This could mean that, or that….. or that, even that.

I am guilt of assuming things. Less so as I learn more but still, it happens. What do you assume? Somnolence follows this blog, a BM follows Miralax, elation after ice cream. Assumptions however, while they have a place, should not overrule analysis. It’s a fine line between making a decision and pondering endlessly, guilt as charged. But do you jump to assumptions when a patient tells you something? 

We get a lot of questions as my cohort studies for the NCLEX-RN that go like this “the patient looks like they’re dying, wyd?” See? Wyd. I’m hip with the jive. The answer is always some form of assessment not action if they don’t give you more information. 

A patient with tanking O2 sats, throw a NRB on them? Or are they choking and the mask wont do anything or at worse, shove the offending object deeper into the airway? I’ve never had this happen I’m just spouting off. 

A common one I see, looks like superficial trauma. Assume the patient just scraped their nose or think about their 156,892 previous skin cancers or heavy tanning bed use and suggest a biopsy? It is easy to assume that the mundane explanation is the right one. 

How often might we miss the actual cause for the problem/symptoms/signs when we make assumptions? Because I’m just talking into the aether, do I assume a bunch of Ruskies on the border of Ukraine are there for a parade, national show if force, or invasion? I couldn’t tell you unless I knew the other facts of the situation and the context. 

Will I ever shut up? Assume no, that’s a good assumption. Last point, I used to assume that there were only the oft thought of methods to obtain what patients need. My experience is in trying to get better availability or costs for some drugs for patients. It is too easy to assume that if insurance won’t cover it then the patient is SOL. I admit, I don’t see many or any patients in poverty but many do worry about costs. Thank you inflation. I also don’t get any benefit from these companies I use. But options exist. 

GoodRx, Cost Plus, and in my case, the clinic supply company are just a few that we use. We source specialty pharmacies to provide lower cost compound drugs to patients. And we can rage against the drug companies, but drug reps are humans sometimes, ask them for samples and waivers. 

That’s my rant. Don’t assume, analyze. Maybe I’ll post in the future on a great course I got on analysis basics, bias in intelligence, and the analytical process. There are no references here so instead, feed my ego and go to Spotify and/or iTunes and download my podcast “Occasionally Preposterous” and throw me a review if you like it. It’s the podcast that has a photo of my pineapple Tim on the cover. Criticism, praise, silence. Anything works. Be well and I will talk at you again soon. Bye bye bye. 

Image from Security Industry Association at SecurityIndustry.org