How to handle new patients you have a history with

Hi everyone,

I'm a 3rd year student in NZ. Recently on placement in a small private practice in my hometown, I became quite nervous at the prospect of running into patients I may have had a history with, for example ex boyfriends. Has anyone felt the same way and how have you handled the situation?

Thanks in advance.

If you have a bad history with them you would refer them to somewhere else. It is always a good idea that if you do see them to tell someone else in the clinic about the history and that you are letting them know for the record in case anything weird goes on. Other than that treat them like any other client but do not cut corners if you feel they are a friend. They are only ever a friend until something goes wrong.

Your supervisor has to consent them first to be treated by you, so if there are any issues they could see the patient rather than you. You would treat them like any other patient and like Physiobob said, do not cut corners. Remember the professionalism parts from the marking schedule and adhere to that. The other people you could ask for advice are the Clinical Leaders (Erik and Laura if you are at AUT)

Thanks for your reply- I was not really meaning from the student perspective though, more what would a professional do in that situation.

I had your problem in my practice too. My small practice is in the same little village where I used to go to primary school. There I was being bullied a lot, and those bullies are now clients in my practice. My tip: just stay correct and do as you normally do.