 69 years. That's phenomenal. How do you tell a 93 year old woman that their husband is about to pass away? He's all she's ever known.
When you're a physician in the ICU dealing with ICU palliative care, you will have seen 'em all. Some families want grandpa to live past midnight just so they can collect one last social security or disability check. All of us health care folk have seen it. It's quite sad to watch. Even when a catastrophic brainstem stroke leaves their loved one forever gone.
We've all had the opportunity to take care of folks in all these categories. There's the popular wanting to see the kids and grandkids grow up and get married. And traveling. And doing charity work. There are lots of reasons patients have the desire to live. But, these are all common reasons patients why want to live. I'm going to give you the craziest and funniest reason ever for a patient wanting to live.
Frank: I know I'm sick. I can feel I'm getting weaker. But I just want to make sure I live through November of 2012.
Happy: Why is that?
Frank: So I can vote the SOB out of office.
Happy: Obama?
Frank: Yeah. I made a mistake the first time. And I'm gonna fix it.
Happy: NURSE! Come quick. We need to start a million dollar work up on Frank's weakness stat! He's got important business to attend to.
Now that's a guy with a head on his shoulders. The will to vote. I guess he's been cured of Peggy Joseph Syndrome. Time to add voting to your arsenal of motivational tools to convince hospitalized patients to take their medications and do what you ask of them.
