[llg]

While I certainly don't know how the court system would view it, I agree with the patient on this one.

A name badge or small logo on your uniform can not be seen from a distance. A bumper sticker on your car can probably be seen by casual observers just passing by. That makes them different.

It's similar to taking photographs of a crowd of people. When individual people can be distiguished, a consent is usually require. However, consent is often not required when individual people can not be distinguished. A car with a sticker clearly identifies to the public that someone living in that house is dying.

You may not agree with the patient's desire for so much privacy, but I think this example is a "gray area" -- and most "gray area" requests should be resolved in favor of the patient.

Unlike an ambulance that needs to be easily identifiable and "attention getting" for safety reasons, you don't need a sticker on your car that identifies you to all the neighbors as a hospice employee. Therefore, there is not a compelling reason to violate the patient's right to privacy.

[pkallen61]

I'm also a hospice RN in ATL. I go into apartment buildings with elevators, ALFs, and all other kinds of facilities where anyone can read my nametag (which is required to be worn at all times). I've had people in elevators ask me how their neighbor is doing, etc. (and give the standard "I'm sorry, but you'll have to ask XX." I have window stickers on my car that say I'm a member of STTI, and a member of the Iowa Alumni Association. I'm proud of who I am and what I do. However, I don't need a bumper sticker to advertise the fact that a nurse is visiting the patient -- it is the scrubs, the white lab coat, the assessment bag, supplies I'm trying to discretely carry into the patient's home, the minimum once weekly visits, and darn it, that clearly readable name tag, that gives it away (the visits from the DME vendor and deliveries from the palliative pharmacy don't hurt, either as giant flashing billboards "HOSPITAL BED DELIVERY!!!"). I'm a hospice nurse, and proud of it, and would probably (after recovering from the shock of one of my patients chastising me like that) very delicately and pleasantly point out those facts.
Hospice is a wonderful service, we provide comfort and reassurance when no one else can....but all in all, the old customer service adage is "the customer is always right" (uhhh, yeah [NOT]) - but we still have to mollify patients and their families.
Paula

[SMK1]

It may be indiscreet, but then again if you have a stethescope around your neck that identifies you as well. Where is the line drawn? It is an interesting question. Personally, I feel that anyone driving their personal car in a work capacity probably shouldn't have any bumper stickers of any kind. You are representing the company that you work for while on house calls and your car is a part of the image. No political statments or other personal touches.

[Angie O'Plasty, RN]

So what happens when you visit friends? Do their neighbors suddenly show up at their doorstep wondering who you are?

[shrinky]

This person has a lot of anger and directed it at you so anything you did would have been wrong. As for her not having a nurse, I don't believe she can be on Hospice and not have a case manager RN, who will monitor her pain, her meds, do her assessment? Does the aide take her meds or do you have pharmacia? Who then orders meds? Anyway God bless you for what you do, it is sometimes difficult but always rewarding.