Glad to meet you! You sound like the kind of nurse I'm always hoping for when I have to go see the doc again. And you're absolutely right. I've read studies which showed that a patient can feel better just by being listened to and taken seriously, with a plate of humanity on the side. Talking focuses the brain away from the pain. You can have two lines of thought at one time, but you can only really focus on one of them. Kudos to you for your kindess and patients with your patients.

And Bluemoon, amen to your post. I've been to 28 doctors and counting, and I still have nothing more to show for it than a few theories. Everyone I see seems to have their own standard set of tests to give no matter what you are feeling. I was even given a EKG, when my problem is abdominal pain!