b. The next thing you may feel is a loss of privacy. You are probably on a ward
or sharing a room with others. Medical personnel walk in and out unannounced, some
using you as a training tool. A health care provider examining you may have forgotten
to close the door or curtain. Another may not be especially careful to keep you
covered. People are requesting information about things you normally keep to yourself.
Information concerning your health and treatment is hanging on the end of your bed for
anyone to see. You overhear health care providers discussing your case with each
other.
c. You may be feeling threatened, frightened, or insecure. After all, you have
been taken away from your familiar routine and placed in a strange environment where
unusual and often painful procedures are performed, some of which leave you feeling
less than dignified.
d. You may have been informed of the name of your condition or disease, but
you do not understand exactly how your body is being affected by it. You may have
heard your health care providers discussing your illness and treatment, but you do not
understand most of what was said. Therefore, you begin to feel unable to participate in
your own treatment. You begin to feel helpless and dependent on others, especially if
you need help with normally simple things, such as eating and drinking.
e. You may have unmet positive expectations. "I expected to be given
something that would cure me, a pill or an operation." "I expected my records to be
here." "I expected the medical staff to be as concerned about my symptoms as I am."
Or you may have negative expectations confirmed. "I just knew I'd have to wait a long
time." "I thought I was in bad physical condition." "I knew I was going to feel
humiliated."
f. You may fear serious illness for erroneous reasons. You may have
overheard medical personnel discussing your illness, but using terminology, which you
did not quite understand, or you may have just thought they were talking about you.
You may have heard something that was not meant for your ears when someone
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