| PATIENT. Role play. SETTING: General Practice |
| You are a 25-year-old apprentice who has a pilonidal sinus (cyst) scheduled for excision next week. You have quite a bit of pain, but you are embarrassed. You have seen the doctor, and you are discussing your treatment and preoperative documents with the nurse. TASK: Tell the nurse you feel weak because of this ailment but need painkillers more often than you take them. Emphasise how embarrassed you are and ask if you can still find out what a pilonidal sinus is since you didn’t pay attention when the doctor explained it. Argue that you are very clean and due to your work, you shower in the morning and have a bath at night. Ask what you need to do after the procedure. • Reassure the nurse that you will follow the doctor/nursing staff’s advice when in the hospital and adhere to the medication regime, rather than suffer pain. |
| NURSE. Role play. SETTING: General Practice |
| You are preparing a 25-year-old apprentice for excision of a pilonidal sinus (cyst) next week. The patient is in pain but is embarrassed about the problem and thinks taking medication to alleviate pain is a sign of weakness. You are discussing treatment and preoperative documents, following the doctor’s appointment. TASK: Express concern that the patient has pain and views taking analgesics as a “weakness.” Assure the patient that you understand the embarrassment, but doctors and nurses are used to a huge range of medical issues. Explain that a pilonidal sinus is a small opening, a tract on the surface of the skin predominantly caused by an ingrown hair, exacerbated by sweat and prolonged sitting. Reassure the patient that you were not indicating that he/she is dirty, and salt baths post-operatively will help facilitate healing. Provide information on post-operative care (e.g., bleeding, signs of infection, importance of taking analgesia appropriately, use of antiseptic dressings, etc.). |