Education.

As one of the nurses at St Mary's, its my job to do one-on-one education with clients who schedule an appointment with me.  Most of the time its about Diabetes, or Tobacco Cessation/ Chantix (which I'll talk about more when I really feel like writing), and the occasional specialized diet talk.

However, today, as I pulled up into work and the power was out a patient approached me as I was walking in and began to ask me questions about whether some drug he "or his friend" may have been exposed to any whether that drug would affect the results of a new employee physical blood test....He asked anything would still show up if he had snorted something (coke) of instead injecting it- because he heard that the only way it shoes up on a blood test is if you inject it directly into your bloodstream. He also asked if "his friend" had only "smoked half a bowl of reefer" would it still show up if he didn't smoke the whole thing.

Yes, these were real questions, yes people really believe things like this.  Its amusing, but its really sad in a way.  Many people are raised in an environment where education is not an option.  They believe in things others tell  them (even if things are incorrect)  and this is the only thing they learn.

Another thing to think about- Many of us were raised with the opportunity to see a doctor/medical professional.  We were brought in for well check ups as babies, sick appointments as we grew up, etc.  We grew up knowing what to do and how to act at a medical office.  Think if you never went to a doctor growing up, and now you have a chronic disease- how would you know what to do, what questions to ask, and basic "office etiquette" (like showing up to appointments)?

I often have to remind myself of this- so I can better understand my patient population, so I don't get frustrated, so I can let my judgments go, and so I can do my best to save as many as I can, with whatever means I have