What Do You Want in Your Healthcare?

A Personal Reflection Checklist

Your Values and Priorities

What matters most to me when it comes to my health?

What does quality of life” mean to me?

Do I value independence, comfort, longevity, or clarity — or a balance of these?

How do my cultural, spiritual, or personal beliefs shape my healthcare decisions?

 

Your Medical Care Preferences

Do I want aggressive treatments, or do I prefer comfort-based care if Im seriously ill?

How do I feel about hospitalization, surgery, or long-term medications?

Are there specific treatments I would want—or want to avoid?

How much do I want to know about my condition or prognosis?

 

Communication and Decision-Making

Do I want to be fully involved in every decision, or do I prefer to trust my care team?

Who do I trust to speak for me if I can’t speak for myself?

Have I had conversations with my loved ones about my wishes?

Do I feel heard and respected by my current providers?

 

Your Advocacy and Support

Do I feel confident asking questions and advocating for myself?

Do I know how to access a patient advocate, social worker, or care coordinator?

Would I benefit from a second opinion or additional support navigating care?

 

Your Planning Documents

Have I completed an advance directive or living will?

Do I have a healthcare proxy or durable power of attorney for healthcare?

Are these documents shared with my loved ones and care team?

Have I reviewed or updated them in the past year?

 

Your Overall Well-Being

How is my mental and emotional health being addressed?

Do I feel safe, seen, and cared for in my healthcare settings?

What would help me feel more empowered in my health journey?

Am I making space for rest, reflection, and healing—on my own terms?

 

Final Thought:

Your healthcare should reflect your values—not just your diagnoses.
The more you understand what matters to you, the more confidently you can shape your care.

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The Patient Power Starter Kit

This Starter Kit brings together four powerful reflections from my blog-each one paired with a practical checklist or prompt to help you stay grounded, informed, and empowered as a patient or caregiver.

Whether you read one page or all of them, you’ll find real tools, honest perspective, and a steady voice to walk beside you.

07 - Patient Power

How to reclaim your voice, your calm, and your confidence-even in a hospital gown.

02- Listen to Your Body

Your body knows. Here’s how to start listening-and what to do with what it says.

03 - Just Not Knowing

When there are no clear answers, this page helps you find steadiness in the unknown.

04 - Power as a Nurse

A look from my side of the bedside-what I’ve seen, and what every patient should know.

Art Of Being Ill
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