Prejudice in the Department
Prejudice- (1): preconceived judgment or opinion (2)
: an adverse opinion or leaning formed without just grounds or before sufficient knowledge
b: an instance of such judgment or opinion
c: an irrational attitude of hostility directed against an individual, a group, a race, or their supposed characteristics.
That is the Webster's definition of prejudice. Is there some prejudice in our ranks? I sure hope not, but in one forum I stay tuned into, I sure see some hostility and bad attitudes directed amongst other therapists who post there. If you have that kind of attitude with other therapy professionals, what kind of attitude do you display with your residents?
One of the first things I learned in school is that every patient you treat is one and the same. They all need our services, and if you begin to think of one patient being unworthy of your therapy skills for any reason it might be time to step back and re-evaluate your prejudice attitude. There are many names that you might call these patients, and I am not going to mention any here but I am sure you know them or have heard them in the past.
As humans, it is natural to slip once in a while, but if one allows a bad attitude to determine how we approach our day then that is where things need to change. No one likes to be dealt with in a demeaning manner, so make sure to check your attitude at the door of your patient's room.
Until next time, hope all your thoughts are good,
Tim