HEALTHCARE WORKER UNHARDEN THY HEART.

Not until my current situation had I noticed how insensitive health care workers can become. Since diagnosed with Myasthenia Gravis,over 3 years ago I have been traumatized. You see I am a former healthcare worker. And I have been on the other side as well. So I empathize with a lot of the woes that can effect the profession. The work conditions,long hours,difficult patients and unyielding family members,rules and regulations.Oh I no I can go on and on. But I always performed my job the same whether watched or not watched. I feared not doing the correct thing could bring harm upon my patient. Or talking rudely or disrespectfully was not warranted.I respected the fact I was the Healthy one.  But it comes to my attention as a patient myself how condescending and rude healthcare workers can be. I am sure it happens over a period of time thru many cases of abuse. Abuse by the system,patients,colleagues and others. I have had a technician speak harshly to me because of my disability benefits. She all but said her friend was much more deserving of the benefits and was unable to obtain . Or a Nurse who was so condescending that she questioned my symptoms I experienced. As if the information received in a textbook could stand up against a real live patient. Mentally writing me off as not knowing what I felt or able to interpret the feelings. As well as a Practitioner who refused to believe the pain she was inflicting upon me was not an acceptable part of a treatment. And I should swallow the pain with out complaining.And this is just to name a few. I practiced Nursing for 0ver 22 years. S o to say I don't understand would be wrong. I do understand the plight of the Hospital Nurse,Nursing Home Nurse, Home Health Nurse, Managerial Nurse,Private duty Nurse and a host of scenarios attached. Because I lived them. Some where along the way some of us experience an hardening of the heart. And a smug exterior supported by medical knowledge. Which is a plus and a minus. Because I know the difference between "Good Care" and "Minimal Care". And it makes me ever so much more anxious when it comes to Doctor visits. Not knowing if I am safe to be a patient benefiting from the expertise of the Medical Professional. Or the Healthcare worker/Patient that has to identify my self to guarantee some respect for my reporting of problem.Which only places the worker on their guard. It often worries me to think of the patients without the small amount of Medical knowledge I have. To not have the chance to correct the errors that I have experienced all because they didn't know. Or the healthcare workers that perform at minimal capacity because they feel they are safe in their ignorance. As a closing note. I did not choose my current condition. Nor did I have an idea I would have to end my Nursing career because of illness. So with that said,remember  Healthcare Worker that patient you gave poor service to could one day be you!