Common misconceptions when handling patients

I wanted to clear up a few misconceptions about the way doctors and nurses handle patients.

1. I read somewhere that patients should wear there regular clothes unless they have to wear hospital gowns. This is completely false. In actuality patients should never be allowed to wear regular clothes under any circumstances. Patients are always required to wear hospital gowns.

2. There is a misconception that the proffered way to take a patient's temperature is orally unless the patient is very young. However rectally is in fact always the proffered way of taking a patient's temperature regardless of their age. This is because rectal temperature is the most reliable and accurate. Also with oral temperature there is no way to know whether the patient is keeping the thermometer under their tong or not.

3. Last but not least. Some doctors think they should ask a patient about preforming different tests or procedures on the patient that the doctor feels are necessary. This should be avoided. The doctor should tell the patient what is best for them, not ask. Some examples are "We need to do a test for x." The doctor should not come off indecisive by saying ie "Do you think we should give you a test for x?" (I've actually encountered this exact mistake as a patient where the doctor asked me if he thought he should preform a certain test on me.) The patient is not the one that should know, the doctor is.

So these are just a few mistakes that I have found medical professionals make. By avoiding these common mistakes doctors and nurses can have a better and more efficient relationship with their patient.

Let me know if there are any common mistakes or misconceptions you are aware of in the medical field.