Today, I had to interact with a rude bully of a patient, angry and over exaggerating his concern. I was proud of how calmly & efficiently I handled him, just to get through our encounter. I'm an expert, but it had been a surprise, because there was no reason for it.
I went to get the next patient from the lobby…and was told by Receptionist that patient was outside because he didn't want to wear a mask for his medical appointment. So there I am, outside the clinic, using my nice voice to coax the patient inside, he's telling me he won't do it, and that's fine, he gets to decide his healthcare, if he wants the visit or not. (Has to wear a mask though). And it just hit me…the fatigue, just being battle weary fighting battles that aren't even mine…and I stared off in the distance for a few seconds and softly said “That's fine. You dont need to wear a mask if you dont want to.” And he looked pleased to have “won”, and I continued: “Just reschedule this visit when this is all over with”, and I was seriously thinking to myself “I could go get a cool drink right across the parking lot. I can find another job. Maybe I can live off my 401K for a while, I'm never going to retire anyway…” and without thinking, I took a few steps toward the parking lot, and now the guy had suddenly whipped out a mask from his pocket and was telling me “I'm ready, let's go”, but I had taken another step toward the parking lot, like I was in a daze, I looked over my shoulder through the glass windows at the busy office, and I said “No, it's okay, we dont have to do it” in a dreamy voice, while the guy said again “Let's go, I'm ready now”. And I paused a second longer, face turned toward that place that would've served me a cold drink on this hot day…then I sighed and went inside.
But I'm getting a kick out of the fact that I tried to coax him in and then he had to coax ME back in. He did the rest of the visit without any more meanness and we concluded the visit shortly after.
I got the cool drink after work but it didn't taste perfect.