As a staff nurse on a medical/surgical unit in a non-profit hospital within a recognized healthcare network in New Jersey, I witness first-hand the harm that is inflicted on patients by providers through routine interactions. Far too often I see physicians stand at the foot of the bed methodically running through their standardized list of questions for the patient before swiftly going out the door. Discussions regarding treatment and prognosis are held outside of the room by the healthcare team, as though the patient does not have a voice in the matter. Frequently, the nurse is the professional who the individual client then looks to for further information, guidance, and comfort. When physicians prioritize aggressive diagnosis and treatment over communication and interaction, the value and dignity of the patient are regrettably neglected. While providers have the best interests of the patient at heart, disregarding the importance of compassion in the medical process undermines and negatively affects the individual.

As I witness these occurrences I cannot help but wonder: how can this be? Do the majority of providers recognize the harm being done to their patients? Or, is it simply the juxtaposition of my profession with my Medical Humanities education? How do the patients truly feel? Are they aware of the shallow communication that is occurring? Furthermore, do these seemingly mundane interactions affect patient satisfaction and hospital ratings? What affect does this have on health care overall? These questions have been generated from my personal experiences working on a medical/surgical unit of an acute care hospital while obtaining graduate level education in Medical Humanities. This paper aims to answer the above questions through discussion of published literature, patient narratives, and personal experiences.